Virgin Atlantic link to boost U.K. tourism to Cuba

[Say_What]

The Brits, pleased as punch that US citizens aren't allowed to go to Cuba, are heading for the island in droves. A 35% increased in the first quarter alone!!

<clips>

HAVANA (Reuters) - Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic Airways (VA.UL: Quote, Profile, Research) inaugurated direct flights to Cuba on Monday that are expected to boost growing British tourism to the communist-run Caribbean island.

"This is good for Cuba, because British tourism has become our second most-important market after Canada," said Cuban Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero, at the airport to meet Branson on the inaugural flight.

Virgin Atlantic's larger rival British Airways (BAY.L: Quote, Profile, Research) stopped flying to Havana three years ago. "A lot of the U.K. travel trade have been looking for something like Virgin flying into Cuba," said Joe Prem, director of Cuba Select Travel, a British tour operator.

The number of British tourists visiting Cuba rose 35 percent in the first quarter of 2005, to 43,900 arrivals. British vacationers outnumbered French, German and Italian tourists this year.

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-06-27T194105Z_01_MCC770764_RTRUKOC_0_CUBA-BRITAIN.xml

[VegasWolf]

1. I guess the political clout of the old Cubans in Miami don't scare

Richard Branson one bit. To bad our system is so lame.

[Say_What]

2. Kick...

[Judi Lynn]

3. What a photo. So that's Varadero.

Juan de Marco of the Buena Vista Social Club and the Afro Cuban All Stars lives there.

[Say_What]

4. He's changed... I haven't seen a photo of him in a while, exceptional

talent.

Here's the link to that Habanasol site and an air shot of Varadero Beach.

http://www.habanasol.com/photos_cuba.htm

[Judi Lynn]

5. Looks like they're back in the tourism business after the post 9/11 dip.

Tourism was really screwed for a while.

You'd think people would start wondering why every other country in the world can come and go to Cuba, and we can't. How can people be so s-l-o-w?

Great photos from Havanasol. Varadero's sand is pure white. Amazing.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Too bad! The new non-stop flights will by-pass Miami.

Awwwwwww.

Virgin Atlantic launches direct services to the Bahamas and Cuba
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
LONDON, England: Virgin Atlantic on Monday launched direct services between London and Havana and direct services between London and Nassau as part of the airline’s expansion in the Caribbean.

The services will operate twice weekly between London Gatwick and Havana from 7 July and weekly between London Gatwick and Nassau from 4 July, using a Boeing 747-400 aircraft.

Speaking from Virgin Atlantic’s Gatwick Clubhouse, Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Atlantic, said, “We are delighted to launch these services to Havana and Nassau. Both Cuba and The Bahamas are welcome additions to our growing Caribbean portfolio, which I am sure will prove to be extremely popular with our passengers. The launch of these new routes will form part of a 27% increase in capacity to the Caribbean for Virgin Atlantic this year.

“Cuba is a beautiful country, with a fascinating history and amazing achievements in fields like medicine and sport. The history and culture of Havana combined with its Caribbean climate and the beaches of Varadero, means that Cuba is a destination which has something for everyone and it has really captivated the imaginations of British travellers.

“Over the years, demand for The Bahamas has been strong with Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays passengers travelling over from London via Miami. Now that we are able to offer this direct link, offering more flexibility and greater value for money for our leisure and business travellers, we are certain popularity for The Bahamas will grow even more.”
(snip/...)

http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/2005/06/28/launches.shtml

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maybe Congress-exile Ileana Ros-Lehtinen can find a way to ruin their plans. She would if she could.



She-Wolf

[cire4]

7. I sure do envy the Brits.....

Cuba is a beautiful island. I hope they take the opportunity to exercise their freedom to visit it, which Americans, living in a so-called "free" country, do not have.

Anybody else find it strange that we can visit openly hostile countries like Iran and North Korea, but Cuba is off-limits? Maybe if a group of anti-Kim Jong Il Korean exiles owned a major US city, then our policy would be a little more consistent....

[Say_What]

10. Combat veteran fighting 'cruel' travel policy

Photo is from the MSNBC article. This got a lot of press--find links here.

