One can only hope that the summer will bring good news to the Canadian Tourism industry, although so far hope is not enough. In the midst of the busiest month for canadian tourism, the Government of Canada imposed visa restrictions on Mexico putting a damper on what looked like a good month. Statistics Canada just published its International Travel: Advance Information Bulletin for the month of May, 2009. Before, I go to the numbers, let's remember that May was the worst month for the H1N1 Flu issue, which may very well have affected travel world wide. It certainly hit inbound numbers from Mexico as Mexicans who might have wanted to visit Canada that month decided to stay home, lest they found themselves quarantined in a foreign country.
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May 2009 will go down as one of the worst months for the canadian tourism industry in recent memory. All markets were down compared to May 2008, with very few exceptions. On a positive note United States inbound was down only 1.5% (although it is important to mention that air travel from the US to Canada was down a whopping 15%, while overnight automobile was up 2.6% and trains, boats and other modes was up 9.2% - what this may mean is higher yield American tourists are staying away). For the period between Jan and May 2009 US inbound was only down by 2.8%.
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Travel from Europe to Canada was down 15.9% in May and down 10.6% for the period Jan-May.
Travel from Asia to Canada was down 24% in May and down 11.8% for the period Jan-May.
Travel from North, Central America and Caribbean - down 21.9% in May and -8.9% Jan-May.
Travel from South America to Canada was down 13.9% in May and negative 4.5% Jan-May.
Travel from Oceania and other islands to Canada - down 20.2% in May; down 11.9% Jan-May.
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Overall overseas inbound tourism to Canada for the period Jan to May 2009 was down 10.5%
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Let's hope that domestic tourism helps the industry this summer. Let's hope that the LocalsKnow campaign is generating great results.
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Jaime Horwitz
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