International travel account

Canada's international travel deficit edged up $53 million to $3.2 billion in the fourth quarter. Higher travel spending by Canadians outside the country contributed to the increase in the deficit.

Canadian travellers spent $7.1 billion outside the country in the fourth quarter, up 0.8% from the third quarter and the highest level in over a year.

Foreign travellers spent $3.9 billion in Canada, slightly more than in the previous quarter but still one of the lowest quarterly levels in the last decade.

On an annual basis, the travel deficit fell $448 million to $12.2 billion in 2009, the first decline since 2005. Both inbound and outbound travel spending decreased in 2009, dropping to $15.6 billion and $27.8 billion respectively.

Travel spending from the United States lowest in over 12 years

The travel deficit with the United States increased $97 million to $2.3 billion in the fourth quarter. The larger deficit was the result of both higher spending by Canadian travellers in the United States and lower spending by American travellers in Canada.

United States residents spent $1.8 billion in the fourth quarter, down 2.0% from the third quarter and the lowest level since the second quarter of 1997. A 0.6% decline in overnight travel to Canada by US travellers likely contributed to the decrease in spending.

Canadian travellers spent $4.1 billion in the United States in the fourth quarter, up 1.5% from the previous quarter. This coincided with a 1.9% increase in overnight travel to the United States.

Annually, the travel deficit with the United States decreased $329 million to $8.6 billion in 2009. Despite the decline, the annual travel deficit with the United States has doubled since 2006.

Increased inbound spending pushes travel deficit with overseas countries down

Canada's travel deficit with overseas countries declined $44 million to $906 million in the fourth quarter.

The decline in the deficit was partly the result of a 1.8% increase in spending by travellers from overseas countries in Canada, which reached $2.1 billion in the fourth quarter. Similarly, overnight travel from overseas countries increased 2.4% between the third and fourth quarters.

A decline in spending by Canadian travellers overseas also contributed to the lower deficit. Canadians spent $3.0 billion in overseas countries in the fourth quarter, down 0.2% from the third quarter. The decline in spending occurred despite a 0.9% increase in overnight travel overseas.

On an annual basis, the travel deficit with overseas countries fell $119 million to $3.5 billion in 2009. This was attributable to a $115 million decline in Canadian travel spending overseas.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 3152 and 5005.

The international travel account for the first quarter of 2010 will be released on May 28.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Beverly Tennant (613-951-6261; beverly.tennant@statcan.gc.ca) or Client Services (toll-free 1-800-307-3382; 613-951-9169; fax: 613-951-2909; tourism@statcan.gc.ca), Tourism and Centre for Education Statistics Division.