LEAD: Rumours rife in Cuba about lifting of travel restrictions

Dec 23, 2011, 20:22 GMT

Havana/Buenos Aires - Rumours were rife Friday that Cuban President Raul Castro might lift travel restrictions and allow people to go in and out of the country more freely.

Cuban authorities have not officially commented on any such plans. Castro himself admitted in August that communist Cuba was working to update its travel rules, and no further developments have been known since.

'The rumour that Raul Castro might announce Friday a flexiblization of entry and exit restrictions is keeping me awake,' award-winning Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez wrote Thursday.

Sanchez, a dissident, has consistently been denied the right to travel in recent years. The latest entry in her blog, Generacion Y, had the suggestive title 'With my suitcase ready.'

Pro-government blogger Yohandry Fontana noted the same rumours. He wrote that changes to migrations requirements might be announced Friday, though he stressed that he had no official information.

To legally travel abroad, Cubans currently need an official exit permit, which, if granted at all, comes only through a long process that will cost them around 500 dollars. They also need an invitation letter and a visa for the country they plan to visit, plus a ticket to travel.

Cubans who have left the country still face restrictions concerning their return.

Despite these hurdles, many have left illegally over the decades, motivated to escape Cuba over what they perceive as harsh economic and political conditions. Many so-called 'balseros' have died in the efforts, often on overloaded, rickety or makeshift boats.

Speculation reportedly reached the streets of Havana, though most Cubans do not have access to the internet.

Vast numbers of Cubans have relatives among the island's more than 2 million exiles.

'There is the expectation that it may happen soon. That's what you hear on the street,' a 58-year-old Cuban told dpa, speaking on condition of anonymity.

But the rumors had not spread to everyone.

Rene Rodriguez called it 'a lie,' telling dpa that he had heard nothing of the proposed reforms.

Yasser, a street vendor in the Havana neighbourhood of Vedado, had a similar reaction: 'I have heard nothing about that so far.'

More open travel and visa rules would follow a series of significant economic reforms in Cuba in recent years.

Earlier this week, banks started granting loans to farmers and others in the country's small but growing private sector, after the communist state lifted some restrictions.

There has been an easing of limits on state-owned firms, allowing them a greater flexibility to subcontract private-sector firms for their services. Such operations were previously only allowed for very small amounts of money.

New rules set by the Cuban Central Bank and the Finance Ministry allow banks to grant personal loans to stimulate private consumption.

Other reforms introduced over the last two years include allowing people to buy and sell their cars and homes for the first time in more than 50 years. Cubans have been allowed to stay in the island's luxury hotels, previously only for foreigners, and to own computers and cellphones.

Even some well-known supporters of the Cuban government, like singer Silvio Rodriguez, have long advocated an end to travel restrictions.