Canadian Travel Agency Reports Drastic Decline in Cuba Sales Amid U.S. Sanctions and Fuel Shortages
Durham Travel, an Ontario-based travel agency, has experienced a significant drop in sales for Cuban travel packages, plummeting from over 389,000 Canadian dollars in 2025 to just 24,000 dollars in 2026. This decline is attributed to several factors, including aviation fuel shortages at Cuban airports that led to indefinite flight suspensions by major airlines like Air Canada, Air Transat, and WestJet. Additionally, Sunwing Vacations Group indefinitely suspended all operations in Cuba on June 5, coinciding with a U.S. deadline for foreign companies to sever ties with entities linked to Cuba's military conglomerate GAESA to avoid potential U.S. sanctions. The Cuban government, through Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, acknowledged that 73% of the country's hotel facilities were closed by July, impacting approximately 25,000 workers. Gaviota Tourism Group, part of GAESA, had only 11.6% of its lodging capacity operational in October. Canadian travelers, many of whom are budget-conscious, are now opting for ...
