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Travel between Canada and other countries
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Travel between Canada and other countries decreased in June compared with May, led by a decline in trips between Canada and the United States.
Overall, the number of Canadian trips abroad decreased 7.4% from May to just over 3.6 million trips. The number of trips to Canada declined 13.3% over the same period to 1.9 million trips.
The decrease in travel abroad was the result of 9.6% fewer trips to the United States in June from May. Canadians took 1.4 million overnight trips to the United States in June, down 4.9% from May. All of the overnight travel modes posted declines.
Canadian residents made 1.5 million same-day car trips to the United States, down 13.2% from May.
Travel from the United States to Canada decreased 15.6% to 1.6 million trips. Overnight travel to Canada by US residents declined 9.3% to 928,000 trips. All of the overnight travel modes posted declines.
Same-day car travel to Canada by American residents decreased 26.2% in June to 549,000 trips.
As of June 1, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative required all persons, including US residents, to have a passport, a NEXUS card (a pre-approved travel document for low-risk travellers), or an enhanced driver's license in order to enter or re-enter the United States.
Travel from overseas countries decreased 0.8% from May as 338,000 trips were taken to Canada in June. In June, 5 of the top 12 overseas markets recorded declines with Hong Kong posting the largest drop at 8.1%.
Canadians made 660,000 trips to overseas countries in June, up 3.9% from May.
Available on CANSIM: tables 427-0001 to 427-0006.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 5005.
The June 2009 issue of International Travel, Advance Information, Vol. 25, no. 6 (66-001-P, free) is now available from the Publications module of our website.
For more information, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-800-307-3382; 613-951-9169; fax: 613-951-2909; tourism@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Frances Kremarik (613-951-4240; frances.kremarik@statcan.gc.ca), Tourism and the Centre for Education Statistics Division.
Table 1
| June 2008r | December 2008r | May 2009r | June 2009p | May to June 2009 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonally Adjusted | |||||
| thousands | % change1 | ||||
| Canadian trips abroad2 | 4,405 | 3,922 | 3,913 | 3,623 | -7.4 |
| To the United States | 3,745 | 3,184 | 3,277 | 2,963 | -9.6 |
| To other countries | 660 | 738 | 636 | 660 | 3.9 |
| Same-day car trips to the United States | 2,095 | 1,679 | 1,744 | 1,514 | -13.2 |
| Total trips, one or more nights | 2,253 | 2,196 | 2,127 | 2,078 | -2.3 |
| United States3 | 1,593 | 1,457 | 1,491 | 1,418 | -4.9 |
| Car | 965 | 843 | 915 | 859 | -6.0 |
| Plane | 530 | 516 | 480 | 472 | -1.7 |
| Other modes of transportation | 98 | 99 | 97 | 87 | -10.6 |
| Other countries4 | 660 | 738 | 636 | 660 | 3.9 |
| Travel to Canada2 | 2,271 | 2,275 | 2,194 | 1,902 | -13.3 |
| From the United States | 1,868 | 1,894 | 1,853 | 1,565 | -15.6 |
| From other countries | 403 | 381 | 340 | 338 | -0.8 |
| Same-day car trips from the United States | 759 | 725 | 744 | 549 | -26.2 |
| Total trips, one or more nights | 1,419 | 1,457 | 1,355 | 1,258 | -7.2 |
| United States3 | 1,026 | 1,085 | 1,023 | 928 | -9.3 |
| Car | 610 | 656 | 630 | 554 | -12.0 |
| Plane | 294 | 307 | 266 | 263 | -1.0 |
| Other modes of transportation | 122 | 122 | 127 | 111 | -13.1 |
| Other countries4 | 394 | 372 | 332 | 330 | -0.6 |
| Travel to Canada: Top overseas markets, by country of origin5 | |||||
| United Kingdom | 74 | 69 | 58 | 59 | 1.9 |
| France | 36 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 2.7 |
| Germany | 28 | 28 | 25 | 25 | 0.4 |
| Mexico | 23 | 21 | 17 | 17 | 2.9 |
| Australia | 21 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 2.1 |
| China | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | -6.1 |
| Japan | 24 | 23 | 13 | 12 | -4.5 |
| South Korea | 17 | 13 | 12 | 12 | -1.6 |
| Hong Kong | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | -8.1 |
| India | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | -2.8 |
| Switzerland | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 1.4 |
| Netherlands | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 2.4 |
