The large number of visitors from the U.S. in October does not necessarily reflect a trend of increased tourism from south of the border.
A Central 1 Credit Union report warned that while travel from the U.S. has stabilized and increased 6.4% in October, further gains will be necessary to confirm an upward trend. It noted U.S. tourism remains low when compared to activity in the past decade.
A strong Canadian dollar, a weak U.S. labour market and stagnant consumer and business spending will continue to constrain tourists from the U.S.
International tourism from outside the U.S. also remains flat, rising only 0.2% in October. While the number of international visitors remains stable, it also remains near the lowest levels in a decade. Activity has remained relatively consistent due to increased visitors from Asia and Oceania, offsetting post-Olympic declines in European visitors.