Cuba

Complaints from private entrepreneurs in Cuba lead to unusual about-face on new regulations

New rules for Cuba’s private entrepreneurs go into effect on Friday. There were so many complaints, the government made some 11th-hour changes, including allowing Cubans to hold more than one private business license.

Cuba

After a wave of enthusiasm, American companies’ interest in Cuba as a business partner cools

Cuba is hosting the Havana International Fair, its biggest commercial and investment event, this week. American companies will be among the exhibitors but interest by U.S. executives, except in travel-related businesses and a few other areas, is waning.

Cuba

Virgin Voyages’ adults-only cruise ship will make Havana its first destination

When Virgin Voyages’ new cruise ship Scarlet Lady begins sailing from Miami in 2020, its first port of call will be Havana.

Cuba

Cuba’s Miguel Díaz-Canel is the latest world leader to open Twitter account

Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel opened a Twitter account on Wednesday. Although the Cuba people are just entering the Internet age, by Friday he had attracted nearly 26,000 followers.

Cuba

After a hurricane, mysterious attacks, and U.S. warnings, travelers return to Cuba

Two years ago travel to Cuba from the United States was booming. But last winter after a hurricane, a mysterious ailment that hit U.S. diplomats in Havana, and U.S. warnings to stay away, American travel to Cuba hit a wall. Tour operators say travel to the island is starting to recover

Cuba

American Airlines plans daily service from Miami to Santiago de Cuba next year

American Airlines plans to begin flying a new daily route from Miami to Santiago de Cuba. There’s currently no regularly scheduled service between the United States and the eastern Cuba provincial capital.

Cuba

U.S. softens its Cuba travel advisory, still advises caution

The State Department says it’s now safer for Americans to travel to Cuba. It downgraded an advisory that recommended Americans should reconsider travel to the island and instead just advises caution.

Cuba

Contradictory policies mean one step forward and one step back for Cuba’s ailing economy

Cuba

Seabourn’s ultra-luxury cruising is coming to Cuba in 2019

Cruises to Cuba are becoming more diversified. Seabourn plans ultra-luxury cruises to Cuba from Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 2019 that will include new destinations.

Cuba

New Cuba regulations for private enterprise on the island have a long list of don’ts

New regulations for Cuba’s private sector go into effect in December. For Cuban cuentapropistas (those who are privately employed), the message is clear: Don’t get too rich, diversify your businesses, open branches, try to evade taxes, resort to the black market, or provide too much competition to state enterprises.

Cuba

Cuba badly needs currency reform, but it won’t happen yet, economists say

Cuba’s constitutional referendum may delay currency unification

Cuba

Miami billboards accuse cruise ships that sail to Cuba of dealing in confiscated property

Cuban-American activists say cruise lines are using confiscated property when they call in Cuba. To take their campaign to the public, they’ve put up two billboards in Miami, Florida

Cuba

Mexican company says pilot error to blame for Cuba air crash that killed 112 people, but investigation is ongoing

The Mexican company that leased a Boeing 737 to Cuba’s national airline company says pilot error caused the fiery Havana crash that killed 112 people. Cuba, the lead investigator, still hasn’t released its official findings on the crash and its investigating commission says it is too early to speculate on what caused the crash.

Cuba

JetBlue will add Boston-Havana route in November

JetBlue is inaugurating a Boston-Havana route on Nov. 10 with a special introductory fare and adding another Fort Lauderdale-Havana route. With the additions, JetBlue will operate more than 50 weekly flights between the United States and Cuba.

Cuba

Google and Cuba close to finalizing agreement to expand internet access on the island

Miguel Díaz-Canel, recently named president of the Council of State, has spoken publicly about the need to expand internet services on the island, and mentioned it in a meeting with U.S. visitors.