Tours changing American views of Cuba, US policy

[Judi Lynn]

Tours changing American views of Cuba, US policy
Feb 3, 12:11 AM EST
By PETER ORSI
Associated Press

HAVANA (AP) -- When President Barack Obama reinstated "people-to-people" travel to Cuba in 2011, the idea was that visiting Americans would act as cultural ambassadors for a U.S. constantly demonized in the island's official media.

Two and a half years later, a survey shared exclusively with The Associated Press suggests the trips are not only improving Cubans' views of Americans. They are also changing U.S. travelers' opinions of the Caribbean nation for the better, and dimming their view of Washington policies that have long sought to pressure Cuba's Communist leaders.

"I think U.S.-Cuban relations should be open. People should be talking to each other. People should be sharing," said Ellen Landsberger, a 62-year-old New York obstetrician who recently visited on a people-to-people tour.

"We have this tiny little island that is no threat to the U.S. that we're isolating from the world," she said. "It doesn't make sense."

More:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CB_CUBA_US_TRAVEL?SECTION=HOME&SITE=AP&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[mainer]

1. Go now, before it's ruined by American investors

That's the advice I got from someone who goes there regularly.

[Judi Lynn]

2. I heard it, too, from a Canadian freguent Cuba traveler.

[center]

Havana, Cuba.[/center]