Travel between Canada and other countries, November 2022
Released: 2023-01-23
Highlights
In November, the overall number of international arrivals to Canada—non-resident visitors and returning Canadians—remained at almost three-quarters (73.5%) of the November 2019 level, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Residents of overseas countries took almost twice as many trips to Canada in November 2022 compared with the same month in 2021, 71.7% of the trips taken in November 2019.
US residents took 1.0 million trips to Canada in November 2022, more than double the number of trips taken in November 2021 and over two-thirds (70.7%) of those taken in November 2019, before the pandemic.
Canadian residents returned from 3.1 million trips abroad in November 2022, almost three times the number of trips taken in November 2021, recovering nearly three-quarters (74.7%) of the November 2019 pre-pandemic level. In fact, the number of Canadians returning from the United States by air has now recovered to its pre-pandemic level.
For more current estimates of international arrivals into Canada, please see the "Leading indicator of international arrivals to Canada," for the December reference month.
Airports bracing for holiday travel
On October 1, all COVID-19 border restrictions, including vaccination, mandatory use of the ArriveCAN app as well as any testing and quarantine requirements, were removed for all travellers entering Canada by land, air, or sea.
A decline in air travel during the fall along with new hires—such as baggage handlers and security screeners—have helped address challenges that some airports experienced during the busy summer months. However, winter weather delays can be unpredictable during the busy holiday travel season.
Overseas visitors to Canada
In November, 231,400 overseas residents arrived in Canada, nearly double the 121,200 such arrivals in November 2021 and reaching 71.7% of those who arrived in Canada in November 2019. This recovery rate was up from October (64.5%) and was the highest level reached since the onset of the pandemic.
Over two-fifths (98,700) of overseas visitors arrived from Europe (up from 58,600 in November 2021), reaching over three-quarters (76.4%) of the pre-pandemic level. However, recovery of the Asian market continued to lag, with 60,100 visitors arriving in November 2022, representing 54.4% of the number recorded in the same month in 2019.
US-resident trips to Canada
In November, US residents made 1.0 million trips to Canada, over twice as many trips as in November 2021 (439,100) and 70.7% of the trips taken during the same month in 2019. This level of recovery was lower than the 74.8% recorded in October 2022.
Of the total in November, 741,400 came by automobile, with over half (53.8%) being same-day returns (399,200). This total was an increase from the 313,000 total arrivals by automobile in November 2021.
Canadian-resident trips to the United States
Canadian residents returned from 2.6 million trips to the United States in November, over three times the number recorded in November 2021 (785,800) and 78.4% of the pre-pandemic level from the same month in 2019.
Of the total in November 2022, 1.6 million trips were by automobile, with over two-thirds (67.1%) being same-day trips. The number of trips returning by air was 947,900, an increase from 324,900 in November 2021 and higher (+7.4%) than the same month in 2019, reaching above pre-pandemic levels for the third consecutive month.
Canadian residents travelling overseas
In November, 508,200 Canadian residents returned from visiting overseas, up by nearly 141,300 from the same month in 2021. Canadian-resident trips overseas in November 2022 recovered three-fifths (60.3%) of the same level observed in 2019, slightly lower than the rate of recovery in October 2022 (62.0%).
Note to readers
Statistics Canada's Frontier Counts program uses Canada Border Services Agency administrative data gathered from all international travellers who have been cleared for entry or re-entry into Canada.
Starting with the January 2022 release, all estimates, including those in Table 1, are based on unadjusted counts only. Seasonally adjusted data continue to be available online in tables 24-10-0051-01 and 24-10-0054-01.
Seasonally adjusted data from August 2022 to October 2022 have been revised. No revisions were made to data that were not seasonally adjusted.
Elements of Statistics Canada's Frontier Counts program were modified in January 2022. For example, travellers arriving by commercial air with a trip duration of a year or more and workers are now excluded from the visitor counts. Although these changes should not have a significant impact on total estimates, readers are encouraged to review the concepts, definitions, data sources, and methods for Frontier Counts, as well as the explanatory notes for the online tables, especially when making historical comparisons and examining specific regions.
Overseas countries refer to countries other than Canada or the United States.
A Canadian resident visitor is a Canadian resident traveller whose trip purpose outside Canada is related to tourism and whose trip duration is less than one year.
A non-resident visitor is a traveller to Canada whose country of residence is not Canada, whose trip purpose is related to tourism and whose trip duration is less than one year.
Products
The November 2022 issue of International Travel: Advance Information (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; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
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