It just became a lot more difficult to travel to Cuba again

"People to people" travel between the United States and Cuba will no longer be allowed, the Treasury Department said in a statement on Tuesday.

Even before the U.S. restored full diplomatic relations with Cuba in 2014, the most common way for Americans to travel to the island nation was through guided group trips focused on education and culture. But the Trump administration, which has attempted to refashion some of the binds between the two countries loosened under the Obama administration, has banned this form of travel. The U.S. will also now deny licenses for private and corporate aircraft and boats to travel to Cuba, The Hill reports.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Cuba's support for the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was a key factor in the decision.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

"Cuba continues to play a destabilizing role in the Western Hemisphere, providing a communist foothold in the region and propping up U.S. adversaries in places like Venezuela and Nicaragua by fomenting instability, undermining the rule of law, and suppressing democratic processes," he said.

While it will become more difficult or most Americans to take a trip to Cuba for the sake of exploring the country, opportunities still remain open for university groups, academic research, journalism, and other forms of professional meetings.