Leading indicator of international arrivals to Canada, September 2023
Released: 2023-10-12
Highlights
In September 2023, the number of international arrivals to Canada, including non-resident trips and returning Canadian-resident trips, increased from September 2022. All recovery rates have increased compared with September 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The number of non-resident arrivals at Canadian airports equipped with electronic sensors totalled 942,600 in September 2023, up 29.3% from September 2022. Meanwhile, the number of Canadian-resident return trips from abroad stood at 1.3 million, a 17.6% increase from September 2022.
In September 2023, US-resident trips to Canada through land ports with electronic sensors reached 1.2 million, up 44.9% from the same month in 2022. Moreover, the number of Canadian-resident return trips from the United States via the same land ports rose 37.0% year over year to 2.0 million trips in September 2023.
To further explore current and historical data in an interactive format, please visit the Frontier Counts: Interactive Dashboard.
Non-resident trips to Canada by air
In September, the number of non-resident arrivals at Canadian airports equipped with Primary Inspection Kiosks (PIKs) totalled 942,600, an increase of 29.3% from September 2022. This includes both arrivals from overseas countries (509,400) and the United States (433,200).
When data from Toronto Pearson International Airport Terminal 1 are excluded from the total arrivals (see Note to readers), non-resident arrivals recovered 87.0% of their September 2019 pre-pandemic volume in September 2023. This was up from the 81.6% recovery rate observed in August 2023.
Chart 1
Non-resident trips to Canada by commercial aircraft, September, 2019 to 2023
US-resident trips to Canada by automobile
In September, the number of US-resident trips entering Canada by automobile through land ports equipped with the Integrated Primary Inspection Line (IPIL) application reached 1.2 million, up from 824,400 trips recorded in September 2022. The number of arrivals by automobile in September 2023 totalled 96.5% of the number of arrivals observed in September 2019. This was up from the 74.8% recovery rate posted in August 2023.
On September 1, the Friday preceding the 2023 Labour Day long weekend, 97,600 arrivals by US residents were observed, up 92.3% from the average of the ensuing four Fridays in September 2023.
Chart 2
United States-resident trips to Canada by automobile, September, 2019 to 2023
Canadian-resident return trips by air
In September, Canadian-resident return trips from abroad through airports equipped with PIKs stood at 1.3 million, up 17.6% from September 2022.
When arrivals at Toronto Pearson International Airport Terminal 1 are excluded from the total arrivals (see Note to readers), the 951,000 return trips for September 2023 represented 100.0% of the pre-pandemic level observed in September 2019. This was up from the recovery rate of 98.7% observed in August 2023.
Chart 3
Canadian-resident return trips from abroad by commercial aircraft, September, 2019 to 2023
Canadian-resident return trips by automobile
In September, the number of Canadian-resident return trips by automobile from visiting the United States via IPIL-equipped land ports was 2.0 million, compared with 1.4 million trips in the same month of the previous year, representing a 37.0% increase.
In September 2023, the recovery rate of Canadian-resident return trips by automobile stood at 85.8% of the 2.3 million trips observed in the same month in 2019. This was up from the 84.7% recovery rate posted in August 2023.
Chart 4
Canadian-resident return trips from the United States by automobile, September, 2019 to 2023
Note to readers
This release provides a first glimpse of international arrivals to Canada in September 2023. Complete counts for the September reference month will be available with the release of "Travel between Canada and other countries" on November 23, 2023.
All counts of arrivals by air are from commercial aircraft and are produced exclusively using Primary Inspection Kiosk (PIK) data. PIKs were deployed at Toronto Pearson International Airport Terminal 1 on June 22, 2021, and, as of July 2021, these arrivals are included in the total counts, which has consequently improved coverage. In 2022, PIKs captured approximately 92% of all commercial air arrivals.
Counts of arrivals entering the country by automobile through land ports equipped with the automated Integrated Primary Inspection Line (IPIL) system represent a subset of US-resident trips and Canadian-resident return trips by automobile. In 2022, IPIL land ports captured approximately 89% of all automobile entries.
In January 2022, some IPIL ports switched mode from land to water. In 2019, arrivals at these ports accounted for a small fraction (0.7%) of all arrivals entering or returning to Canada by automobile.
Readers are encouraged to review the concepts, definitions, data sources and methods for Frontier Counts, especially when making historical comparisons and examining specific regions.
Selective estimates from the Canadian Tourism Activity Tracker for July 2023 are available upon request.
Products
The product "Frontier Counts: Interactive Dashboard," part of the Data Visualization Products series (71-607-X), is 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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