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Third quarter 2011 (Previous release)

Tourism spending in Canada increased 0.8% in real terms in the third quarter. This was the ninth consecutive quarterly increase in tourism spending, for a cumulative gain of 8.2%.

Higher spending by Canadians at home contributed the most to the third-quarter gain, as foreign travel spending in Canada was virtually unchanged.

Tourism spending increases for the ninth consecutive quarter

Chart description: Tourism spending increases for the ninth consecutive quarter

Tourism spending at home up

Tourism spending by Canadians at home increased 1.0% in the third quarter. Since the second quarter of 2009, domestic tourism spending has increased in all but one quarter.

Note to readers

Growth rates of tourism spending and gross domestic product are expressed in real terms (i.e. adjusted for price changes) as well as adjusted for seasonal variations, unless otherwise indicated. Employment data are also seasonally adjusted. Associated percentage changes are presented at quarterly rates unless otherwise noted.

With the third quarter 2011 release of the National tourism indicators (NTI), all data from the first and second quarters of 2011 have been revised.

NTI are funded by the Canadian Tourism Commission.

Tourism domestic demand advances

Chart description: Tourism domestic demand advances

The items contributing the most to the increase were passenger air transport (+1.6%) and vehicle fuel (+2.7%). Spending also rose on accommodation, food and beverage services, and other tourism commodities, such as recreation and entertainment and travel services.

Spending by international visitors virtually unchanged

Spending by international visitors in Canada was virtually unchanged (+0.1%) in the third quarter, following a 1.7% gain in the previous quarter.

Inbound travel was up overall in the third quarter, but overnight trips from the United States were down.

Spending by international visitors in Canada virtually unchanged

Chart description: Spending by international visitors in Canada virtually unchanged

Spending increased 0.6% on passenger air transport and 0.2% on non-tourism commodities such as groceries, alcohol bought in stores and clothing.

These increases were offset by a 0.2% decline in spending on food and beverage services and a 0.3% decline in other tourism commodities, such as recreation and entertainment. Outlays on both vehicle fuel and accommodation were unchanged.

Tourism gross domestic product up again

Tourism gross domestic product (GDP) increased 0.7% in the third quarter. The main contributors were the transportation industry (+1.2%) and non-tourism industries (+1.1%).

Tourism GDP increased moderately in the accommodation, recreation and entertainment and travel services industries, while it was unchanged in the food and beverage services industry.

Tourism employment rose 1.3% in the third quarter, led by gains in the passenger air transportation (+2.9%), accommodation (+1.7%) and travel services (+2.5%) industries.

Available on CANSIM: tables 387-0001 to 387-0010.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 1910.

The third quarter 2011 issue of National Tourism Indicators, Quarterly Estimates (13-009-X, free) is now available from the Key resource module of our website under Publications.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact the information officer (613-951-3640; iead-info-dcrd@statcan.gc.ca), Income and Expenditure Accounts Division.

Table 1 National tourism indicators – Seasonally adjusted

Table 1

National tourism indicators – Seasonally adjusted
	Third quarter 2010	Fourth quarter 2010	First quarter 2011	Second quarter 2011	Third quarter 2011	Second quarter to third quarter 2011
	millions of dollars at 2002 prices					% change
Total tourism expenditures
Tourism demand in Canada	16,313	16,416	16,493	16,555	16,686	0.8
Tourism demand by non-residents	3,318	3,329	3,265	3,321	3,325	0.1
Tourism domestic demand	12,994	13,089	13,233	13,233	13,363	1.0
Transportation
Tourism demand in Canada	6,364	6,367	6,452	6,462	6,555	1.4
Tourism demand by non-residents	1,006	1,014	998	1,018	1,023	0.5
Tourism domestic demand	5,357	5,352	5,456	5,442	5,533	1.7
Accommodation
Tourism demand in Canada	2,379	2,384	2,405	2,425	2,431	0.2
Tourism demand by non-residents	777	777	761	771	771	0.0
Tourism domestic demand	1,603	1,607	1,645	1,654	1,659	0.3
Food and beverage services
Tourism demand in Canada	2,218	2,238	2,242	2,270	2,272	0.1
Tourism demand by non-residents	522	531	520	528	527	-0.2
Tourism domestic demand	1,695	1,706	1,723	1,743	1,746	0.2
Other tourism commodities
Tourism demand in Canada	2,501	2,545	2,507	2,508	2,531	0.9
Tourism demand by non-residents	363	373	364	370	369	-0.3
Tourism domestic demand	2,138	2,174	2,143	2,138	2,163	1.2
Other commodities
Tourism demand in Canada	2,851	2,882	2,887	2,890	2,897	0.2
Tourism demand by non-residents	650	634	622	634	635	0.2
Tourism domestic demand	2,201	2,250	2,266	2,256	2,262	0.3

Table 2 National tourism indicators – Seasonally adjusted

Table 2

National tourism indicators – Seasonally adjusted
	Third quarter 2010	Fourth quarter 2010	First quarter 2011	Second quarter 2011	Third quarter 2011	Second quarter to third quarter 2011
	millions of dollars at current prices					% change
Total tourism expenditures
Tourism demand in Canada	18,466	18,919	19,285	19,612	19,831	1.1
Tourism demand by non-residents	3,764	3,806	3,742	3,851	3,873	0.6
Tourism domestic demand	14,702	15,113	15,543	15,761	15,958	1.2
Transportation
Tourism demand in Canada	7,014	7,347	7,684	7,897	8,016	1.5
Tourism demand by non-residents	1,048	1,080	1,090	1,144	1,155	1.0
Tourism domestic demand	5,966	6,267	6,594	6,753	6,861	1.6
Accommodation
Tourism demand in Canada	2,760	2,795	2,808	2,834	2,859	0.9
Tourism demand by non-residents	900	911	887	902	906	0.4
Tourism domestic demand	1,860	1,884	1,921	1,932	1,953	1.1
Food and beverage services
Tourism demand in Canada	2,768	2,797	2,825	2,880	2,901	0.7
Tourism demand by non-residents	655	662	654	669	671	0.3
Tourism domestic demand	2,113	2,135	2,171	2,211	2,230	0.9
Other tourism commodities
Tourism demand in Canada	2,886	2,917	2,908	2,920	2,954	1.2
Tourism demand by non-residents	451	455	454	462	463	0.2
Tourism domestic demand	2,435	2,462	2,454	2,458	2,491	1.3
Other commodities
Tourism demand in Canada	3,038	3,063	3,060	3,081	3,101	0.6
Tourism demand by non-residents	710	698	657	674	678	0.6
Tourism domestic demand	2,328	2,365	2,403	2,407	2,423	0.7