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Public charter flights from the United States will be permitted to travel only to Havana. Here, the entrance to the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, September 25, 2019. REUTERS / Alexandre Meneghini

Washington is toughening economic sanctions against Cuba by hitting the tourism industry that drives the Cuban economy. The US government has decided to drastically limit flights between the United States and the Communist Island.

The new US sanctions concern public charter flights from the United States. They will be allowed to travel only to Havana and not to other airports on the island. Nine Cuban airports are affected by this new measure.

Washington already adopted such a decision on October 25 for commercial flights . It is a blow to Cuban tourism, the second source of income in the country.

The number of Americans who have visited Cuba has already decreased by 20% last year , mainly due to the ban on American cruise ships docking on the island.

According to American Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo, this new measure will further reduce the financial capacities that the Cuban regime uses to finance the repression of its people and support President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.

For its part, the Cuban government denounces a " serious violation of the human rights and freedom of travel of the Americans ".

Since his arrival at the White House, Donald Trump has increased the blockade against Cuba, breaking with the policy of rapprochement of his predecessor Barack Obama .

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