"I am confident the president will keep his commitment on Cuba policy by making changes that are targeted and strategic and which advance the Cuban people's aspirations for economic and political liberty", Florida Senator Marco Rubio said in a statement.
Americans who go to Cuba, who beyond hotels can stay at privately owned inns, could face problems when they return if they are found to have patronized the GAES.
According to the Washington Post, Donald Trump will travel to Miami, at the heart of the Cuban exile community in Little Havana, to announce the new policy approach. The venue, a former church, is named after one of the leaders of the Brigade 2506 Bay of Pigs veterans whose group endorsed Trump last October.
A change in former President Barack Obama's policy toward Cuba has been long expected.
The Trump administration has promised to reinstate the regulations, citing "human rights" concerns.
Later in the year, on the campaign trail in Miami during the fall election campaign, Trump condemned Obama's normalization of relations between the two countries, which he called a "one-sided deal for Cuba and with Cuba, benefits only the Castro regime".
That means those looking to participate in people-to-people educational exchanges will, again, have to do so with a group. Travelers would be subject to Treasury Department scrutiny of their trip and could face fines if it did not comply with rules.
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In addition to keeping open embassies in Washington and Havana, the two governments are expected to continue negotiating on a variety of problems of mutual concern and some commercial US flights and cruises crossing the 90 miles separating the two countries could continue. However, the policy changes appear to allow Marriott, Starwood's parent company, to continue operating the hotel.
While the US prohibits tourism to Cuba, the US Treasury Department now allows travelers to "self-license" under 12 different categories of travel, such as educational tours and participating in sporting events.
Those on both sides of the issue say the Starwood decision was particularly vexing for the administration. He re-established diplomatic relations with Havana in 2015 and loosened some restrictions on doing business in the country. Those in favor of an open Cuba and those in the travel industry can take some solace that several specific Obama-era policies will remain in effect, such as direct, commercial flights between the two countries.
"My administration's policy will be guided by key United States national security interests and solidarity with the Cuban people", the draft of the eight-page Presidential Policy Directive said, according to the website.
Critics said the changes would only hurt everyday Cubans who work in the private sector and depend on American visitors to help provide for their families.
Tourism is technically banned under the embargo, but under the Obama administration, relaxed regulations allowed Americans to visit Cuba under people-to-people travel.





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