Cuba Tour Operator Working through Visa Difficulties

Despite the recent shutdown of visa-processing services, "demand for the people-to-people programs is not slowing down," said Tom Popper, president of tour operator Insight Cuba.

"We are taking new bookings and are confident this problem will be resolved. The U.S. State Department, Cuban Interests Section (CIS) and others are working very hard to identify a new bank to provide services for the Cuban missions in Washington and New York," Popper said.

"Since we saw it coming, we — along with the air charter companies and other operators — submitted projections to CIS in advance for the number of visas we anticipated we would need to cover us if/when the consular services again were suspended," Popper said.

"The visas we received carry the official stamp from CIS for entry into Cuba. We then fill in the traveler's name and passport number."

If a bank is not found to handle the financial services and diplomatic accounts for Cuba in the U.S., another option is to have travelers on the people-to-people tours receive and pay for their entry visas for Cuba when they arrive in Havana.

Source: Travel Weekly