Travel between Canada and other countries

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Travel to Canada by foreign residents was down 3.0% in February compared with January to 1.9 million trips. This decline was largely a result of a 3.5% decrease in overnight travel to Canada. In the other direction, Canadian residents took 4.8 million trips abroad in February, up 0.8% compared with January.

Travel by American residents to Canada declined 1.6% to 1.6 million trips in February. Overnight travel by US residents to Canada decreased 1.6% to 949,000 trips.

Declines were recorded by US residents in all transportations modes. Overnight plane travel recorded the strongest decrease, down 4.6% to 283,000 trips.

Same-day car travel by US residents to Canada declined 0.6% to 559,000. This was a continuation of a downward trend over the last few years.

Overseas residents took 345,000 trips to Canada in February, down 8.7% from January.

Travel from all of Canada's top 12 overseas markets decreased in February compared with January, with 5 of the top 12 markets recording double-digit declines. The largest decrease was recorded by Hong Kong (-24.8%).

In the other direction, Canadian residents took 4.8 million trips abroad in February, up 0.8% from January.

Canadian residents took 4.0 million trips to the United States in February, up 0.9% from January. Overnight travel by Canadian residents to the United States rose 2.2% to 1.7 million. This gain was largely a result of a 4.0% increase in overnight car travel to the United States, as Canadian residents took 1.0 million trips.

Canadian residents took 2.3 million same-day car trips to the United States in February, virtually unchanged from January.

Canadian travel to overseas countries increased 0.3% to 734,000 trips in February.

Note: Monthly data are seasonally adjusted.

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

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 5005.

The February 2011 issue of International Travel, Advance Information, Vol. 27, no. 2 (66-001-P, free), is now available from the Key resource module of our website under Publications.

For general information, 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 Lotfi Chahdi (613-951-3136; lotfi.chahdi@statcan.gc.ca), Tourism and the Centre for Education Statistics Division.