Tourism spending in Canada rose 1.0% in the third quarter following a 0.1% increase in the previous quarter. Higher tourism spending by Canadians at home more than offset a decline in spending by international visitors in Canada.
From the second quarter of 2009 to the third quarter of 2012, tourism spending in Canada increased in every quarter. During this period, it rose 11.6%.
Tourism spending by Canadians at home continues to riseTourism spending by Canadians at home rose 1.6% in the third quarter, following a 0.4% increase in the previous quarter.
Outlays on most tourism goods and services were up, most notably on passenger air transport. Spending on non-tourism items, such as groceries and clothing, was also higher.
Chart 2
Increased tourism spending by Canadians at home
Chart description: Increased tourism spending by Canadians at home
CSV version of chart 2
Lower spending by international visitorsSpending by international visitors in Canada fell 1.5% in the third quarter following a 1.3% decline in the second quarter. Overnight travel to Canada from both the United States and overseas countries was lower.
Outlays decreased on passenger air transport, accommodation and food and beverage services. Spending on other tourism and non-tourism goods and services was also lower.
Chart 3
Tourism spending by international visitors to Canada down
Chart description: Tourism spending by international visitors to Canada down
CSV version of chart 3
Tourism gross domestic product expandsTourism gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 0.7% in the third quarter, the 13th consecutive quarterly increase.
All tourism industries posted gains, notably transportation. Tourism GDP in non-tourism industries was also higher.
Tourism employment was up 0.9% in the third quarter.
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.
With the third quarter 2012 release of the National Tourism Indicators (NTI), all data from the first quarter and second quarter of 2012 have been revised.
The NTI are funded by the Canadian Tourism Commission.
Third quarter 2011 | Fourth quarter 2011 | First quarter 2012 | Second quarter 2012 | Third quarter 2012 | Second quarter to third quarter 2012 | |
millions of dollars at 2002 prices | % change | |||||
Total tourism expenditures | ||||||
Tourism demand in Canada | 16,754 | 16,946 | 17,019 | 17,034 | 17,210 | 1.0 |
Tourism demand by non-residents | 3,259 | 3,279 | 3,329 | 3,286 | 3,236 | -1.5 |
Tourism domestic demand | 13,499 | 13,669 | 13,690 | 13,748 | 13,974 | 1.6 |
Transportation | ||||||
Tourism demand in Canada | 6,609 | 6,717 | 6,710 | 6,673 | 6,797 | 1.9 |
Tourism demand by non-residents | 1,005 | 1,003 | 1,021 | 999 | 980 | -1.9 |
Tourism domestic demand | 5,603 | 5,714 | 5,689 | 5,674 | 5,817 | 2.5 |
Accommodation | ||||||
Tourism demand in Canada | 2,428 | 2,440 | 2,464 | 2,472 | 2,473 | 0.0 |
Tourism demand by non-residents | 760 | 774 | 788 | 781 | 766 | -1.9 |
Tourism domestic demand | 1,669 | 1,665 | 1,676 | 1,691 | 1,707 | 0.9 |
Food and beverage services | ||||||
Tourism demand in Canada | 2,273 | 2,289 | 2,305 | 2,315 | 2,325 | 0.4 |
Tourism demand by non-residents | 511 | 519 | 528 | 523 | 518 | -1.0 |
Tourism domestic demand | 1,765 | 1,770 | 1,777 | 1,792 | 1,807 | 0.8 |
Other tourism commodities | ||||||
Tourism demand in Canada | 2,525 | 2,554 | 2,588 | 2,587 | 2,598 | 0.4 |
Tourism demand by non-residents | 353 | 355 | 361 | 360 | 355 | -1.4 |
Tourism domestic demand | 2,174 | 2,201 | 2,227 | 2,227 | 2,243 | 0.7 |
Other commodities | ||||||
Tourism demand in Canada | 2,919 | 2,946 | 2,952 | 2,987 | 3,017 | 1.0 |
Tourism demand by non-residents | 630 | 628 | 631 | 623 | 617 | -1.0 |
Tourism domestic demand | 2,288 | 2,319 | 2,321 | 2,364 | 2,400 | 1.5 |
distributed by |