What’s the Latest: Canadians choosing pricier destinations over Cuba amid crisis: travel agents
Canadian airlines have indefinitely suspended flights to Cuba due to severe fuel shortages triggered by the United States‘ oil blockade. Travel agents report a notable shift in Canadian travellers opting for pricier destinations like Mexico and the Dominican Republic as a result.
Canadian airlines indefinitely suspended flights to Cuba earlier this year following the U.S. oil blockade that resulted in severe fuel shortages. Statistics Canada reported a significant decline in Canadian visits to Cuba, dropping from over a million annually before the pandemic to approximately 127,000 in the first quarter of this year.
In response to ongoing travel disruptions due to the U.S. oil blockade on Cuba, the Canadian government continues to advise its citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to the island. As travel agents report a significant decline in bookings for Cuba, clients are shifting their preferences to alternative destinations such as Mexico and the Dominican Republic, leading to earlier reservations for better pricing.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain how the suspension of flights and the U.S. oil blockade will impact Cuba’s long-term tourism recovery.
Canadians opt for costlier holiday destinations as Cuba flights are suspended
As the winter holiday season approaches, Canadian travellers are increasingly turning to more expensive destinations, moving away from Cuba. This shift follows significant travel disruptions caused by the United States’ oil blockade, which resulted in fuel shortages on the island and led Canadian airlines to suspend flights indefinitely. Travel agents report that Canadians are exploring alternatives, with Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and other Caribbean locales seeing a surge in interest.
Ashley Harold, a travel agent at Flight Centre Canada, noted that “Canadians are really spreading their winter travel across a much wider mix of destinations.” She mentioned cruise options and tours to warmer places like Costa Rica and Peru as attractive prospects for those seeking sunny escapes. Additionally, there has been a notable increase in domestic tourism, with Canadians opting to explore local winter destinations.
Statistics Canada indicates a significant decline in Canadian visits to Cuba; from over a million annually before the pandemic, numbers dropped to approximately 700,000 in 2025, with only 127,000 visits recorded in the first quarter of this year. The decline followed the imposition of the oil blockade and a subsequent travel advisory from the Canadian government, which continues to recommend avoiding non-essential travel to Cuba.
John Wood, president of Durham Travel, reported a dramatic fall in travel sales to Cuba, dropping from over $389,000 last year to just $24,000 this year. In contrast, sales for the Dominican Republic have increased significantly, reflecting a shift in Canadian holiday preferences. “The Dominican Republic appears to have absorbed most of the difference from Cuba,” Wood stated, while also addressing concerns regarding crime in Mexico.
As prices for all-inclusive packages rise, travellers accustomed to Cuba’s affordability may need to adjust their expectations. Harold highlighted that trips to popular Caribbean destinations have increased in cost, with comparable trips to Mexico and the Dominican Republic averaging around £1,800. She concluded, “I think this is a great opportunity for Canadians to branch out a little bit more with their travels and experience something new.”
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