International travel account
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Canada's international travel deficit reached $3.9 billion during the second quarter, up 3.1% from the previous quarter.
Higher spending by Canadian travellers in the United States offset the increase in spending by Americans in Canada, and strongly contributed to the advance in the deficit.
In the second quarter, spending by Canadian travellers abroad rose 4.4% to $8.0 billion. At the same time, spending by travellers from abroad in Canada rose 5.7% to $4.1 billion. This was the largest quarterly percentage advance since the first quarter of 2004.
Canadians spend more in the United States
Canada's travel deficit with the United States stood at $3.0 billion in the second quarter, up $89 million from the previous quarter. This increase was primarily the result of higher spending by Canadians in the United States.
During the second quarter, Canadians spent $4.8 billion in the United States, up 4.0% from the previous quarter.
This advance coincided with a 4.0% rise in the number of trips by Canadians to the United States in the second quarter. Same-day car trips by Canadians to the United States reached 7.2 million trips, up 4.1% from the previous quarter and the largest number of trips recorded since the second of quarter of 1998.
At the same time, overnight plane travel to the United States rose 5.5% to 1.9 million trips, the highest level since record keeping began in 1972.
American travellers spent $1.8 billion in Canada during the second quarter, up 5.7%.
Note to readers
This international travel account analysis is based on preliminary quarterly data, seasonally adjusted unless otherwise stated. Amounts are in Canadian dollars and are not adjusted for inflation.
Receipts represent spending by foreigners travelling in Canada, including education spending, medical spending, and spending by crew members. Payments represent spending by Canadian residents travelling abroad, including education spending, medical spending, and spending by crew members.
Overseas countries are those other than the United States.
This increase coincided with a 1.7% advance in the number of trips by American residents to Canada. Americans took 1.7 million same-day car trips to Canada, up 2.9% compared with the first quarter. Overnight travel by car (+1.0%) and by plane (+1.8%) also increased.
Canadian spending in overseas countries reaches new heights
Canada's travel deficit with overseas countries reached $913 million in the second quarter, up $30 million compared with the first quarter.
Spending by Canadians in overseas countries was up 5.0% to a new high of $3.2 billion in the second quarter. During the same time, the number of trips to overseas countries increased 4.4% to its highest level since record keeping began in 1972.
Meanwhile, travellers from overseas countries spent $2.3 billion in Canada in the second quarter, up 5.7%. This was the strongest increase since the fourth quarter of 2007. This rise in spending coincides with a 2.9% increase in travel from overseas countries compared with the previous quarter.
The Canadian dollar rose 1.8% to an average quarterly value of $1.03 US in the second quarter.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 3152 and 5005.
The international travel account for the third quarter will be released on November 28.
For more 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 Centre for Education Statistics Division.
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