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Wednesday, November 19, 2003

Travel between Canada and other countries

September 2003

An estimated 3.3 million visitors came to Canada in September, a 10.7% increase from August. The vast majority of those visitors were from the United States. The number of visitors from overseas countries also rose, as 282,000 trips were made in September, up 2.8% from August. Despite September's advance, the number of trips to Canada for the first nine months of this year was the lowest since 1984.

Travel to Canada from the United States jumped 11.5% in September, the second such increase in the past four months, as travel to and from Canada experienced gains across the board. Canadian travel abroad increased for the fifth consecutive month, reaching its highest level in nearly a year. (Unless otherwise specified, data are seasonally adjusted).

The increase in trips to Canada from the United States in September was seen in every travel category. Overnight trips by Americans to Canada increased 5.3%, with gains in all modes of transport. The number of same-day trips to Canada increased substantially and the number of same-day car trips was 10.9% higher than in August. Ontario recorded a substantial increase in September, as 18.3% more Americans entered the province following an August remembered for its electrical power outage.

In September, only 3 of Canada's top 12 overseas markets saw monthly declines in both same-day and overnight trips. The number of visitors from China dropped 11.2%, followed by an 8.0% decline from Switzerland and a 2.0% decline from Germany. In contrast, the number of visitors from Taiwan rose 16.0%, followed by 11.8% increases from Japan and Mexico. Trips by overseas travellers have generally been rising since the spring of 2003.

Travel to the United States rose 1.5%, as an estimated 2.9 million Canadian residents travelled south of the border in September. The number of overnight trips to the United States increased at the same rate. Overnight trips by car increased 1.0% while overnight trips by air rose 2.4%. Same-day car travel also increased (+3.5%) in September. This coincided with a 2.4% increase in the value of the Canadian dollar against its American counterpart. Since September 2001, the value of Canadian dollar has increased 15.7% against the United States dollar.

Canadian travel to countries other than the United States increased for the fifth consecutive month in September. An estimated 420,000 Canadian residents made trips to overseas countries, up 1.9% from August. This is the highest figure since December 2002 and the fourth highest month on record.

Available on CANSIM: tables 427-0001 to 427-0006.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 5005.

The September 2003 issue of International travel, advance information, Vol. 19, no. 9 (66-001-PIE, $7/$59) is now available.

For general information, contact Client Services (1-800-307-3382; 613-951-7608; fax: 613-951-9040; cult.tourstats@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Frances Kremarik (613-951-4240; frances.kremarik@statcan.gc.ca), Culture, Tourism and the Centre for Education Statistics.

Travel between Canada and other countries
  August 2003r September 2003p August to September 2003 September 2003 September 2002 to September 2003
  Seasonally Adjusted Unadjusted
  '000 % change '000 % change
Canadian trips abroad1 3,256 3,306 1.5 3,224 -1.9
  to the United States
2,844 2,886 1.5 2,860 -2.8
  to Other Countries
412 420 1.9 363 5.5
Same-day car trips to the United States 1,718 1,777 3.5 1,765 1.0
Total trips, one or more nights 1,462 1,486 1.7 1,413 -5.1
  United States2
1,050 1,066 1.5 1,050 -8.3
    Car
623 629 1.0 658 -9.0
    Plane
341 350 2.4 273 -3.6
    Other modes of transportation
85 87 1.9 119 -14.2
  Other countries3
412 420 1.9 363 5.5
Travel to Canada1 2,982 3,301 10.7 3,454 -13.4
  from the United States
2,708 3,019 11.5 3,062 -13.1
  from Other Countries
274 282 2.8 392 -15.2
Same-day car trips from the United States 1,483 1,644 10.9 1,616 -15.2
Total trips, one or more nights 1,372 1,434 4.5 1,644 -12.1
  United States2
1,101 1,160 5.3 1,263 -11.1
    Car
694 732 5.5 742 -13.5
    Plane
281 291 3.7 318 -4.9
    Other modes of transportation
126 136 7.8 203 -11.0
  Other countries3
271 274 1.4 381 -15.1
Most important overseas markets4          
United Kingdom 49 53 7.6 82 -10.1
France 22 22 0.0 35 -19.3
Germany 23 22 -2.0 42 -16.4
Japan 19 21 11.8 38 -45.5
South Korea 13 14 9.3 16 6.2
Australia 13 14 6.0 19 1.2
Mexico 11 13 11.8 13 -6.7
Netherlands 8 9 8.3 13 -2.3
Hong Kong 8 9 5.3 9 -10.7
Taiwan 7 8 16.0 9 -8.1
China 7 6 -11.2 9 -23.1
Switzerland 7 6 -8.0 9 -17.2
p Preliminary figures.
r Revised figures.
1 Totals exceed the sum of "same-day car trips" and "total trips, one or more nights" because they include all of the same-day trips.
2 Estimates for the United States include counts of cars and buses, and estimated numbers for planes, trains, boats and other methods.
3 Figures for other countries exclude same-day entries by land only, via the United States.
4 Includes same-day and one or more night trips.



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Date Modified: 2003-11-19 Important Notices