Sunwing sees demand for other sun destinations grow following temporary suspension of Cuba program

Following the suspension of its programs to Cuba, Sunwing Vacations is reporting that is seeing a significant increase in Canadians heading to other sun destinations.

Historically, Sunwing historically played a major role in connecting Canadians to Cuba, in fact, this past winter  the operator accounted for far more than 50 per cent overall Canadian capacity to that destination.

However, since temporarily ceasing Cuba operations, Sunwing Vacations has seen its year-over-year bookings to Dominican Republic increase by 50 per cent.

Deana Murphy, Vice President, Sales & Business Development, Sunwing Vacations, observed that: “Canadian guests remain highly intentional about how they spend on travel, with value continuing to play a major role in destination choice. 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.”

Destinations within the Dominican Republic seeing the strongest growth are Puerto Plata and Samaná. Overall, bookings to the Dominican Republic have increased by 50 per cent, with Puerto Plata alone up 60 per cent, while Samaná is also seeing significant growth following expanded service, resort, and experience offerings.

Murphy said that: “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.”

Beyond the Dominican Republic, 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 continue to gain traction among guests seeking strong value and resort variety.

Sunwing is also seeing notable growth in destinations that align with the key attributes former Cuba guests value most. For guests prioritizing affordability, destinations such as Puerto Plata and Mazatlán have seen strong year-over-year booking increases, with Mazatlán up to more than 70 per cent.

For guests seeking unique local charm and immersive experiences, Costa Rica and Panama are gaining momentum, with bookings to Liberia up 100 per cent and Rio Hato up with a strong 35 per cent.

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

Sunwing Vacations remains focused on providing Canadians with a wide range of accessible sun destinations across Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America, ensuring guests can continue to enjoy exceptional value without compromising on experience.

Said Murphy: “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.”

Guests impacted by the Cuba program suspension can find the latest updates and available options on Sunwing’s Cuba travel updates page at https://www.sunwing.ca/en/cuba-travel-updates