Orbitz Wants to Open Cuba for American Tourists--Plus, Free Coupons!

This is an interesting development, a sure sign that our 50-year ban on travel or trade with Cuba is coming to an end. Internet travel company Orbitz has stepped into the treacherous waters of politics by publicly calling for an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba--even setting up a separate web site at www.opencuba.org.

At OpenCuba.org, you can sign a petition supporting an end to the embargo, as well as find out more about the island. And once you sign, they'll send you a free coupon worth $100 to use on Orbitz.com once the ban on travel to Cuba is lifted.

Very interesting. This shows Orbitz has balls, but I'm cynical enough to question its motives. Orbitz stands to make lots of money if this ban is lifted--and why hasn't the company spoken out before? I'd prefer it if companies would speak out because it's the RIGHT thing to do and not just to make money. Silly me.

Hordes of American tourists descending on Cuba could be good or bad, and only time will tell. I also fear that other U.S. companies that once had a pre-embargo presence in Cuba will resurrect their attempts to regain property which was previously seized by the Cuban government.

Here's a more in-depth article on the development.