National tourism indicators, second quarter 2014
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Released: 2014-09-26
Tourism spending in Canada rose 1.5% in the second quarter, the fifth consecutive quarterly increase and the largest since the first quarter of 2010.
Increased tourism spending by both Canadians at home and international visitors to Canada contributed to the overall gain.
Chart 1
Tourism spending in Canada increases at fastest pace in over four years
Spending by Canadians at home continues to rise
Tourism spending by Canadians in Canada rose 0.9% in the second quarter, after increasing 1.2% in the first three months of 2014. This was the fifth consecutive increase in tourism spending by Canadians at home.
Passenger air transport was up 1.8%, contributing the most to the increase in spending by Canadians at home. Food and beverage services (+1.5%) and accommodation (+1.1%) were also higher. Spending on non-tourism goods and services, such as clothing, increased 2.4%.
Spending on recreation and entertainment (-2.4%) and fuel (-0.9%) declined.
Chart 2
Increased tourism spending by Canadians at home
Spending by international visitors rebounds
Spending by international visitors to Canada rose 3.7%, after falling 1.1% in the previous quarter. This was the largest quarterly increase since the first quarter of 2010.
Spending on most tourism goods and services was up, with passenger air transport (+5.8%) contributing the most to the overall gain. Accommodation (+3.2%), food and beverage services (+3.2%), and non-tourism goods and services (+3.1%) also increased.
Same-day and overnight travel from abroad were both higher in the second quarter.
Chart 3
Tourism spending by international visitors rebounds
Tourism gross domestic product expands
Tourism gross domestic product (GDP) grew 1.5% in the second quarter, continuing an upward trend that began in the third quarter of 2009. By comparison, national GDP increased 0.7% in the second quarter.
Among tourism industries, transportation (+1.9%), food and beverage services (+2.0%), and accommodation (+1.3%) contributed the most to the increase in tourism GDP. Non-tourism industries (+2.1%) also saw their tourism GDP rise.
Tourism employment rose 1.0% to 628,800 jobs in the second quarter. This was the ninth consecutive increase in tourism employment and the largest since the third quarter of 2011.
Jobs in travel services (+2.3%), air transport (+2.2%) and food and beverage services (+1.6%) industries all increased. Tourism jobs in non-tourism industries (+0.9%) were also higher.
Note to readers
Growth rates of tourism spending and gross domestic product are expressed in real terms (that is, 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 indicated.
With the second quarter of 2014 release of the National tourism indicators, all data for the first quarter of 2014 have been revised. Revised data can be obtained from CANSIM.
The National tourism indicators are funded by the Canadian Tourism Commission.
The System of macroeconomic accounts module, accessible from the Browse by key resource module of our website, features an up-to-date portrait of national and provincial economies and their structure.
Data on the National tourism indicators for the third quarter will be released on January 8, 2015.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@canada.ca).
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