June 9, 2026 Team Contributor
It was long in the making. Just a few days ago, we reported on popular hotel chains pulling out of Cuba, delivering a blow to the tourism-driven economy. The latest to pull the plug is Sunwing Vacations Group (including Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations, and WestJet Vacations Québec). Its Cuba program is on an indefinite pause, and no one knows when it will be back.
The group, historically dubbed the largest tour operator facilitating Canadian travel to Cuba, said it was hard to make the decision but that it couldn’t be put off in the current operating environment. All programs remain indefinitely suspended.
The announcement, which came as a disappointment to travel lovers and the broader community, follows a strategic pause after fresh sanctions were imposed on the island nation, further deflating its already-struggling tourism economy.
The suspension announcement came on June 5, 2026 and covers all departure cities and airports. Cuba quickly spiralled downward from a favoured Canadian tourist destination, welcoming 754,010 Canadian visitors across its numerous resorts and sunny beaches, with Sunwing managing extensive flight capacity and all-inclusive resort partnerships, to a place that now looks deserted sans tourists.
The group acknowledged the strong ties Canadians have with Cuba and expressed solidarity with the local communities, tourism workers and industry partners facing trying times.
The buildup to the suspension
This exit of big names from Cuba, which is known as a preferred sun destination for Canadian operators, is a stark reminder of ongoing humanitarian and economic crisis on the island.
It’s worth noting that the suspension follows a series of escalations regarding travel to the island.
If you have an existing booking with Sunwing
Sunwing has assured that people with existing bookings will be contacted directly and offered options, including rebooking to an alternative destination or cancelling for a full refund.
It also added that they are closely monitoring developments, working with our partners on the ground, and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
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