The National Tourism Indicators (NTI) portray the evolution of tourism in Canada on a quarterly basis. These bottom-line figures officially represent the most current results on the significance of tourism in the Canadian economy and form the basis to measure its progress. They constitute a set of statistics that provide historical and current quarterly analysis of tourism, covering tourism commodity supply and demand, employment and prices.
Statistics Canada released on September 28, 2005 the National Tourism Indicators (NTI) quarterly estimates, second quarter 2005.
Summary of the second quarter 2005 estimates for data unadjusted for seasonality and expressed in current prices (compared to the same quarter of preceding year):
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Total tourism expenditures reached $14.9 billion, an increase of 5.7% over the same quarter of 2004. The increase was largely due to a 7.9% gain in spending by domestic visitors, the sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year increases. Results were positive across all tourism commodities. Transportation spending was generally higher than the average, partly as a result of higher fuel costs. Air transportation expenditures rose 9.3%, while spending on vehicle fuel jumped 11.8% from the same quarter last year.
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Total foreign spending (exports) slowed considerably from previous quarters to $4.6 billion in the second quarter of 2005 (up 1.2%). The increase in expenditure was down from the large 20.3% increase registered in the same quarter of 2004. As a result, only vehicle fuel, propelled by strong price increases, recorded a double-digit increase (up 14.9%) in the second quarter of 2005. “Other commodities” which are influenced by cross border shopping, actually declined (down 1.3 %) from year-ago levels.
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Spending by Canadians traveling in Canada reached $10.3 billion (up 7.9%), making the sixth consecutive year-over-year gain. Increases were registered in all tourism commodities, with passenger air transport leading the way (up 11.6%), followed by vehicle fuel (up 11.4%).
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Total tourism employment reached 630,800 full and part-time jobs, up 1.6% from the second quarter of 2004 and the fifth consecutive increase. Increases in employment were widespread across the tourism industries, registering the strongest job gains in water transportation (up 3.1%) and air transportation (up 2.8%).
Summary of the second quarter 2005 estimates adjusted for seasonality and inflation and expressed in 1997 constant dollars (compared to the preceding quarter):
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Total tourism spending reached $13.6 billion in the second quarter of 2005, up 1.1% from the first quarter of 2005. This eighth consecutive quarterly increase is mainly due to increased spending by Canadians traveling in Canada. This leaves tourism expenditure a strong 13% higher than in the second quarter of 2003, when the SARS episode occurred, and is at its highest level recorded. The highest increases from the previous quarter in 2005 were registered in passenger air transport (up 2.8%), passenger rail transport (up 2.2%), and travel agency services (up 0.9%).
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Total foreign spending (exports) in Canada slowed considerably from previous quarters to $3.8 billion (down 0.1%). While there were fewer international visitors (down 1.0%) in the second quarter of 2005 mainly due to a downturn in US visitors (down 2.0%), there was a 1.7% increase in overnight visits. Overnight tourists generally spend more per trip than same day visitors.
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Spending by Canadians traveling in Canada reached $9.7 billion, up 1.6% in the second quarter, continuing to be the engine for growth for Canadian tourism in 2005. Passenger air transport continued to push up domestic spending (up 3.5%), followed by a 3.8% gain in the first quarter. Other tourism commodities that also registered gains were accommodation (up 1.8%), pre-trip expenditures (up 1.5%) and food and beverage services (up 0.9%).
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Total tourism employment reached 624,100 full and part-time jobs, a marginal increase of 0.6% from the previous quarter. The largest gains were registered in railway transportation (up 3.6%), followed by bus transportation (up 1.1%).
Note to Readers:
This release includes an article on the1999 – 2004 revisions of the National Tourism Indicators. These revisions were done at the time of the first quarter of 2005 release.
For more information on the NTI 2Q 2005, contact Murielle Ballantyne at (613) 946-2136 or at ballantyne.murielle@ctc-cct.ca.
