In an effort to promote education and connection, the Austin Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Explorations are hosting two organized trips to Cuba.
"Rediscover Cuba–A Cultural Exploration," which is scheduled for April 26–May 4 and June 14–22, will include visits to historical sites such as the Cathedral de la Havana, the Museo Fine Arts and author Ernest Hemingway's farm. At night, attendees will be able to see the nightlife with dancing, dining and drinking.
"It's an opportunity that is something different and outside the box," said Jan Riepen, Austin Chamber of Commerce senior vice president. "Your whole world opens up beyond what you usually experience."
Since 2011, U.S. cultural tourism groups have been allowed to travel to Cuba as long as the trip is organized through a licensed operator as a "people-to-people exchange" and meets certain educational or cultural requirements. The chamber-organized Cuba trip meets those requirements, providing a rare opportunity for exploration in the nation, Riepen said.
