by Natasha Lair-McKenty — TravelPulse Canada
Tue January 13, 2026
Cuba says Canadians continue to travel to the destination in strong numbers.
In a statement released this week, Cuban tourism officials said the country remains fully operational for international visitors and continues to welcome Canadians, who have long been one of its most important source markets.
“Canada has always been a loyal and essential market for Cuba,” said Juan Carlos García Granda, Cuba’s Minister of Tourism.
“We continue to welcome Canadian visitors with the same warmth, safety, and quality of service they know and trust. The sustained growth in air capacity and demand clearly shows that Canadians feel confident travelling to Cuba and continue to choose our island for their holidays. I very much want to thank them for their tremendous support.”
Cuba says Canada remains a cornerstone market for tourism, with the destination ranking sixth among international travel choices for Canadians. More than 300,000 airline seats are scheduled between Canada and Cuba in the first quarter of 2026.
Direct air service currently connects Canadian travellers to seven destinations across the island. Tourism officials say consistently high load factors have supported new routes and allowed some seasonal services to be extended into year-round operations, increasing choice and accessibility for Canadian travellers.
Alongside airlift growth, Cuba has introduced several new tourism products this winter aimed at expanding its all-inclusive offerings.
One of the additions is the “Santa Maria All In” concept, which extends the resort experience beyond individual hotels across the wider Santa Maria area. The program allows guests to access dining, entertainment and leisure experiences at three tourist plazas, Gallery, Las Dunas and The One Collection, at no additional cost. Amenities include restaurants, bars, bowling, a creamery and a complimentary shuttle service operating from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Cuba has also opened “The Splash Santa Maria” water park, which officially launched on January 3 in the Santa Maria Arena area. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., it is the country’s only water park of its kind and is designed to appeal to families.
For longer-stay travellers, new Snowbird Villas have been introduced at Playas del Este, located about 30 minutes from Havana. The fully equipped villas include a swimming pool, children’s play area, 24-hour Wi-Fi and satellite TV.
Tourism officials say the new offerings are part of a broader effort to diversify Cuba’s tourism product while maintaining the familiarity that has kept Canadian travellers returning to the island year after year.
