Why people leaving Cuba can no longer exchange local bills

The measure comes amid a big drop in tourism and the resulting lack of hard currency, Cuba’s exchange company said.

People leaving Cuba can no longer change their local bills back into dollars, euros or other other hard currency at the official exchange rate under a new policy announced this week. The government closed the airport departure lounge exchange booths that had allowed travellers to change up to $300 at the official rate of 24 Cuban pesos to the dollar — about double the black market rate inside the country. That gives outbound visitors little option but to spend the pesos they’d bought before leaving the country.