Ad Hoc Coalition of Travel Professionals and

Clients for Freedom to Travel to Cuba

355 West 39^th Street, ground floor, New York, NY 10018

phone 212-760-9903 e-mail cubanow@ffrd.org

A message to travel professionals:

Visiting this page probably means that you have already signed the petition for freedom to travel to Cuba, or are considering doing so.

Less than two years ago an organized campaign by American farmers and agribusinesses succeeded in bringing about relaxation of the 40 year old US embargo of Cuba to allow sales of food products that so far total more than $500 million. That change was resisted by the same political forces that today resist ending travel restrictions--for the same special interest reasons.

Not many members of the House and Senate have voters in their district who are committed to maintaining travel restrictions. But they don’t realize that they do have constituents whose business would really benefit from allowing freedom to travel. You are one of the people who can send that message by signing the petition, or, even more strongly, by writing a letter on your business letterhead. For a sample letter click here.

You can also help a great deal by encouraging colleagues and major clients to sign the petition. All it takes is an e-mail message to your lists containing a personal endorsement and the petition url: www.petitiononline.com/cubanow1/petition.html.

Another way to build the campaign is to download and print out the petition (pdf). Bring it to local ASTA or Chamber of Commerce meetings and make it available at your office. (People attending such meetings may also be interested in the abbreviated or full versions of our fact sheet "The Promise of Cuba for US Travel Agents", also available to download and reprint.) abbreviated version, full version

The Ad Hoc Coalition of Travel Professionals and Clients for Freedom of Travel to Cuba exists solely for the purpose of assisting the growth of a potentially influential grass roots movement. It is facilitated by the Fund for Reconciliation and Development (FRD), an eighteen year old not-for-profit organization that has played a similar catalytic role in bringing about normal US trade, cultural and diplomatic relations with Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

If you would like to be part of a formal membership organization, please consider joining the Association of Travel-Related Professionals www.atripusa.org

The Ad Hoc Coalition does not have membership dues. However, Pay Pal donations are very welcome and will enable us to circulate the petition further, for example by ads in the trade press. When donating through PayPal, please specify that your donation is for the Ad Hoc Coalition.

If you have questions or suggestions, please e-mail cubanow@ffrd.org or call Zach Berman at 212-760-9903. Additional background information and useful links are available on this page.

Sincerely,

John McAuliff

Executive Director