VOA标准英语 US Charter Firms Expect Rise in Cuba Travel Traffic

U.S. charter companies are readying for a surge in the numbers of Cuban-Americans seeking to travel to the Cuba, now that President Obama has dropped restrictions¹ on family visits. Supporters of the decision say ending the 2004 restrictions may help the push for democratic change inside the communist nation. Others disagree, saying the influx² of American money could bolster³ Cuba's government.
　
Cubans enter the AmeriCuba travel agency in Hialeah, Florida, 14 May 2009

Cuban-American neighborhoods in Miami are dotted with specialized⁴ firms offering charter airfare and shipping⁵ services into Cuba. Decades of U.S. restrictions and trade and travel to the Communist nation mean that only certain people qualify to travel or send goods and money to the island. Monday, President Obama signed an order easing the limits on Cuban-Americans seeking to visit family members on the island.

At the Camaguey travel agency, Amada Roque says many Cuban-Americans have been waiting for the change for some time.

She says she expects to see a surge in Cuban-American travelers unlike anything seen in recent years.

But Roque says few are jumping to buy tickets so soon after Monday's announcement. One problem is that Cuban-Americans, like many others, are hurting in the current economic condition in the United States.

She says travel is a luxury for many people. But in this case, there is a need for people to be with their families.

Keeping campaign promises

Many Cuban-Americans with family on the island say they suffered because of the 2004 rule imposed by former President George W. Bush. The rule limited trips to direct family members, and also limited the frequency to once every three years.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said President Obama made a promise on the campaign trail to change the policy.

"I think maybe the best way to sum this up is the way the President summed this up last year - to say that there are no better ambassadors for freedom than Cuban-Americans," said Gibbs.

One leading Miami group, the Cuban-American National Foundation, welcomed the president's decision. Its leader Pepe Hernandez said the old rule was wrong.

"A country that represents democracy should not be in the business of restricting family relationships," said Hernandez.

Cubans welcome decision, ask for more

Critics of Cuba's government say Havana charges hefty currency exchange fees to U.S. travelers. They say an increase in U.S. visitors could boost state coffers.

In Cuba, former President Fidel Castro says the Obama administration's decision to allow unlimited⁶ family travel and remittances⁷ to Cuba is "positive, but minimal⁸."

Castro wants more changes

In a new online column published Tuesday, Mr. Castro said more changes are needed in U.S. policy toward the island.

Some fear the Havana government could withhold⁹ entry visas to stem the flow of Cuban-Americans to the island. But at Miami airport, Cuban-Americans returning home said the news was welcomed on the island.

Public school worker Fidel Pereira had visited his family in Havana.

He said people he knows in the United States and in Cuba are very supportive. He says Cuban-Americans want to help their families, because if they cannot do that, then no one else will.

Back to Cuba

Back at the Camaguey travel agency, Celia Delgado said she was planning for a trip to Havana next month to see a granddaughter she has not seen in years. She said from now on she can visit her family as often as she likes.

Delgado said instead of traveling to Dominican Republic or somewhere else for a vacation weekend, she could be in Cuba with her family, even for just a few days.

More changes ahead

In the U.S.Congress, some lawmakers are working on a measure that would enable all Americans to visit Cuba. Supporters say it could increase the pressure for democratic change in Cuba. But critics disagree. They say decades of visits by Canadians and Europeans have had no impact on the Communist Cuba.

At a summit this weekend in Trinidad and Tobago, Latin American leaders are expected to pressure President Obama to relax U.S. restrictions to Cuba even more.

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 influx   

n.流入，注入

参考例句：

• The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.这个国家实在不能接纳这么多涌入的难民。
• Textile workers favoured protection because they feared an influx of cheap cloth.纺织工人拥护贸易保护措施，因为他们担心涌入廉价纺织品。

3 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

4 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

5 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

6 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

7 remittances   

n.汇寄( remittance的名词复数 )；汇款，汇款额

参考例句：

• He sends regular remittances to his parents. 他定期汇款给他父母。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Remittances sometimes account for as much as 20% of GDP. 在这些国家中，此类汇款有时会占到GDP的20%之多。 来自互联网

8 minimal   

adj.尽可能少的，最小的

参考例句：

• They referred to this kind of art as minimal art.他们把这种艺术叫微型艺术。
• I stayed with friends, so my expenses were minimal.我住在朋友家，所以我的花费很小。

9 withhold   

v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡

参考例句：

• It was unscrupulous of their lawyer to withhold evidence.他们的律师隐瞒证据是不道德的。
• I couldn't withhold giving some loose to my indignation.我忍不住要发泄一点我的愤怒。