June 2012: the ins and outs of travel to Canada

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Thanks to another big boost in Chinese arrivals, the monthly total of international visitors broke the two-million barrier, says CTC Tourism Snapshot

2012-09-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — Passport control was a busy place in Canada in June 2012. More than two million people came from around the world to see our country, a 4% year-on-year increase, reports the latest pin-sharp Tourism Snapshot by the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC)’s Research department.

Here are some more key findings:

  • Vroom! Overnight visitor numbers from the US market went up through the gears in June thanks to a 9% acceleration in auto travel, clocking a 6% rise on the year-on-year travelometer.
  • Americans have certainly rediscovered their passion for travel to Canada. With half of 2012 now ticked off, overnighters have risen 5% so far to reach 4.9 million.
  • Chinese travellers continue to pack their bags for Canada with unbridled enthusiasm. June was no exception, notching a 23% surge in visitors to our country.
  • The Japan market looks on firmer ground again, posting a 16% year-on-year growth in June 2012.
  • June 2012 saw a blip in the India market, with a surprising 2% dip in visitors to Canada, while South Korea’s struggles continued with an 11% decline.
  • Better news from the France and UK markets, which posted 4% and 1% gains respectively in overnight trips to Canada in June 2012.
  • The Brazil market kept its sunny disposition in June 2012 with a healthy 15% gain in trips to Canada.
  • It was all smiles in the Mexico market, too, as consumers took 4% more trips to Canada in June 2012 than the same month last year.
  • Although Canada (25%) and Australia (15%) both saw many more Chinese visitors in the first five months of 2012, the US was top of the charts, registering an astonishing 43% increase.
  • Canadians headed for the highway, looking for adventure in June 2012, taking more than two million trips abroad, an 8% rise on the previous year.
  • Canadians thought their glasses were half empty in June 2012. The Index of Consumer Confidence, released by The Conference Board of Canada, sunk 6.8 points to 74.
  • Uncertainty in an election year dogs America’s confidence. The Conference BoardConsumer Confidence Index slipped to 62, down 2.4 points on May 2012.

The Tourism Snapshot examines statistics and travel trends up to June 30, 2012, in CTC’s—and partners’—key global markets.

Read the Tourism Snapshot – June 2012 in full.

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