There’s more proof Canadians are choosing to travel anywhere, but the U.S.
New numbers from Statistics Canada show that the number of return trips to the States by Canadians in December was down 25 per cent year over year.
“In contrast, both the number of Canadian-resident return trips from overseas (+12.9 per cent) and the number of trips to Canada by overseas residents (+14.1 per cent) increased compared with the same month a year earlier,” said the federal agency.
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Meanwhile, Statistics Canada says the number of trips to Canada by Americans decreased by 7.5 per cent, which it says amounts to 1.6 million trips.
“British Columbia saw the largest year-over-year decline, partially because of a base-year effect from a higher number of visitors in December 2024 that coincided with a series of high-profile concerts in Vancouver,” the agency said, describing a tourism boom surrounding the final three shows of Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras’ tour in Vancouver.
It adds that trips by car were down 7.5 per cent year over year in December with just over half of the arrivals being same-day trips.
“Meanwhile, air arrivals (395,800) decreased 4.6 per cent year over year.”
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Statistics Canada says many Canadians also returned from Europe (+8.7 per cent), Asia (+15.9 per cent) and the countries in the Americas besides the U.S., (+19.7 per cent).
“The top three countries of residence for overseas visitors were the United Kingdom (59,600), France (52,700) and Mexico (47,200), accounting for 31.3 per cent of all overseas arrivals in Canada in December.”