The most hard core American travelers haven’t been stopped by the Cuban travel-ban. But it has stopped plenty of people who could use a good cultural experience a hop-skip-and-jump from Florida. So it’s very good news that the nearly 50 year American travel ban to Cuba may soon be lifted.

The travel-ban, and other American policies towards Cuba, never made any sense to me. It seem like a blunt tool of political vengeance. Long after Bay of Pigs and the missile crisis, America got caught up in other conflicts with communism, like Viet Nam. And yet Viet Nam, where there was a much harder fought conflict on the other side of the world, has fairly warm relations with the states. I suppose it all come down to the political power of the Cuban exiles in Florida who can swing a presidential vote.

I only fear that Cuba’s opening will result in cheap all inclusive tourist resorts. However, if the Cuban government can keep tourism on it’s own terms, I’m sure it will mean good thing for Americans and Cubans alike.