International travel account, first quarter 2012 (preliminary data)
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Canada's international travel deficit with the world declined by $85 million to $4.0 billion during the first quarter. This was a result of a decrease in payments by Canadian travellers to the United States and an increase in receipts from overseas residents.
Canadian travellers spent $8.3 billion outside the country during the first quarter, down 0.2% from the fourth quarter of 2011.
Receipts from all foreign travellers in Canada increased 1.6% to $4.3 billion during the first quarter, the highest level since the fourth quarter of 2004.
Canada's international travel deficit decreases for the second consecutive quarter, first quarter 2012
Decrease in payments by Canadians travelling in the United States
Canada's travel deficit with the United States fell by $91.7 million to $3.2 billion in the first quarter, mostly the result of a decline in payments by Canadian travellers in the United States.
Canadian travellers spent $5.0 billion in the United States in the first quarter, a 1.6% decrease. Despite this decline, the number of trips to the United States increased 2.7%.
Receipts from American travellers in Canada were up 0.6% from the previous quarter to $1.8 billion. During the same period, the number of trips by Americans to Canada was stable.
Travel deficit with overseas nations up slightly
Payments by Canadian travellers in overseas countries rose 2.0% to a record high of $3.3 billion in the first quarter. This increase was also accompanied by an increase in receipts by overseas travellers to Canada, which rose 2.3% to $2.5 billion, also a record amount. As a result, Canada's travel deficit with overseas countries increased by $6.9 million to $782 million.
The increase in payments by Canadian travellers was in line with travel to overseas countries, up 1.6% in the first quarter to 2.3 million trips. The increase in receipts by overseas travellers in Canada was also in line with a 3.5% increase in travel to 1.2 million trips.
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.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers survey number3152 and survey number5005.
The international travel account for the second quarter will be released on August 29.
For more information, contact Statistics Canada's National Contact Centre (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 613-951-8116; infostats@statcan.gc.ca).
To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Riley Brockington (613-951-2995; riley.brockington@statcan.gc.ca), Tourism and Centre for Education Statistics Division.
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