National tourism indicators, first quarter 2013
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Released: 2013-06-27
Tourism spending in Canada rose 0.1% in the first quarter, as higher spending by international visitors in Canada offset lower spending by Canadians at home.
After average quarterly gains of 0.9% from the third quarter of 2009 to the fourth quarter of 2011, growth in tourism demand slowed down. Since the beginning of 2012, tourism demand has increased on average 0.3% per quarter.
Chart 1
Tourism spending in Canada edges up
Increase in spending by international visitors
Spending by international visitors in Canada increased 1.3% in the first quarter, as overnight travel from both the United States and overseas countries was higher.
Outlays on most tourism goods and services increased, most notably accommodation (+1.6%) and recreation and entertainment (+3.0%). Spending on vehicle fuel saw little change, while outlays on non-tourism goods and services were 0.2% lower.
Chart 2
Tourism spending by international visitors up
Decrease in tourism spending by Canadians at home
Tourism spending by Canadians at home declined 0.2% in the first quarter, following six consecutive quarterly increases.
Lower outlays on passenger air transport (-2.3%) contributed the most to the decline in spending. Spending on most transportation categories and on recreation and entertainment were also lower. Pre-trip expenditures on items such as luggage and camping equipment, and spending on accommodation and non-tourism goods and services, such as groceries and clothing, increased in the first quarter.
Chart 3
Decline in tourism spending by Canadians at home
Tourism gross domestic product expands
Tourism gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 0.5% in the first quarter. Tourism GDP rose for all industries, except transportation, which declined 0.8%.
Tourism employment was flat in the first quarter. Job gains in the air transportation, food and beverage services and recreation and entertainment industries were offset by job losses in other transportation, accommodation and travel services.
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.
In addition, all data series expressed at 2002 prices (adjusted for inflation) have been rebased to the 2007 reference year. This is in line with the volume and price data published in the first quarter 2013 release of the National Income and Expenditure Accounts. This change affects National tourism indicators data adjusted for inflation from 1986 to date. The existing CANSIM vector identifiers for the constant price data have been retained.
National tourism indicators are funded by the Canadian Tourism Commission.
The National economic 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.
With the first quarter 2013 release of the National tourism indicators, all data from the first quarter of 2009 to the fourth quarter of 2012 have been revised. These data revisions reflect the incorporation of revisions to source data for 2009 to 2012. More information on the revision will be published in an article in the Latest developments in the Canadian Economic Accounts in September 2013. Revised data can be obtained from CANSIM.
Data on the National tourism indicators for the second quarter will be released on September 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; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@canada.ca).
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