Characteristics of international travellers

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Overnight travel and spending by visitors from the United States to Canada both fell in the first quarter — the fourth consecutive year-over-year quarterly decrease.

The Canadian dollar and gasoline prices were both higher in the first quarter than they were in the same quarter of 2005.

Only 1.9 million US residents took overnight trips to Canada during the first quarter, the first time in eight years that the number of US tourists fell below the two million mark during a first quarter.

Every state among the top 10 states of origin for overnight travel to Canada except California (+11.9%) recorded a year-over-year decline in the first quarter. Pennsylvania recorded the largest decrease among the top 10 with a 22.0% decline in the number of overnight trips. Washington remained at the top of the list with 291,000 residents making trips to Canada.

Overnight travel both by air and by car fell between January and March, the fourth consecutive year in which the number of first-quarter overnight car trips fell. Gasoline prices were on average 20.7% higher in the United States and 12.1% higher in Canada in the first quarter, compared with the same quarter of 2005.

According to trip purpose, travel for pleasure was the hardest hit category. American residents made fewer than 900,000 overnight pleasure trips to Canada in the first quarter, down 12.7% compared to the one million plus trips made during the same period last year. The other two major categories, business and visiting friends and relatives, also posted year-over-year declines in overnight trips.

Americans spent less than $1.0 billion in Canada, down 10.1% from the first quarter of 2005.

Travel south of the border: A spot in the sun

Overnight travel to the United States rose 4.3% from a year earlier to 3.5 million trips — the highest level for a first quarter in over a decade.

First quarter Canadian travel to the United States increased for the third consecutive year, mirroring increases in the loonie. The Canadian dollar was valued at US 86.6 cents in the first quarter, up 6.3% compared to the same quarter in 2005.

Florida continued to be the most visited state as nearly 900,000 Canadian tourists travelled to the Sunshine State. Although Florida and California saw 2.6% and 13.4% fewer visitors from Canada respectively, the southern states remained popular with Canadian tourists.

Nevada and Arizona combined saw about 500,000 Canadian overnight visits in the first quarter of this year, placing fifth and sixth respectively among the top states visited by Canadians. Both Nevada (+20.8%) and Arizona (+44.4%) saw more Canadian tourists between January and March compared to the same period in 2005.

Pleasure trips, which accounted for 56.3% of overnight Canadian travel to the United States, rose 3.3% from the first quarter of 2005. During the same time, the number of business trips jumped 10.7%. Trips to visit friends and relatives, however, declined 2.6% compared to the first quarter of 2005.

Despite the increase in the price of gasoline, overnight car trips by Canadians to the United States rose 2.8% to over 1.7 million compared to the first quarter of 2005. The number of overnight trips taken by air also rose by 8.0%. The almost 1.7 million plane trips taken by Canadians to the United States was the highest figure ever recorded for a first quarter.

Canadian spending in the United States rose 7.4% to about $2.9 billion. Average spending per trip edged up from $807 to $831.

Canadians travelling overseas in record numbers

Canadians also set a new record for the number of trips to overseas nations between January and March this year.

Canadian residents made 2.2 million overnight trips to overseas countries during the first three months of 2006, a first-quarter high and a 6.8% increase from the previous record set in the same quarter last year.

The top three most visited overseas countries for Canadians were Mexico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Although travel to Mexico fell 14.5% compared to the first quarter of last year, this was offset by a 33.9% increase in Canadian tourists to Cuba during the same period.

The United Kingdom and France rounded out the top five most visited overseas countries for Canadians in the first quarter of this year. In comparison to the first quarter of 2005, travel to the Caribbean (+13.5%) and Central America (+2.4%) increased while travel to Europe (-8.3%) declined.

During their travels in overseas countries, Canadians spent an estimated $2.8 billion, up 2.6% from the first three months of last year and a new record for the first quarter of the year.

Fewer overseas visitors coming to Canada

While Canadians were travelling in record numbers overseas, the number of overseas visitors to Canada declined in the first quarter.

An estimated 617,000 overseas tourists came to Canada between January and March, down 0.5% compared to the same period in 2005.

The United Kingdom remained the top overseas country of origin with 125,000 overnight trips to Canada. Japan remained steady in second spot with 60,000 tourists coming to Canada.

Overall, overseas residents spent an estimated $816 million on overnight trips in Canada, down 8.1% from the first quarter of 2005.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3152.

This release summarises data now available from the International Travel Survey. Tables, various statistical profiles and micro-data files of characteristics of international travellers using preliminary first quarter 2006 data as well as revised 2005 data are now available on request.

Data on characteristics of international travellers for the second quarter 2006 will be released on November 28.

To obtain one or more of these products, contact Client Services (toll-free 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; fax: 613-951-2909; frances.kremarik@statcan.gc.ca), Culture, Tourism and the Centre for Education Statistics.

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