Canadians choosing pricier destinations over Cuba amid crisis: travel agents

The Canadian travel industry is witnessing a shift as Canadians opt for more expensive destinations over Cuba due to the country's ongoing crisis. The United States' oil blockade against Cuba has led to severe fuel shortages, prompting Canadian airlines to suspend flights to the island. As a result, travel agents report that Canadians are now spreading their winter travel across a wider mix of destinations, including Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Barbados, and Jamaica.

Many are also considering Caribbean cruises or tours to warmer locations such as Costa Rica or Peru. Domestic tourism is also gaining traction, with Canadians choosing to explore their own backyard. The decline in Cuban vacations has led Canadians to make reservations in other destinations much earlier for better pricing and choice.

Cuba, which welcomed over a million Canadians annually before the pandemic, now sees around 700,000 visits per year, with significant drops in recent years. The Canadian government still advises against non-essential travel to Cuba due to the humanitarian crisis caused by the sanctions and the U.S. trade embargo.

Brief written by urgent.news from Global News's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.