Visitor Travel Survey, fourth quarter 2022

Released: 2023-05-26

Highlights

Spending in Canada by international travellers totalled $3.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022, up sharply from $1.6 billion during the same quarter of 2021, and capping a strong recovery in the number of visits by both US and overseas residents during the year.

From October to December 2022, US residents visiting Canada spent $1.7 billion, while non-resident visitors from overseas countries spent $1.3 billion. For both segments, spending was approximately double that seen during the fourth quarter of 2021 and over three-quarters (76.5%) of that seen during the same quarter in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Travel sector faces challenges in late fourth quarter

On October 1, all COVID-19 border restrictions, including vaccination, mandatory use of the ArriveCAN app and testing and quarantine requirements, were removed for all travellers entering Canada by land, air or sea, regardless of vaccination status.

Despite eased travel restrictions, the sector faced new challenges during the December holiday travel period due to severe winter storms. All modes of travel across Canada and the United States were affected.

Spending by US visitors increases

In the fourth quarter of 2022, US residents spent $1.7 billion while travelling in Canada, up from $836.1 million during the same quarter of 2021. Spending by US residents was concentrated in Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec and Alberta; together, these provinces accounted for 88.9% of total expenditures.

Major expenses for US travellers included accommodation ($611.8 million), food and beverages ($475.5 million) and transportation within Canada ($262.9 million). Together, these expenses accounted for four-fifths (80.4%) of all US visitor spending.

Spending by overseas visitors rises

During the fourth quarter of 2022, residents of overseas countries spent $1.3 billion while visiting Canada, up sharply from the $752.7 million spent during the fourth quarter of 2021. Overall, 92.4% of these expenditures were spent in Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec and Alberta.

Expenditures by residents of Asia and Oceania ($621.5 million) and of Europe ($514.0 million) accounted for the majority (84.7%) of the total spending.

Food and beverages (37.3% of total spending) was the largest spending category, followed by accommodation (29.5%) and transportation within Canada (12.4%).

Chart 1 
Total travel expenditures by international travellers, by province and territory, fourth quarter 2022

2022 in review

In 2022, as travel restrictions eased, total tourism expenditures by international travellers in Canada rose to $14.0 billion, over $10.0 billion more than such spending in 2021 ($3.8 billion). US residents spent $7.4 billion in Canada in 2022, while residents from overseas countries spent $6.6 billion. Despite this increase, the 2022 total has recovered just over three-fifths (61.2%) of what international visitors spent in Canada during 2019, before the pandemic.

The largest spending categories were accommodation (36.6% of total spending) and food and beverages (29.2%), followed by transportation within Canada (15.7%) and recreation and entertainment (9.7%).

International arrivals to Canada increased in 2022, with expenditures by European residents rising to $3.0 billion, compared with $678.1 million in 2021. Expenditures by residents of Asia and Oceania rose from $980.9 million in 2021 to $2.7 billion in 2022.

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).