 |
| photo by Les Haines via Flickr |
With the loosening of travel restrictions to Cuba, interest in visiting Cuba has skyrocketed the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) reports, noting that more than a dozen tour operator members of USTOA already offer “people to people” cultural immersion trips.
“Can Americans jump on a plane today to visit Cuba? The short answer is ‘no,’ at least not for some time until commercial flights begin and the infrastructure is in place,” said Terry Dale, president and CEO of USTOA. “But, U.S. travelers can visit Cuba today through the existing cultural programs offered by tour operators, such as the members of USTOA.”
Cuba was named one of the top emerging destinations for 2015 in a survey by active members of USTOA conducted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) in the fall. Ranking second behind Myanmar, Cuba’s appearance on the list was driven by increased demand for the people to people exploration, according to Dale.
“This is the first time Cuba has debuted on USTOA’s list of top emerging destinations, and given the continually growing demand to visit the culturally rich nation, our tour operator members plan to enhance and expand their already popular itineraries to offer more extensive, immersive programs to Cuba,” he said.
A sampling of itineraries from USTOA members include:
Globus is offering three itineraries to Cuba in 2015, two of which are new. The nine-day “Eastern Cuba’s Hidden Gems” tour includes a wide range of immersive educational activities. Available on select dates between April and October 2015, prices start at $2,719, land only. www.globusjourneys.com
Collette’s “Rediscover Cuba-A Cultural Exploration” is an educational journey. Available February through May 2015, prices for this seven-night itinerary start at $3,979 per person, land only, based on double occupancy.www.gocollette.com
Alexander + Roberts’ “Undiscovered Cuba” small group journey showcases smaller towns rarely visited by American travelers. The 13-day journey is available February 8, March 8 and 29, April 26, May 17, June 7, and July 19, 2015. Prices start at $5,795 per person, land only, based on double occupancy.www.alexanderroberts.com
The nine-day “Havana Highlights” tour from Explorica Inc. is available year-round, prices start at $2,897. www.explorica.com
Mayflower Tours’ “Cuba Experience 2015” is available April 5, May 10 and May 17, prices for this nine-day journey start at $4,199 per person twin. www.mayflowertours.com
Travcoa offers a seven or 10-day “Cuba: Community, Culture & Cuisine” escorted tour available February 3 and 19, March 19, April 7 and 23, and May 7. Prices for the seven-day tour start at $5,395 and prices for the 10-day tour start at $7,395. www.travcoa.com
Visit www.ustoa.com