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CNN Live At Daybreak

Airlines, Economy Benefit from Lifting of Cuba Ban

Aired August 02, 2002 - 05:51   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So in its own plodding way, Congress is getting around to lifting restrictions on Americans traveling to Cuba. But like betting on sports, U.S. citizens have found ways around the legal hurdles and are going there anyway.

CNN's Lucia Newman has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A party to celebrate the arrival of one million tourists to Cuba so far this year, a figure tour operators say could quadruple overnight if only Cuba's neighbors, the Americans, were allowed to come here. Lifting the U.S. government travel ban would not only mean millions of desperately needed U.S. dollars for Cuba's cash starved economy, it would also inject up to $1.6 billion into the U.S. economy, according to a recent study commissioned by the Washington-based Center for International Policy, which says U.S. airlines would benefit most.

DOROTHY ROBYN, INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL POLICY: Lifting the travel ban to Cuba would increase revenues to the U.S. airline industry by as much as $415 million a year. That is not enough to turn the airline industry around, but it is a...

NEWMAN: It's more than a drop in the bucket.

ROBYN: It's more than a drop in the bucket, right.

NEWMAN (voice-over): Congress has just approved legislation to stop enforcement of travel restrictions to Cuba and the Senate is expected to do the same shortly. Yet, unrestricted travel by Americans will have to wait.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But unfortunately I don't think we have developed the political support in the House and the Senate that will prevent President Bush from vetoing these measures this year.

NEWMAN: The congressman, one of dozens to visit Cuba this year, hopes that will change in coming years. But people like Philip Agee, a former CIA agent who wrote a tell all expose on the agency in the late '60s, don't want to wait. The spy turned travel agent is encouraging Americans to come on down with new rock bottom prices on flights between South Florida and Havana, via Nassau. PHILIP AGEE, CUBA LINDA TRAVEL: The whole operation will be online and that it will contribute to the movement in the United States to end this absurd separation between Cuba and the United States.

NEWMAN: Of course, that's not the only motivation.

(on camera): Even if it means breaking the law, thousands of Americans are coming here anyway. And businessman are anxious to get a piece of the action before there's more competition.

Lucia Newman, CNN, Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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