Data quality, concepts and methodology

Definition of terms

The definitions of terms described in this section relate to the statistics of international travel by Canada and, although close, they do not necessarily coincide precisely with definitions developed internationally or elsewhere nationally. The definitions are restricted by the nature of the survey and the physical limitations of the collection process at border points. The frontier counts and the questionnaire distribution are conducted at points of entry by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and target Canadian residents returning to Canada and non-residents entering Canada. Interviews targeting selected non-residents are also conducted at points of exit at Canadian airports.

International traveller

The term "international traveller" applies to all persons arriving in Canada who are cleared through CBSA points of entry, whether travelling for business, pleasure or other reasons. Any person may cross into Canada more than once in the same period. The method of collection counts each crossing made. The numbers, therefore, represent numbers of crossings (entries or re-entries), and include multiple counting of travellers crossing the border more than once over the same period. The term "international traveller" is divided into three groups: non-resident traveller, resident traveller and other traveller.

Non-resident traveller. A non-resident traveller is an international traveller resident of a country other than Canada who enters through Canadian customs on a visit for a period of less than 12 months. Canadian citizens residing in other countries who come to Canada on leave or for other reasons are included.

Resident traveller. A resident traveller is an international traveller resident of Canada who has travelled outside of Canada for a period of less than 12 months and who is returning to Canada through Canadian customs. Foreign citizens, who are residing in Canada, travelling abroad on leave or for other reasons are included.

Other travellers. Other travellers include the following types of international travellers:

• Immigrants. Citizens of other countries entering Canada to take up permanent residence for more than one year.
• Former residents. Canadian citizens returning to Canada to re-establish permanent residence after residing outside Canada for more than one year.
• Military personnel, diplomats and dependents. Canadian citizens and dependents who have been stationed abroad for more than one year and who are returning from postings. Foreign citizens and dependents entering Canada on a military or diplomatic posting.
• Crews. Persons engaged in the operation of a transport; plane, boat, truck, etc.

International tourist

An international tourist is a resident international traveller staying overnight outside Canada or a non-resident international traveller staying overnight in Canada.

United States

Includes the United States mainland, Hawaii and Alaska. Excludes other land owned by the United States, such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Overseas

Includes all countries except Canada and the United States, as defined above.

Transportation mode

Automobile. Motorized highway passenger car having a designated seating capacity of 10 or less. This also includes motor homes (single unit motorized vehicles designed for camping), truck campers (shells attached to a truck to convert it into a vehicle that can be used for camping) and buses for private use. Taxis are also included. Vehicles on car ferries that meet this definition are also considered as automobile traffic.

Bus. Motorized highway vehicle used for carrying passengers for commercial purposes (to lease as a charter or on a seat basis). This category also includes vehicles used to transport students or employees of a company.

Air. Commercial and charter services and private plane.

Other methods. Train, boat, pedestrian, bicycle, motorcycle, etc.

Type of entry

Direct to Canada. Non-residents entering Canada directly or Canadian residents returning to Canada directly from countries other than the United States, irrespectively of mode of transportation used.

Via the United States. Non-residents from countries other than the United States entering Canada or Canadian residents returning to Canada from countries other than the United States via United States. The length of stay in the United States has no bearing on the classification; a person could be in transit through the United States or could have stayed several days. Three examples follow:

1. A non-resident from countries other than the United States visiting the United States, who during his/her visit enters Canada, would be counted as entering via the United States;
2. A non-resident from countries other than the United States entering Canada directly, who visits the United States during his/her trip, would be counted direct on his/her first entry and via the United States on his/her second entry;
3. A returning resident vacationing in the southern United States who travels to the Caribbean or other countries during his/her trip would be classified as returning via the United States. This latter group is difficult to identify at the border point and may be categorized as returning from the United States only.

By land. Travel by land includes automobile, bus and rail traffic as well as pedestrians and traffic entering by bicycle, motorcycle, etc. Included is traffic entering on car ferries.

