Travel between Canada and other countries, June 2012

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Travel to and from Canada increased in June. Canadian residents took nearly 2.8 million overnight trips abroad in June, the highest monthly figure since record keeping began in 1972.

Canadian overnight travel was up 5.7% compared with May. This was the result of increases in overnight travel to both the United States and overseas countries.

Overnight travel to the United States rose 7.5% to 1.9 million trips, also the highest level since 1972. The majority of overnight travel was by car as Canadian residents took over 1.2 million overnight car trips, the highest level in almost 20 years.

Canadian residents took 807,000 trips to overseas countries in June, up 1.4%. Although this was a continuation of an upward trend, it marked the first time that travel to overseas countries surpassed the 800,000 mark.

As of June 1, the duty-free exemptions for Canadians returning from trips abroad changed. For those away from the country for 24 hours or more, the change was from $50 to $200. For those residents away 48 hours or more, the change was from $400 to $800.

On an inbound basis, travel to Canada from abroad rose 0.5% to just over 2.1 million trips in June.

Overnight travel from the United States rose 1.1% to 1.0 million trips. Overnight car travel increased 1.9%, while overnight plane travel decreased 0.7% in June.

US residents took 651,000 same-day car trips in June, down 1.7% from May.

Travel from overseas countries rose 0.8% in June to 381,000 trips.

In June, 6 of the top 12 overseas markets recorded increases. Residents of China took 26,000 trips to Canada in June, a 5.5% increase and the highest monthly figure on record for that country. Travel from Italy was also up 5.5%, while travel from India declined 5.4%.