Tourism spending in Canada rose 1% in the fourth quarter of 2013 – the biggest gain in three-and-a-half years, Statistics Canada announced March 27.
Much of that gain came from increased spending by Canadians traveling within Canada. Canadian domestic tourists increased spending 1.2% more in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared with the previous quarter. That's the third consecutive quarterly increase and the largest gain since the first quarter of 2011, according to the government number-cruncher.
Spending by international visitors to Canada was also on the rise but, at 0.3%, was a fraction of the increase shown by Canadian domestic tourists.
The areas where international travelers had the biggest spending increases were recreation and entertainment (1.7%), accommodation (1.2%) and food (1.1%). That more than offset declines in spending on air travel (-1.2%) and non-tourism goods and services (-0.8%).
Tourism spending increased 0.9% in 2013 compared with 2012. Most tourism-related goods and services enjoyed that increased spending. The biggest exception was spending on air travel, which dropped 1% year over year.
Tourism spending in Canada has increased every year except for three since Statistics Canada began keeping records in 1986. Years where there were declines included 1991 and 2009, when there were economic recessions. The decline in spending in 2003 was partly because of the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
