National tourism indicators, third quarter 2013
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Released: 2014-01-09
Tourism spending in Canada increased 0.4% in the third quarter, the same pace as in the second quarter. Spending by Canadians at home and by international visitors in Canada were both higher.
Tourism demand has grown 11.4% since the second quarter of 2009, with almost half of the increase coming from transport services, particularly passenger air transport.
Chart 1
Tourism spending in Canada increases
Increase in tourism spending by Canadians at home
Tourism spending by Canadians at home increased 0.4% in the third quarter, matching the gain in the second quarter.
Outlays increased on most tourism goods and services, including pre-trip expenditures (+2.1%) and food and beverage services (+1.3%). Passenger air transport (+0.3%) was also higher while recreation and entertainment was down 1.1%.
Chart 2
Increase in tourism spending by Canadians at home
Spending by international visitors up again
Spending by international visitors in Canada rose 0.6% in the third quarter, following a similar increase in the second quarter. Overall, this was the fourth consecutive increase in spending by international visitors in Canada.
Overnight travel from both the United States and overseas countries was higher in the third quarter, contributing to the increase in spending.
Tourism spending on most goods and services was higher, most notably on recreation and entertainment (+0.7%), accommodation (+0.6%) and non-tourism goods and services (+0.6%) such as groceries.
Since the first quarter of 2009, the export share of tourism demand has remained relatively steady, at around 21.0%. It had previously been on a steady decline since peaking at 34.7% in the third quarter of 1998.
Chart 3
Tourism spending by international visitors up
Tourism gross domestic product expands
Tourism gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 0.3% in the third quarter, following a 0.7% increase in the second quarter. Tourism GDP was higher in food and beverage services (+1.3%), accommodation (+0.6%) and non-tourism industries (+0.6%). Tourism GDP in the transportation industry was down.
Tourism employment was up 0.2% on strong gains in the food and beverage services (+1.2%) industry. Travel services were also higher, while tourism jobs in the air transportation and accommodation industries were lower.
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 noted.
With the third quarter release of the National tourism indicators, all data from the first quarter and second quarter have been revised.
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 fourth quarter of 2013 will be released on March 27.
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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