Travel between Canada and other countries, March 2021
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Released: 2021-05-21
Highlights
Arrivals to Canada from the United States and other countries were down 83.7% compared with March 2020, while the total number of Canadian residents returning from abroad plunged 90.6% over the same period.
In March 2021, just over 67,700 Canadians flew home from abroad, 41.4% fewer than February and down 96.1% from a year earlier.
Travel restrictions continue
Restrictions on non-essential travel to and from Canada have been in place for just over one year. In March, the advisory against non-essential travel outside Canada remained in effect, as did the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for Canadians returning from abroad.
Since the end of February, travellers entering Canada have been required to have mandatory testing upon arrival with a hotel stopover for air arrivals while awaiting the results. After this stopover, travellers must complete the remainder of their 14-day quarantine.
Number of overseas visitors remains low
The number of non-residents from countries other than the United States entering Canada declined by 81.5% year over year to 27,600 in March.
Travel originating from Europe (-92.1%) and Asia (-70.0%), Canada's largest markets, were down significantly compared with the same month in 2020. Travel from other major markets also remained low throughout March.
Fewer Americans crossing into Canada
In March, US residents made 95,900 trips to Canada, down 84.3% from the same month last year. The number of US residents arriving by plane declined by 96.8% year-over-year to 4,500 in March.
Car arrivals dropped 79.9% year over year to 90,100 in March. Almost 4 out of every 5 of these car trips involved a same-day return (69,400), while the remainder were overnight (20,700).
US visits by Canadians remain low
The number of Canadian residents returning from the United States in March was 256,900, or 88.5% fewer than March 2020.
Car arrivals, accounting for over 9 out of every 10 of these trips, fell 84.3% year over year to 234,900, of which 200,400 were same-day.
Meanwhile, air arrivals were down 97.3% year over year to 18,900. With ongoing travel advisories and additional restrictions, the number of Canadians returning from the United States by plane dropped 41.4% from February.
Fewer Canadians returning from overseas
In March, 48,800 Canadian residents returned home from travel overseas, down 38.6% from February and 95.2% lower compared with March of 2020.
Note to readers
Statistics Canada's Frontier Counts program uses administrative data from the Canada Border Services Agency on all international travellers who have been cleared for entry or re-entry into Canada.
Since April 2020, releases have been based on unadjusted data (not seasonally adjusted) to emphasize the change in actual volumes.
Seasonally adjusted data from January 2020 to February 2021 have been revised.
Overseas countries refers to countries other than the United States.
A Canadian resident traveller is a Canadian resident who has travelled outside Canada for a period of less than 12 months.
A non-resident traveller is a resident of a country other than Canada who is travelling to Canada for a period of less than 12 months.
An overnight traveller or tourist is a traveller whose trip includes a stay of one night or more.
Products
The March 2021 issue of International Travel, Advance Information, Vol. 37, no. 3 (66-001-P), is now available.
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; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).
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