<clips>

Walking the halls of Congress last week, Sgt. Carlos Lazo cut a striking image in his full dress uniform. A combat medic with the 81st Brigade of the Washington state National Guard, Lazo recently returned to the United States after serving a year in Iraq.

Among the many medals and ribbons on his chest is a Bronze Star, awarded for his heroism during the battle for Fallujah, one of the most intense and costly campaigns of the war. ''We had to treat a lot of wounded and carry out a lot of dead,'' Lazo recalled. ``It was a very painful experience. But the one thing that kept me going was that I knew I was bringing these dead and wounded back to their families, that we weren't just going to leave them there.''

Family was the reason Lazo, 40, was on Capitol Hill, cornering every member of Congress he could find during his three-day trip.

''I want to see my sons,'' he said. ``But my commander-in-chief, the president of the United States, won't let me. And I don't think it's right.''

Lazo was born in Cuba, and two of his sons still live there. Under travel restrictions instituted last year by President Bush, Cuban Americans can only visit family once every three years. Lazo last saw his sons in 2003. He won't be allowed to see them again until the middle of next year.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/columnists/jim_defede/11987343.htm


Carlos Lazo tapes a message from Iraq to Congress urging lawmakers to allow him visit his teenage sons in Cuba

[Judi Lynn]

13. There's a unique trick built into Bush's "Once every 3 years" rule

for the only Americans allowed to travel at all, outside certain journalists, academics, etc. From your article:

Lazo was born in Cuba, and two of his sons still live there. Under travel restrictions instituted last year by President Bush, Cuban Americans can only visit family once every three years. Lazo last saw his sons in 2003. He won't be allowed to see them again until the middle of next year.
(snip)

The problem with this is that people with older relatives, or relatives who have been ill is that if they use their opportunity to visit now, they will NOT be able, under ANY circumstance to travel to Cuba if they are needed should there be a medical or other emergency. That leaves people living with the propostion of going now, and holding their breath for three years in hope nothing happens, or simply "saving" the trip for when it is needed, even if it means they sacrifice 3 years anyway, to keep that one safe date open.

Very ugly, isn't it?

Carlos Lazo should simply go to Cuba, and worry about the consequences later. He can always get press coverage now, and bring down a lot of attention on the _Bush regime's dirty schemes.

[Say_What]

14. Did you notice his remark about Ros-Lithium aka the She-Wolf

After meeting with staff members of the Ditzy-Ballistic brothers aka Fidel's favorite nephews, he went looking for the She-Wolf.

From the article:

...He met personally with Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., and Rep. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., both Cuban Americans. He also met with staff members for congressmen Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart, both South Florida Republicans.

He said everyone was polite, but no one would commit to doing anything.

''I tried to talk to Ileana, but she didn't want to talk to me,'' Lazo said, referring to Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the first Cuban American elected to Congress.

OUTCOME UNCLEAR

(Ros-Lehtinen's office said it was simply a scheduling problem. After a call from The Herald, Ros-Lehtinen's office was scrambling late Friday to set up a phone call between the congresswoman and Lazo.)

It is unclear what will happen next. Rep. Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican and outspoken critic of the travel restrictions, is considering introducing a measure this week to allow Lazo to travel to Cuba, a spokesman for the congressman said.

[FastHorizon]

11. Americans aren't really allowed to visit North Korea..

although I dont know anyone who wants to.

[Say_What]

12. According the State Dept's website we can travel to North Korea

but not Cuba. Dontcha just love being treated like a child with your mommmy saying 'now, now you can't play over there'.

<clips>

INTERIM CONSULAR PROTECTING POWER: The United States does not maintain diplomatic or consular relations with the DPRK. The U.S. Government therefore cannot provide normal consular protective services to U.S. citizens in North Korea. On September 20, 1995, a consular protecting power arrangement was implemented, allowing the Swedish Embassy in the DPRK capital, Pyongyang, to provide basic consular protective services to U.S. citizens traveling in North Korea who are ill, injured, arrested or who have died while there.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: North Korean visas are required for entry. The U.S. Government does not issue letters to private Americans seeking North Korean visas, even though in the past such letters have sometimes been requested by DPRK Embassies. As most travelers enter North Korea from China, prospective travelers generally also need to obtain a two-entry visa for China. A valid Chinese visa is essential for departing from North Korea at the conclusion of a visit or in an emergency. While the Republic of Korea government is attempting to open direct travel routes to the DPRK, routine travel from the Republic of Korea to the DPRK is currently prohibited. Travel across the demilitarized zone is allowed only infrequently for official and government-authorized cultural and economic exchanges. There are no regularly operating direct commercial flights from South to North Korea at this time. U.S. citizens who arrive in North Korea without a valid U.S. passport and North Korean visa may be detained, arrested, fined or denied entry. Individuals traveling to North Korea report that fees for local travel costs (taxi, tolls, permits and the cost for security personnel assigned to escort foreigner visitors) can be high and arbitrary.


