Characteristics of international overnight travellers

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Spending by overnight travellers from countries other than the United States in Canada was down 19.6% in the second quarter compared with the same period a year earlier, while the number of overnight trips fell 13.8%.

All 10 of Canada's top overseas markets recorded declines in both the number of overnight trips and spending, most of them in double digits. For most of these markets, the drop in spending was larger than the decrease in trips.

The number of overnight trips by residents of the United Kingdom, the largest overseas market, fell by 17.2%, while spending by United Kingdom residents declined by 26.7%. Overnight trips by Mexican residents declined 17.3% while spending decreased by 29.5%. Overnight trips by Chinese residents declined 3.6% and associated spending fell 16.3%.

Overseas overnight travellers whose primary purpose of travel was business spent 36.4% less, while spending by those who came for pleasure (-18.1%), visiting friends and relatives (-9.1%) or for "other" purposes (-14.9%) also fell. A larger drop in spending than in trips was recorded for all purposes, although business and "other" purposes had the most significant differences.

Second quarter spending by American overnight travellers was down 7.8% compared with the same period in 2008, as the number of overnight trips decreased 5.2%.

All top 10 states of origin recorded declines in overnight trips to Canada. New York residents continued to be the most frequent travellers but took 2.8% fewer trips and decreased their spending by 5.7%. Meanwhile, residents of Michigan, the second most common state of origin, had 8.9% fewer overnight trips and recorded the largest drop in spending (-19.8%). Among the top states, Washington (+3.9%) residents were the only travellers to increase their spending.

Overnight travel spending patterns for Americans differed by purpose. Spending on business (-19.0%) and pleasure (-5.4%) trips both fell while spending for those coming to visit friends and relatives (+4.3%) or for "other" purposes (+3.0%) increased. Similar trends were observed for the associated trips.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3152.

This release summarises data now available from the International Travel Survey. Tables, various statistical profiles and microdata files of characteristics of international travellers using preliminary second quarter 2009 data are now available on request. Tables, various statistical profiles and microdata files of the 2008 characteristics of United States travel have been revised using a new methodology and are available on request.

Data on characteristics of international overnight travellers for the third quarter of 2009 will be released on February 24, 2010.

To obtain one or more of these products, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-800-307-3382; 613-951-9169; fax: 613-951-2909; tourism@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Paul Durk (613-951-5859; fax: 613-951-2909; paul.durk@statcan.gc.ca), Tourism and the Centre for Education Statistics Division.