Canadians choosing pricier destinations over Cuba amid crisis: travel agents

As the winter holiday season approaches, one of the most popular sunny destinations for Canadian travellers remains out of reach. The United States’ oil blockade against Cuba triggered severe fuel shortages in the country and prompted Canadian airlines to indefinitely suspend flights to the island destination earlier this year.Travel agents say Canadians looking to escape the cold weather this year will have to pay more than what they’re used to for affordable all-inclusive packages in Cuba.Ashley Harold, a travel agent at Flight Centre Canada, said Mexico, Dominican Republic and several other Caribbean countries and territories such as Aruba, Barbados and Jamaica seem to be getting most of the diversions.“There isn’t one new Cuba, if you will. Canadians, they’re really spreading their winter travel across a much wider mix of destinations and trip types,” she said in a recent interview. Story continues below advertisement “We’re also seeing some travellers consider Caribbean cruises or tours to still-warm places like Costa Rica or Peru.”Domestic tourism is also gaining traction as some Canadians are choosing to visit “fantastic” winter destinations, from Alberta to the West Coast, ...