With Cuba paused, Sunwing sees bookings surge in Puerto Plata, Samaná & Cancun

Sunwing says demand is growing for select destinations in the Dominican Republic and Mexico as its operations in Cuba remain paused.

In a press release Thursday (June 25), the tour operator said Puerto Plata and Samaná have seen the strongest growth, while bookings to the Dominican Republic, overall, have increased by 50 per cent.

(Puerto Plata, located on Dominican’s northern coast, is up 60 per cent on its own).

The two destinations, both known for their affordability, offer compelling alternatives for budget-conscious travellers who would typically choose Cuba, the company said. 

“Canadian guests remain highly intentional about how they spend on travel, with value continuing to play a major role in destination choice,” said Deana Murphy, vice president of sales and business development at Sunwing Vacations, in a statement.

READ MORE: Sunwing suspends Cuba operations until further notice; island remains open, says tourist board

“As travel demand evolves, we’re seeing guests gravitate toward destinations that offer a strong balance of affordability, quality resort experiences and the warm hospitality guests value most.”

Properties such as Eurostars Grand Cayacoa are emerging as “strong alternatives for guests who previously vacationed in Cuba, offering a compelling mix of affordability, and unique local charm,” Murphy added.

Beyond Dominican 

Beyond the D.R, Sunwing is also seeing increased interest in Mexico, which now represents a “significant number” of the company’s total booking mix and contributed approximately a quarter of all displaced Cuba demand.

Cancun leads the charge of all current-year bookings, while destinations such as Cozumel and Mazatlán, on the Pacific coast, continue to gain traction among guests seeking strong value and resort variety, Sunwing said.

Meanwhile, beach-focused destinations, such as the Bahamas, continue to resonate with Canadians, with Sunwing’s bookings to Freeport increasing above 20 per cent year over year.

Cuba indefinitely suspended

As previously reported, the Sunwing Vacations Group – inclusive of Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations, and WestJet Vacations Québec – has indefinitely suspended all of its Cuba operations until further notice.

Earlier this month, Canadian tour operators began reassessing the situation in Cuba amid recent developments involving the withdrawal of foreign hotel operators from the country.

As previously reported, Meliá Hotels International, Iberostar, Archipelago International and Blue Diamond Resorts have all withdrawn their operations in Cuba due to looming U.S. sanctions.

At least 11 airlines have suspended flights to Cuba in 2026 — including Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat, LATAM Perú, Magnicharters, Air France, Iberia, Rossiya, Nordwind, and Turkish Airlines – with more than 1,700 flights cancelled in total.

The Government of Canada is currently warning citizens against all non-essential travel to Cuba, pointing to deepening shortages of fuel, electricity, food, water, and medicine.

Canada is Cuba’s largest tourism market. According to Cuban statistics, roughly 754,000 Canadians visited the island in 2025, representing a 12.4 per cent decrease from the previous year.

The downturn has intensified in 2026, with international arrivals dropping 55.8 per cent between January and April compared with the same period in 2025.

READ MORE: Meliá exits Cuba over economic & geopolitical strains

Ongoing power shortages, frequent blackouts, supply constraints, fuel shortages and reduced flight connectivity have prompted many hotel operators to either shut down properties or consolidate guests into a smaller number of hotels.

Still, some tour operators, such as Enjoy Travel Group and Hola Sun Holidays, have continued to promote the destination.

The Cuba Tourist Board in Toronto says the destination remains open and welcoming to visitors. 

“Cuba’s greatest assets—our pristine beaches, vibrant culture, and the unmatched warmth of our people – remain entirely unaffected by external pressures," said Galindo. "For over three decades, our local teams have worked alongside international partners to build a world-class service infrastructure," said Gihana Galindo, the director of the Cuba Tourist Board, in a statement earlier this month. 

“Today, that local expertise is fully equipped to seamlessly manage our properties, protect every traveller's reservation, and deliver the exceptional hospitality that defines our destination.”

“We remain hopeful”

Sunwing has historically played a major role in connecting Canadians to Cuba.  

This past winter, the tour operator accounted for far more than 50 per cent overall Canadian capacity to Cuba.

“Cuba has been an important part of Sunwing’s story for many years, and we remain hopeful for the destination’s future and the communities that have long welcomed Canadian guests,” said Murphy.

Guests impacted by Sunwing’s Cuba program suspension can find the latest updates and available options here.

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