Some Canadians wary of travel to Caribbean after U.S. attack on Venezuela

Some Maritime tourists are concerned about travelling to Cuba following the U.S. raid in Venezuela.

Flags were lowered in Havana to mourn 32 Cubans who were killed during the U.S raid in Venezuela over the weekend.

Cuba has been providing security for Nicolas Maduro since he came into power. The administration of U.S President Donald Trump has warned that toppling Venezuela’s leader would help advance another decades-long dream of dealing a major blow to Cuba.

“In terms of the volatility of the situation in Venezuela, it’s by no means solved, it’s not resolved. At any one point in time, I think the U.S administration has said they’re ready for a second wave of intervention if required and that would mean a redeployment of assets again and most likely a closure to airspace again,” says John Gradek, McGill University Aviation Management faculty lecturer.

For decades, Cuba has been a top winter travel destination for Canadians. Cuba welcomes about one million Canadian tourists annually.

“International travel to the Caribbean is being impacted. When I saw what was going on Saturday morning, the Americans put in a notification about airspace being closed along the Venezuelan coast and into Colombia as well as Venezuela and Aruba and they put in a request to close airspace in Puerto Rico and they have expanded that to most of the Caribbean,” says Gradek.

The Canadian government still has an advisory in place for Venezuela, advising Canadians to avoid travel. They have also listed a few surrounding areas.

“In South America in particular it is currently listed to avoid all travel and other countries around that are to travel with caution or just take normal travel precautions,” says Julia Kent, CAA spokesperson.

Despite airspace in the Caribbean being open, some travellers are hesitant to make the trip right now.

“It wouldn’t be my first choice right now, but if I had something booked, I would go. I don’t want it to be political but we have lots of issues as Canadians with the issues in the states and so we want to avoid that, I wouldn’t choose to go this direction right now,” says traveller Diana Zell at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

Zell is a frequent traveller and is hoping to bring her family to the Caribbean, but plans to hold off right now.

“I think I would have to see whether something adjusts or not. Once it adjusts maybe I would return but for right now I’d be too fearful with interrupting plans and having to rebook,” says Austin Lees, who was also travelling from Halifax.

Ray Burke, who is a regular traveler, says he’s looking at the situation from both sides and says this will not impact his decision to travel to the Caribbean.

“If I was travelling there right now, I’d be concerned about delays and stop overs and all that but not out of fear that the U.S is going to do something, the U.S is not bad,” says Burke.

Kent with CAA Atlantic says they have yet to see a dip in travel sales to these spots. She admits several decisions could impact someone’s travel plans.

“I think there are many factors that come into play when someone is planning to travel, whether that’s personal, work, it depends. I think that finances, the geopolitical situation, your own personal opinions,” says Kent.

Kent advises tourists to get travel and trip insurance.