United States tightens measures against tourism in Cuba

Reports of the Melia hotel chain deemed outrageous today the new US maneuvers against Cuban tourism, with particular impact on this company.

A message from Melia adds on Friday that once again the Trump administration takes a meddling stance on Cuba and its business partners.

The new measure consists in the prohibition of entrance to the US of Melia's Vice Chairman and CEO, Gabriel Escarrer.

Washington justified this action due to the presence of this Spanish hotel chain in Cuba. As of now the target of the extraterritoriality of the White House policy is the Spanish CEO. According to a statement issued by the chain, Escarrer himself confirms that he received a few months ago a letter from the US Department of State, in which he was informed of a series of conditions.

These conditions are related to the activity of the company in Cuba, and if he did not accept them within 45 days, he would be banned from entering the United States.

With 38 hotels in Cuba, this company is one of those affected by the aforementioned law.

Melia reiterates that the conditions imposed by the US Department of State are not acceptable to the company. Besides, its compliance is contrary to European law, known as the Blocking Statute.

This Statute considers that the Helms-Burton Act violates the most elementary principles of international law.

From May 2019, when Washington decided to enforce Title III of the Helms-Burton Act to this day, there are about twenty lawsuits under way against international companies with investments in Cuba.