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International travel account
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Canada's international travel deficit narrowed for a second consecutive quarter, but despite the contraction, it was still one of the highest deficits ever.
The deficit (the difference between spending by Canadian residents abroad and spending by foreigners in the country) fell slightly to $3.2 billion in the second quarter of 2008, down $31 million from the previous quarter but still much higher than the $2.0-billion level recorded at the same time last year. The deficit had reached a high of $3.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2007. (Unless otherwise specified, quarterly data are seasonally adjusted.)
Foreign travel spending in Canada climbed to $4.0 billion in the second quarter of 2008, 1.7% higher than the previous quarter.
During the last three years, foreign travel spending in Canada has remained fairly stable. Since the second quarter of 2005, quarterly levels have hovered between $4.0 billion and $4.2 billion. Spending by Canadians abroad has been more volatile, with quarterly levels ranging from $5.4 billion to $7.5 billion during that same period.
Note to readersThis 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. |
Travel spending by Canadians outside the country edged up to $7.2 billion in the second quarter of 2008, up 0.5% from the first quarter.
Travel deficit with the United States falls for second consecutive quarter
Canada's travel deficit with the United States fell to $2.2 billion in the second quarter of 2008, down $64 million from the first quarter. After posting a significant jump at the end of 2007, the deficit dropped for the second consecutive time in the second quarter of 2008.
Lower spending by Canadians in the United States and higher spending by US residents in Canada contributed to the decline in the travel deficit with the United States.
Canadians spent $4.1 billion in the United States in the second quarter of 2008, down 0.7% from the first quarter. A drop in overnight travel to the United States may have contributed to the lower spending, as Canadians made 4.8 million overnight trips to the United States in the second quarter of 2008, down 0.4% from the previous quarter.
United States residents spent $1.9 billion in Canada in the second quarter of 2008, up 1.8% from the first quarter. The increase in spending occurred despite a decline in overnight travel to Canada. Overnight travel from the United States fell 1.1% to 3.2 million trips in the second quarter of 2008.
Increased spending overseas pushes travel deficit with overseas countries to all-time high
Canada's travel deficit with overseas countries reached a high of $974 million in the second quarter of 2008, about $33 million more than in the first quarter.
The higher deficit was fuelled by increased spending in overseas countries, which climbed to $3.1 billion in the second quarter of 2008, up 2.2% from the previous quarter. Travel spending overseas has fallen only three times in the last five years.
Canadians made 2.0 million trips overseas in the second quarter of 2008, unchanged from the high observed in the first quarter.
Spending by visitors from overseas countries also increased in the second quarter of 2008, up 1.5% to $2.2 billion. Overnight travel to Canada from overseas countries increased 3.2% to a high of 1.2 million trips in the second quarter of 2008.
While both have shown steady increases, outbound spending in overseas countries has significantly outpaced inbound spending from overseas.
Since the fourth quarter of 1996, the last time a surplus was recorded, travel spending by Canadians overseas has increased 134.7%. During that period, spending by visitors from overseas countries in Canada has increased 60.8%.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 3152 and 5005.
The international travel account for the third quarter of 2008 will be released on November 27.
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Eric Desjardins (613-951-1781; eric.desjardins@statcan.gc.ca) or Client Services (toll-free 1-800-307-3382; 613-951-9169; fax: 613-951-2909; tourism@statcan.gc.ca), Culture, Tourism and the Centre for Education Statistics.
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