Although Korea and Cuba have established diplomatic relations, obstacles to Cuban tourism still remain. The point is that when visiting Cuba, it will be difficult to enter the United States without a visa through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the United States has been implementing a policy of not applying the visa waiver program to visitors to Cuba since July of last year. Anyone who has visited Cuba since January 12, 2021, when the United States designated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, will not be able to issue an ESTA, and those who already have an ESTA may also be refused entry.
ESTA is a system that applies to visa-free visits to the United States for tourist or commercial purposes for up to 90 days under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) between Korea and the United States.
The U.S. State Department said on its website, “Even if an ESTA has already been issued, if the traveler has stayed in Cuba since then, the ESTA will be cancelled. Anyone who wants to travel to the U.S. must apply for a visa at the U.S. embassy in each country.” However, people who visit Cuba for government or military-related official duties can receive an ESTA.
In fact, in a recent broadcast, travel YouTubers such as Kwak Tube, who visited Cuba, also revealed that they had to apply for an interview for a tourist visa at the U.S. Embassy in Korea to travel to the United States. This applies not only to Korea, but also to citizens of countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada, which are U.S. allies and have diplomatic relations with Cuba. For this reason, social media travel posts are filled with debate over whether to give up visa-free entry to the U.S. or travel to Cuba.
A diplomatic source said, “The United States strengthened sanctions against Cuba last year, and the purpose is to give overseas travelers who visit Cuba the disadvantage of ‘strict entry into the United States.’” For this reason, concerns about a decline in tourists in Cuba have been growing since the second half of last year (July-December).
Nevertheless, there are expectations that economic cooperation between the two countries will expand. In 2022, Korea’s exports to Cuba amounted to only $14 million (about 19 billion won). The business community believes that domestic companies’ air conditioners, smartphones, and medical devices will be competitive in the Cuban market. However, Yoo Seong-jun, head of KOTRA’s Abanamu Station, said in a phone call with the Dong-A Ilbo, “It is positive in that exchanges between the two countries have officially become possible through the establishment of diplomatic relations, but short-term trade changes will be limited as U.S. economic sanctions against Cuba have not been eased.”
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.