Ottawa — Canada's international travel deficit widened to a record high $3.3-billion in the third quarter from $3.2-billion in the second.
Statistics Canada reports the main contributor was a 0.8-per- cent decline in spending by foreign travellers in Canada between the second and third quarters to $3.7-billion, its lowest level in six years.
At the same time, Canadians spent just over $7-billion travelling outside the country, a 0.1-per-cent increase.
Travel spending by foreigners in Canada has fallen by 15.1 per cent since it peaked at $4.4-billion in the fourth quarter of 2004 – the result of a drop in spending by American travellers in Canada.
The travel deficit with the United States declined by $111-million between the second and third quarters to $2.2-billion.
This was the result of a 2.9-per-cent decline in travel spending by Canadians in the United States to $3.9-billion.
Spending by American travellers in Canada decreased 0.4 per cent to $1.8-billion, the lowest quarterly level in over 12 years.
Canada's travel deficit with overseas countries increased by $152-million to a record high of $1.1-billion in the third quarter.
An increase in travel spending overseas and a decrease in spending by travellers from overseas countries in Canada were responsible for the higher deficit.
Canadian travellers spent $3.1-billion in overseas countries, up 4.3 per cent from the previous quarter.
Spending by travellers from overseas countries fell 1.2 per cent to $2-billion.
© Canadian Press
