Canadian reservations for the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and other Caribbean and Central American destinations surged following the indefinite suspension of the Cuba program by Sunwing Vacations, according to new data published this Thursday by Canada’s largest tour operator to the island.
The company, which suspended its operations in Cuba on June 5 with no date for resumption, was transporting more than half of all Canadian travelers visiting Cuba's tourist destinations during the winter season.
Dominican Republic emerges as the leading beneficiary destination, with a 50% increase in year-on-year reservations. Within that market, Puerto Plata leads the growth with a 60% rise, while Samaná also records significant gains following the expansion of air services and new accommodation options.
Mexico captured approximately a quarter of the demand displaced from Cuba. Cancun remains the most booked destination by Sunwing, but it is Mazatlán that shows the largest individual leap, with reservations exceeding a 70% increase compared to the previous year. Cozumel is also gaining popularity among travelers seeking value options.
Other destinations are picking up the rest of the redirected flow. Reservations to Liberia, Costa Rica, doubled year-on-year; Río Hato in Panama grew by 35%; and Freeport in the Bahamas saw an increase of over 20%.
"Canadian travelers are very conscious of how they spend on tourism, and value remains a decisive factor in their choice of destination," said Deana Murphy, Vice President of Sales and Business Development at Sunwing Vacations.
"We are seeing how clients are leaning towards destinations that offer a good balance between price, quality in resorts, and the hospitality they value most."
The suspension of Sunwing coincided with the deadline set by Washington for foreign companies to dissociate from GAESA, the Cuban military conglomerate that controls a significant portion of tourism and finance on the island, under the threat of sanctions from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
After that deadline, the main Canadian airlines —Air Canada, WestJet, and Air Transat— also indefinitely suspended all their flights to Cuba.
The impact on Cuban tourism is devastating. In March 2026, only 511 Canadians visited the island, compared to 98,663 in the same month of 2025, a decrease of 99.48%.
In the period from January to April, Cuba received only 328,608 international visitors, which is a 55.8% decrease compared to 2025, with hotel occupancy not exceeding 10%.
In contrast, the Dominican Republic welcomed 6.5 times more tourists than Cuba in January 2026, while Mexico ended 2025 with a record 47.8 million visitors.
Murphy acknowledged Cuba's historical significance for the company, although no plans for a return were announced.
"Cuba has been an important part of Sunwing's history for many years, and we remain optimistic about the future of the destination and the communities that have welcomed Canadian visitors for so long."
Filed under: