Posted on 10/20/2003 12:24:59 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
HAVANA - (AP) -- Cuban President Fidel Castro told American tour operators Sunday that if U.S. restrictions on travel are lifted, visitors will find Cuban tourism workers to be well educated.
Tourism workers must have good knowledge of a broad range of subjects, Castro told the group during the surprise encounter at Havana's convention center.
''If not, how will they speak with the tourists?'' he said.
Castro told the Americans that Cuba depended on tourism to pay for its free healthcare and education programs.
The encounter with the Cuban leader was closed to all but a few international journalists who traveled here Sunday with the Americans.
About 40 U.S. tour operators visited Cuba, ignoring the Bush administration's crackdown on American travel to the communist island.
The Americans flew here for a firsthand look at tourist locales after a two-day Cuba travel conference in the Mexican Caribbean resort of Cancun.
''We are now asking when -- and not if'' the U.S. restrictions on travel to Cuba will be eliminated, said Matt Grayson, government affairs director for the National Tour Association.
Conference organizer Kirby Jones of Washington said a loophole in the U.S. travel restrictions allowed the operators to visit the island legally for the day because they were fully hosted and did not spend any money.
The group was flying back to Cancun on Sunday evening.
U.S. travel companies have been fighting for an end to the restrictions, even as President Bush has pushed to tighten them.
After a morning flight to Havana, the group was whisked off for a tour of some of Havana's hotels, a walk across historic Old Havana and a visit with communist officials.
Why is the word 'free' always used by socialists and Communists in this false manner? The statement quoted above makes no sense. If something is 'free' then why must it be paid for by someone?
And in further news....The Administration, in Reply to the National Tour Association changed it's stance from No, to "When Hell freezes Over".....
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