http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_988.html

[cire4]

16. You can....you' have to go to China to get the visa though...

I personally think North Korea would be a fascinating place to visit. It would be an incredibly tough place to travel if you do not know any Korean and do not have any patience, but there is probably no other country like it in the world...

People have been before and enjoyed it...

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/North_Korea/TravelGuide-North_Korea.html

[Say_What]

17. Interesting photos

check the size of this statue

[Say_What]

8. Sign the national petition on Cuba travel

<clips>

For the past 5 years the House of Representatives has voted to end the ban on travel to Cuba. Each year, the bill is changed behind closed doors and the Cuba provision gets taken out. This is partly so that President Bush won't have to make a tough decision about signing or vetoing. As citizens, we're tired of this subversion of democracy.

Below you'll find a petition to U.S. lawmakers on Cuba travel policy. It demands that after they pass the amendments to end the travel ban, the bill must reach the President without changes. We'll be delivering it twice: once before the votes happen in the summer (this is soon, so act now!) and again in the fall, when they usually try to take the amendments out.

The more people we have on the petition at each stage, the more impact the petition will have. So...recruit all your friends, colleagues, and family to sign!

We'll keep you updated through our email listserv about the outcome of the vote.

Thanks for your help,

Mavis Anderson
Philip Schmidt

<clips>

Cuba Travel Petition

Dear Members of Congress:

We, the undersigned, believe that it’s time NOW to lift the ban on legal travel by all Americans to Cuba.

We know that:

* The freedom to travel is a fundamental right of Americans.
* Restoring the freedom to travel will unite Cuban families on both sides of the Florida Straits.
* Allowing travel will also enable our scholars, students, and artists to share information and knowledge, which is consistent with our historic commitment to academic and cultural freedom.
* Lifting the ban on travel to Cuba will help redirect federal resources away from wasteful enforcement activities to bona fide efforts that truly fight terrorism.
* Lifting the ban on travel to Cuba would allow the Treasury Department, which expends substantial resources enforcing these restrictions, to redirect its resources to their more pressing duties in the war against terror.
* Travel helps farmers and businesses promote trade, and it increases American jobs.

For several years now, the will of Congress and the people has been thwarted behind closed doors by a small hard-line minority who are opposed to any changes in current policy. That’s undemocratic and un-American. It must stop.

This year, when votes to lift the travel ban pass both chambers of Congress, we call upon the minority to respect the wishes of the majority. The Cuba amendments passed by Congress must be retained in the final Transportation-Treasury Appropriations bill and sent to the President to be signed into law. As our representatives in Congress, we expect that you will fight to uphold the will of the majority. It’s the right thing to do for Cuba policy, and it’s the right thing to do for our democracy.

America needs a new Cuba policy; it's time to lift the ban on travel.

http://www.lawg.org/tools/petition.htm

[Judi Lynn]

15. Done, and thanks! One of my two Repblican senators,and my Congressman

fully support dropping the travel ban completely, and the embargo.

Even though new measures are voted each year with good majorities in the House and Senate, these important steps get demolished. From your link:

For several years now, the will of Congress and the people has been thwarted behind closed doors by a small hard-line minority who are opposed to any changes in current policy. That’s undemocratic and un-American. It must stop.
(snip)

With enough support our lawmakers will FINALLY produce the veto-proof numbers which will be beyond tampering by the Cuban right-wing Congressional "exiles" and Tom Delay/Dan Burton clan.

[Say_What]

9. Contact Information for Congress, the Administration, and Federal Agencies

Weblinks at LAWG.org site.

http://www.lawg.org/tools/contacting_congress2.htm