Orbitz Wants You To Ask The White House For Permission To Travel To Cuba

Orbitz Worldwide has created “opencuba.org,” a site that allows Americans to petition Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary  Clinton and members of Congress to open up Cuba for travel by lifting restrictions currently in place. The United States travel industry has long been salivating and ready to pounce on Cuba when and if the U.S. government eliminates the trade and travel restrictions set in place under Kennedy.

Benny Harford, president of Orbitz, described the site’s goal: “We want to organize our customers and other interested parties to reach out to Obama and other government officials.” And what makes a party interested? Dolla$, sucka. Those who petition via the site will receive a $100 coupon toward a Cuba vacation though Orbitz, redeemable once the travel ban is lifted. 

Which, translated, means: We hope that, if enough money is flashed in front of Uncle Sam’s eyes, the island can be opened up for inebriated Spring Breakers and Burger King franchise owners alike. So let’s talk with Cuba with money as the goal, not with the aim of reaching a political agreement first.

So, vote away. Nothing makes for a finer vacation than visiting a Hyatt® hotel where Cubans are not allowed to set foot or eating a delicious Subway® sandwich while taking in an authentic Cuban bread line. 

We’re biased, yes. We hope the U.S. and Cuba reach an agreement that keeps Cubans on the island (and not necessarily Miami Cubans, hot and smart as they all are) in mind to ensure that they can get good paying jobs so they won’t end up fellating University of Nebraska students or members of the American Association of Dental Hygienists annual convention, continue receiving access to good education, have enough to eat, have the freedom to move around their island, and are able to establish and maintain Cuban-owned businesses. The travel industry, as we see it, should not be a leading force in urging talks between the two nations.

But, hey. That’s just us. What you guys think? And are you hoping to visit Cuba when and if the travel restrictions are lifted?

Orbitz launches a Cuba strategy [Orbitz]