SAN FRANCISCO—Online home rental service Airbnb Inc. has expanded its area of operations to Cuba enabling U.S. travelers to book lodging on the communist island.
The expansion comes in the wake of the U.S. government loosening a series of restrictions on U.S. businesses. Previously, the U.S. trade embargo had blocked such businesseses from entering the Cuban market.
Airbnb searches for Cuba will now turn up more than 1,000 properties across the island, with 40 percent in Havana and the rest in tourist destinations, according to the Associated Press. Airbnb’s inventory has reached nearly 30,000 listings globally.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the company only has authorization to work with licensed U.S. travelers but plans to seek permission to facilitate accommodations for non-U.S. travelers as well.