By Kevin Liptak, CNN White House Producer

December 18, 2014 -- Updated 0025 GMT (0825 HKT)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Washington (CNN) -- The end of the 50-year freeze in diplomatic relations with Cuba will mean many more U.S. travelers could be on their way to the neighbor island, only 90 miles from Key West, Florida.

But the days of Havana as a glamorous destination for U.S. tourists as it was before the Cuban revolution ended legal U.S. travel there aren't returning quite yet. And while American visitors who do make it to Cuba will be able to return with rum and cigars, exporting them for sale in the United States still isn't in the works.

Historic thaw in U.S.-Cuba standoff

Americans already travel to Cuba in large numbers nearly 100,000 per year, according to Cuban government statistics. The numbers rose after Obama's 2009 easing on some of the restrictions on travel to Cuba, including making it easier for Americans to visit family members there, and a subsequent 2011 announcement allowing for certain types of other trips.

Now Obama is easing up restrictions for other kinds of visitors. Administration officials listed a host traveler types the federal government will now allow to visit: government officials, journalists, professional researchers, educators, religious officials, performers planning public presentations, humanitarians, emissaries of private foundations, and importers or exporters.

Officials say all legitimate applications received by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Asset Control the body that dispenses licenses to for Cuban travel will be approved.

When they visit, Americans will be able to use their credit or debit cards on the island, a convenience previously banned. Agencies inside the United States will be permitted to organize trips. And American telecom equipment will now be allowed into Cuba, making communication with Americans easier.

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Waiting for beaches, cigars