March 31 (Bloomberg) -- Cuban President Raul Castro has ended rules barring most Cubans from staying in the island's hotels as part of a plan to ease `excessive' limits imposed by the communist government, Agence France-Presse reported.

Until now, only foreigners and some Cubans, such as those on their honeymoon, were allowed to stay in hotels on the island, AFP said. Cubans will have to pay the same prices as foreigners visiting the island, the agency said.

The change, which has been confirmed by many of Havana's main hotels, comes days after Castro lifted a ban on ownership of mobile phones by Cubans, AFP said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Laura Price in Sao Paulo lprice3@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: March 31, 2008 10:01 EDT