Washington, Aug 20 (Prensa Latina) The possibility that President Barack Obama takes new steps to ease the travel restrictions to Cuba is the focus of a debate of the policy towards the island.

Sources quoted by ABC News said the President plans to use his executive powers to ease the travel restriction imposed by Congress to US citizens wishing to visit Cuba.

According to ABC, the Treasury Department is now considering new regulations that would allow all Americans to travel to Cuba as individuals and not in tour groups or with other third-party arrangers.

Talks are already underway between the Federal Aviation Administration and Cuban aviation authorities to resume regularly scheduled non-charter or commercial flights between the two countries, ABC adds.

While no specific timetable exists for the aviation agreement, it could come as soon as the end of the year. These two changes are being developed separately by the two U.S. government agencies but, when complete, would allow Americans to book tickets to the island nation without going by charter. Those are now the only flights from the United States to Cuba because of restrictions by the blockade.

US citizens going to Cuba would still have to fall into one of the 12 pre-approved licenses to travel, but would merely attest to compliance on-line or at the airport as they buy a ticket. No special visa would be required.

ABC News has also learned Obama plans to loosen credit to Cuba so the country, which has little hard currency, can buy U.S. goods, especially agriculture.

A Wall Street Journal article reported yesterday that the White House was taking steps to resume commercial flights to Cuba, however the State Department said that authorities from both nations are still discussing the issue but there is no decision about it yet.