American tourism in Cuba

Yahoo News

February 3, 2014 at 6:20 AM

In this Jan. 23, 2014 photo, tourists traveling with the "people-to-people" program make a purchase in a Cuban agricultural market in Havana, Cuba. Tour operators insist they're supporting local organic farmers, performers, artists, musicians and entrepreneurs who run private restaurants, adding that the Cuban government's involvement in scheduling is minimal and agendas carefully comply with U.S. rules barring sun-and-sand tourism. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

In this picture taken Sept 10, 2012, two people watch the sunset from the bay in Havana, Cuba. When the Obama administration loosened travel restrictions to Cuba, the thought was that Americans were going to pour into the island on legal cultural exchanges. But several U.S. travel operators complain that, just over a year after the U.S. re-instituted so-called people-to-people exchanges to Cuba, applications to renew their licenses are languishing, forcing cancellations, layoffs and the loss of millions of dollars in revenue. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

In this picture taken Sept 11, 2012, Russian tourists take pictures of themselves with a Cuban woman dressed in a traditional outfit who takes tips for posing for photos outside the Cathedral in Havana, Cuba. When the Obama administration loosened travel restrictions to Cuba, the thought was that Americans were going to pour into the island on legal cultural exchanges. But several U.S. travel operators complain that, just over a year after the U.S. re-instituted so-called people-to-people exchanges to Cuba, applications to renew their licenses are languishing, forcing cancellations, layoffs and the loss of millions of dollars in revenue. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

In this picture taken Sept 11, 2012, a tourist buys a baseball cap in front of the cathedral in Havana, Cuba. When the Obama administration loosened travel restrictions to Cuba, the thought was that Americans were going to pour into the island on legal cultural exchanges. But several U.S. travel operators complain that, just over a year after the U.S. re-instituted so-called people-to-people exchanges to Cuba, applications to renew their licenses are languishing, forcing cancellations, layoffs and the loss of millions of dollars in revenue. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

In this picture taken Sept 11, 2012, a tourist stands inside an open-air tourist bus in Havana, Cuba. When the Obama administration loosened travel restrictions to Cuba, the thought was that Americans were going to pour into the island on legal cultural exchanges. But several U.S. travel operators complain that, just over a year after the U.S. re-instituted so-called people-to-people exchanges to Cuba, applications to renew their licenses are languishing, forcing cancellations, layoffs and the loss of millions of dollars in revenue. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

In this picture taken Sept. 11, 2012, a woman, who makes money posing for tourists, holds an oversized cigar as she waits for customers, in Havana, Cuba. When the Obama administration loosened travel restrictions to Cuba, the thought was that Americans were going to pour into the island on legal cultural exchanges. But several U.S. travel operators complain that, just over a year after the U.S. re-instituted so-called people-to-people exchanges to Cuba, applications to renew their licenses are languishing, forcing cancellations, layoffs and the loss of millions of dollars in revenue. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

In this picture taken Sept 10, 2012, tourists take pictures of the Havana skyline from the Morro Castle in Cuba. When the Obama administration loosened travel restrictions to Cuba, the thought was that Americans were going to pour into the island on legal cultural exchanges. But several U.S. travel operators complain that, just over a year after the U.S. re-instituted so-called people-to-people exchanges to Cuba, applications to renew their licenses are languishing, forcing cancellations, layoffs and the loss of millions of dollars in revenue. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

In this Jan. 23, 2014 photo, tourists traveling in the "people-to-people" program watch a Cuban dance demonstration in Havana, Cuba. Two and a half years after the program was reinstated, 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. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

In this Jan. 23, 2014 photo, tourists traveling with the "people-to -people" program walk on a Havana street after a test purchase in a Cuban agricultural market in Havana, Cuba. Two and a half years after the program was reinstated, 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. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

In this Jan. 23, 2014 photo, tourists traveling in the "people-to-people" program watch a Cuban dance demonstration in Havana, Cuba. Tour operators insist they're supporting local organic farmers, performers, artists, musicians and entrepreneurs who run private restaurants, adding that the Cuban government's involvement in scheduling is minimal and agendas carefully comply with U.S. rules barring sun-and-sand tourism. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

In this Jan. 23, 2014 photo, Ellen Landsberger a tourists from New York, traveling in the "people-to-people" program shows her tour bus driver what she bought in a Cuban agricultural market in Havana, Cuba. Two and a half years after the program was reinstated, 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. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

In this picture taken Sept 10, 2012, tourists attend a canon ceremony at the Morro Castle in Havana, Cuba. When the Obama administration loosened travel restrictions to Cuba, the thought was that Americans were going to pour into the island on legal cultural exchanges. But several U.S. travel operators complain that, just over a year after the U.S. re-instituted so-called people-to-people exchanges to Cuba, applications to renew their licenses are languishing, forcing cancellations, layoffs and the loss of millions of dollars in revenue. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

In this Jan. 23, 2014 photo, tourists traveling with the "people-to-people" program make a purchase in a Cuban agricultural market in Havana, Cuba. Tour operators insist they're supporting local organic farmers, performers, artists, musicians and entrepreneurs who run private restaurants, adding that the Cuban government's involvement in scheduling is minimal and agendas carefully comply with U.S. rules barring sun-and-sand tourism. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

In this Jan. 23, 2014 photo, tourists traveling with the "people-to-people" program make a purchase in a Cuban agricultural market in Havana, Cuba. Tour operators insist they're supporting local organic farmers, performers, artists, musicians and entrepreneurs who run private restaurants, adding that the Cuban government's involvement in scheduling is minimal and agendas carefully comply with U.S. rules barring sun-and-sand tourism. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

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. (AP)

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American tourism in Cuba

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