Airbnb hosts in Cuba face setbacks after Trump's announcement

Entrepreneurs face cancelations from U.S. tourists

HAVANA, Cuba ā€“ Airbnb hosts in Havana started to get cancelations right after President Donald Trump announced he was reinstating the travel restrictions for U.S. travelers to Cuba.

Airbnb, which began to operate on the island in 2015, has been of great help to Julia De La Rosa. She runs a bed and breakfast with 10 bedrooms and a capacity for about 20 guests.

"We were having a lot of North American travelers and now we are not sure if we're going to have people from the U.S. visiting Cuba anymore," De La Rosa said.

Trump instructed officials June 16 to start writing the new regulations before July 9. The U.S. government won't start implementing them until they are issued.

According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury tourists who made arrangements before June 16 won't be affected. Although the 12 authorized categories are still allowed, De La Rosa said Trump's announcement felt like a setback.

"American travelers are afraid," De La Rosa said.

Under the new regulations, educational travel must be with a group. It should include an itinerary and a guide. After the rules take effect, the U.S. Treasury will enforce the audits and issue penalties to violators.

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About the Authors:

In January 2017, Hatzel Vela became the first local television journalist in the country to move to Cuba and cover the island from the inside. During his time living and working in Cuba, heĀ covered some of the most significant stories in a post-Fidel Castro Cuba.Ā 

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.