Although the United States and Cuba are normalizing their diplomatic relations, travel restrictions will still be in place, particularly for non-Cuban-descent travelers.

According to the latest agreement between the White House and officials in Cuba, certain people are eligible to travel to the island. The agreement will allow people to travel as long as they fit under one of 12 categories.

The White House disclosed:

(1) family visits; (2) official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations; (3) journalistic activity; (4) professional research and professional meetings; (5) educational activities; (6) religious activities; (7) public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions; (8) support for the Cuban people; (9) humanitarian projects; (10) activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes; (11) exportation, importation, or transmission of information or information materials; and (12) certain export transactions that may be considered for authorization under existing regulations and guidelines.

Individuals who are eligible in one of the 12 categories will be given a general license to authorize the travel. Travelers will be able to make arrangements through "any service provider" that complies with the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control's (OFAC) regulations.

A senior Obama administration official noted, during a Dec. 17 press call, travel to Cuba for tourist activities is still prohibited. The official said the tourist-travel ban is still in effect since Congress has defined it as "outside of these 12 categories." The ban for all Americans to travel to the U.S. is an aspect Congress has the ability to reform, but another senior administration official said that Obama "is doing everything that he can with his authority to facilitate travel within the limitations of the law."

"We've already seen Americans take advantage of these steps, there is a significant broadening to include every kind of travel that is licensable under the law, and that should lead to an increase in Americans traveling," said an official during the press call.

While non-Cuban Americans are still banned from traveling to Cuba, specifically if the individual is not classified with any of the 12 categories, people are making preparations to visit Cuba. Travel offices have received contacts to help arrange trips to the country.

"The response in our office has been overwhelming," said Tom Popper, president of Insight Cuba, an organization that has been running tours to Cuba -- legally -- since 2000, according to The Washington Post. "We're flooded. We've never seen anything like it."

Bob Guild, vice president of Marazul Charters, a Miami-based agency that arranges travel to Cuba, admitted a "lack of clarity" to the renewed relations. "Everyone's on hold to see what the Treasury Department will actually print."

As Latin Post reported, the changes to the renewed diplomatic relations will not take an immediate effect. Federal agencies such as OFAC said it will implement "Treasury-specific" changes, in the form of amendments, to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations while the Department of Commerce will also implement changes to its Export Administration Regulations. The Treasury Department acknowledged none of Obama's announcements are in effect until the regulations are issued.

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