Cuba has always held a mystical allure for the traveller: the music, the food, the beaches as well as the cigars.
The United States is already moving toward relaxing rules on travel to the island nation only 150 kilometres off the coast of Florida but it is not opening the floodgates for U.S. tourists just yet.
More trips will be permitted, for family visits, research, professional meetings and athletic competitions, but travel for tourism will still be against the law unless Congress moves to lift a longstanding economic embargo.
Many believe that will eventually happen, and the idea that Americans might soon flood the popular vacation spot could spur more Canadians to visit now.
“I think there will be an uptick of Canadians who are thinking about going to Cuba, or haven’t been, thinking this is our last chance to get a great deal,” said Allison Wallace, a spokeswoman for Flight Centre Canada.
Cuba has long been a destination of choice for Canadians and Europeans, who especially target all-inclusive resorts near Varadero that are considered affordable, Wallace said.
“As soon as it opens (to Americans), whenever that is, we would certainly expect the prices to go higher since it’s all about supply and demand,” she said.
Cuba has always been attractive to Canadians for its history and culture, but an added bonus was that Americans couldn’t go, keeping prices down.
U.S. companies such as Hilton Worldwide and Marriott International — the two largest chains by rooms — say they welcome any future opportunities to include Cuba in their rapidly growing global footprint.
Some international companies already operate in Cuba. Spanish hotel chain Melia already has 26 properties on the island.