By air and sea. Commercial and chartered services, as well as travel by private boat and plane.

Person-trip

Each time a non-resident traveller enters Canada marks the beginning of a person-trip. The traveller's entry is recorded by CBSA. The person-trip concludes when the traveller leaves Canada. For Canadian residents, a person-trip begins when a person departs from Canada and ends when the traveller returns to Canada. His/her re-entry is recorded by CBSA. Person-trips are divided in two categories according to length of trip: same day and one or more nights (or overnight).

For residents, person-trips are either to U.S. destinations or non-U.S. destinations, also known as countries other than the United States or overseas countries. To avoid double-counting, in cases where resident travellers have visited both the United States and countries other than the United States, the person-trip is classified according to where the traveller spent the most nights. Therefore, unless specified, statistics on resident travel in the United States include only those on travel to U.S. destinations. Likewise, statistics on resident travel in countries other than the United States include only those on travel to non-U.S. destinations.

Person-visit

A non-resident traveller may stay in several locations on one trip to Canada; each stay represents a person-visit.

A resident traveller may stay in several countries or states before being recorded as having re-entered Canada; each of these stays represents a person-visit.

Person-visits are divided in two categories according to length of visit: same day and one or more nights (or overnight). As one person-trip may encompass several person-visits, the number of person-visits is often greater than the number of person-trips.

Trip or visit duration

Same day. Same-day trips include resident travellers who leave and re-enter Canada without staying overnight and non-resident travellers who enter and leave Canada without staying overnight. Same-day visits include travellers who visit a foreign country or U.S. state without staying overnight. This category includes persons resident in one country and commuting daily to and from work in another country.

One or more nights. Trips of one or more nights include resident travellers staying overnight outside Canada and non-resident travellers who stay in Canada overnight. Visits of one or more nights include travellers who visit a foreign country or U.S. state and stay at least one night.

Person-night

Each night a non-resident traveller spends in Canada, or a resident traveller spends outside Canada during a person-trip, is considered a person-night.

Origin or residence

The origin or residence is the place of last permanent residence normally summarized by census region for United States residents, by country for other non-residents and by province for Canadian residents.

Area or region of destination

For resident travel to U.S. destinations, census regions are used to determine the area of destination. For resident travel to non-U.S. destinations, country groupings (or regions) are used to determine the area of destination. If the traveller indicated two areas of destination, they are coded and split evenly in the tabulations. Trips with three or more areas of destination are coded in a separate category (for travel to U.S. destinations) or are included in the total only (travel to non-U.S. destinations).

Purpose of trip

The main reason for the trip to a country is generally summarized for publication as follows:

• Business. Includes attending meetings or conventions, conferences, trade shows or seminars, or other work.
• Visiting friends or relatives.
• Other pleasure. Includes holiday, vacation, visiting a second home, cottage or condo, and attending events and attractions.
• Other purposes. Includes personal, in transit, shopping, educational study and other.

Expenditures

They refer to trip expenditures made by all members of the travelling party and related to the trip. Expenditures may have been paid for by individuals, by government or by a private sector business. Expenditures include the following categories: accommodation, transportation within a country, food and beverages, recreation and entertainment and others (souvenirs, shopping, photos, etc.). Expenditures are reported in Canadian dollars or converted in Canadian dollars. Expenditures exclude medical expenses, expenses on education and spending by crews. Fares paid to travel between countries, known as international passenger fares, are also excluded.

Travel receipts

Travel receipts are only found in tables on travel account. They include the expenditures made in Canada by non-resident travellers on the above-mentioned categories, as well as the following supplementary expenditures: medical expenses, expenses on education and spending by foreign crews.

Travel payments

Travel payments are only found in tables on travel account. They include the expenditures made abroad by Canadian resident travellers on the above-mentioned categories as well as the following supplementary expenditures: medical expenses, expenses on education and expenses made by Canadian crews.