‘I’ve booked just two flights this winter to Florida’: Travel agent says Londoners rejecting U.S. for Caribbean destinations

What kind of demand is the local travel industry seeing following weeks of a brutal winter? CTV London’s Sean Irvine finds out.

The persistent cold temperatures are convincing many of us to book winter escapes. However, our choice of destinations continues to evolve due to price and global politics.

“Money is a factor, but it doesn’t seem like it’s a huge factor,” said Tammy Murray of Robert Q Travel Centre.

The top destination for fun in the sun this year is Mexico.

“Cancun, or anywhere in the Mayan Riviera. You know, Los Cabos is up a little bit,” Murray said.

However, it remains clear where many of us are not going. A December survey by Flight Centre found Canadian travel to U.S. destinations is down by 40 per cent.

But in Murray’s experience, that number has been much higher.

“About 80 to 85 per cent,” Murray told CTV News, while agreeing that it “really is” a huge number.

Murray adds bookings across the board are down substantially from just two years ago, especially to the Sunshine State.

“I’ve booked just two flights this winter to Florida,” she said.

Murray says political tensions are a reason travelers give for avoiding the United States. She adds however that a recent promotion to accept Canadian money at par at some Las Vegas hotels is sparking interest.

Meanwhile, despite worries

about food choices, politics, and rolling power outages, travel to Cuba is on the rise.

“There are way more people that are going to Cuba this year than have in the last two or three,” she said.

With all-inclusive packages at four-and-a-half-star resorts in Cuba priced at approximately $2,500 per couple, Murray says some are opting to travel – direct from London – for the first time as destination and price remain higher priorities than politics.

“For myself, politically, it doesn’t matter to me,” said traveller Isiah. “It’s more about the destination and what the resort offers or the areas it might be in.”