The United States prohibits its citizens from traveling to Cuba for tourism. In order to travel to Cuba, visitors must be issued a license.
Sanctioned travel to Cuba is limited to those who have immediate family in Cuba, journalists, official government and educational travel.
It is illegal for U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba by skirting travel regulations. It is illegal and punishable by law to enter Cuba from the Cayman Islands, Mexico, the Bahamas and Canada.
If granted a travel license by the U.S. government, it is illegal to financially contribute to Cuba's economy, such as purchasing items or renting a hotel room.
In April 2009, president Barack Obama granted telecommunication companies permission to travel to and conduct business in Cuba. This lifted sanction allows for cell phone and Internet usage in Cuba.
