Travel between Canada and other countries

Nearly 4.0 million Canadian residents travelled abroad in January, up 5.5% from December. Meanwhile, an estimated 2.9 million visitors arrived in Canada, up 0.7% compared with one month earlier.

Canadians took more than 1.3 million overnight trips to the United States in January, the highest level in over 12 years.

In the same month, same-day car travel to the United States hit the two-million mark for the first time since August 2001. (Unless otherwise specified, monthly data are seasonally adjusted whereas exchange rates are not).

The Canadian dollar was worth 86.4 US cents on average in January.

Overnight travel to the United States was up 8.6% from December, and 11.2% higher compared to January 2005 (not seasonally adjusted data), when the loonie was worth only 81.6 US cents.

Overnight plane travel to the United States soared to its second highest level ever and overnight car travel reached its highest level since August 1997. Same-day car travel to the United States was up 4.2% from December.

The Canadian dollar fell against the euro, British pound sterling and Japanese yen between December and January.

Canadians made 536,000 trips to countries other than the United States in January, up 3.5% from December and the second highest level for any month on record.

On the incoming side, overnight travel from the United States to Canada rose 2.0% from December to an estimated 1.2 million trips. Among overnight travel modes of transportation, car travel posted the largest increase. Overnight plane travel was up slightly.

Same-day car travel to Canada from the United States rose 0.8% in January, with Americans taking nearly 1.3 million trips. This was the second consecutive monthly increase after four straight months of declines.

Overall travel from overseas countries remained unchanged in January compared to December at 383,000. Among the top overseas countries, however, Australia recorded the largest decline as 10.8% fewer travellers came to Canada in January.

An estimated 20,000 visitors arrived from Mexico, up 13.3% from December and the highest month on record.

Note: Seasonally adjusted data have been revised back to January 1992 using the X12 ARIMA program. This program is an upgrade of the X11 ARIMA program which was used previously. New seasonally adjusted series have also been added back to January 1992. As well, for a number of not seasonally adjusted series, the data have been revised back to January 1990.

Same day and overnight data for United States residents entering by commercial plane, train, commercial boat or other methods (for example, by foot or motorcycle) and any summation of these not seasonally adjusted series have been revised for each month of the second quarter of 2005.

Same day and overnight data for Canadian residents returning from the United States by commercial plane, private plane, train, commercial boat, private boat, or other methods (for example, by foot or motorcycle) and any summation of these not seasonally adjusted series have been revised for each month of the second quarter of 2005.

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

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 5005.

The January 2006 issue of International Travel, Advance Information, Vol. 22, no. 1 (66-001-PIE, $7/$59) is now available.

For general information, contact Client Services (1-800-307-3382; 613-951-7608; fax: 613-951-2909; 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.