TripAdvisor is among the first US travel companies to receive a license from the United States treasury department’s office of foreign assets control to provide and sell travel-related services to travellers from around the world booking trips to Cuba.

The license permits TripAdvisor to promote educational and cultural engagement between global travellers and the Cuban people.

TripAdvisor’s license also eases many of the prior commercial restrictions regarding travel to the country.

“TripAdvisor believes that travel has the power to bring people together, facilitates understanding and appreciation of new cultures, and makes us a more enlightened people.

“Cuba continues to be one of the only countries in the world where the United States imposes significant travel restrictions.

“We applaud President Obama’s policies to ease these restrictions and build relations with our island neighbour just 90 miles south of Florida,” said Stephen Kaufer, president, TripAdvisor.

“TripAdvisor looks forward to helping travellers all over the world discover Cuba’s vibrant history, people and culture as we begin the important work to make these trips possible.”

Effective immediately under the new license, TripAdvisor is permitted to facilitate travel bookings to Cuba for both US and non-US travellers, including through its instant booking platform for hotels, hotel price comparison search (metasearch), display advertising, flights, cultural tours and attractions, and short-term rentals.

TripAdvisor has long been a resource for international travellers looking to discover the best places to stay and dine in Cuba, and continues to provide suggestions for things to do, places to eat, and cultural activities to explore for travellers while in the country.

Now that the license has been granted, TripAdvisor expects to begin cultural travel-related sales to Cuba within the next few months.

Earlier this year, TripAdvisor executives made their first official visit to Cuba for a fact-finding mission and to support US legislative action.

The company will continue to build relationships inside Cuba and with the US government to further open relations between our two countries.