In September 2024, Canada saw a steady rise in the number of international arrivals, with a total of 5.7 million visitors arriving by air and automobile, marking a 4.5% increase compared to September 2023. This growth is significant as it demonstrates Canada's ongoing recovery in international travel post-pandemic. The data sheds light on key trends, such as increased air travel for Canadian residents returning home, fluctuations in automobile arrivals, and a comparison of current figures to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Let’s dive into the specifics of international arrivals in September 2024 and what the numbers tell us about travel trends to and from Canada.
International Arrivals to Canada by Air and Automobile
In September 2024, the total number of international arrivals to Canada by both air and automobile reached 5.7 million, which reflects a 4.5% increase from the same period in 2023. The growth is largely driven by air travel, particularly by Canadian residents returning from trips abroad, while arrivals by automobile present a mixed picture.
International Air Arrivals
The number of non-resident arrivals to Canada by air reached 1.0 million in September 2024, showing a 3.6% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This includes a near-equal split between visitors from the United States (480,900) and from other countries (496,000). Notably, the highest single-day arrivals were recorded on September 13, with 40,400 non-residents entering Canada, while the lowest daily number was 22,900 on September 29.
When excluding data from Toronto Pearson International Airport’s Terminal 1, non-resident arrivals in September 2024 reached 93.5% of the levels observed in September 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. This suggests that while air travel has not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels, it is steadily recovering.
Canadian-Resident Return Trips by Air
Canadian residents returning from abroad by air made up a significant portion of international arrivals. In September 2024, the number of return trips totaled 1.4 million, representing a 9.2% increase compared to September 2023. The highest number of return trips was observed on Labour Day, September 2, with 69,600 arrivals, which surpassed the daily average of the other Mondays in September by a remarkable 32.6%.
Excluding arrivals at Toronto Pearson’s Terminal 1, the number of Canadian residents returning by air in September 2024 exceeded the figures from September 2019 by 12.7%. This indicates that air travel by Canadians has not only recovered from the pandemic but has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, possibly driven by an increase in international travel following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions.
International Arrivals to Canada by Automobile
While air travel showed strong growth in September 2024, the number of international arrivals by automobile painted a more nuanced picture, especially with regards to visitors from the United States.
US-Resident Trips to Canada by Automobile
In September 2024, 1.1 million US residents entered Canada by automobile, a decrease of 6.1% compared to the 1.2 million trips recorded in September 2023. Despite this decline, certain days, such as the day before Labour Day (September 1), saw significant spikes in travel, with 63,900 US-resident arrivals, which is 75.2% higher than the average daily arrivals during the rest of the month.
This drop in US-resident automobile trips is noteworthy, as it contrasts with the overall increase in air travel. When compared to pre-pandemic levels, the number of US-resident automobile trips in September 2024 was 90.6% of what it was in September 2019, indicating that while automobile travel has recovered, it hasn’t reached the same levels as air travel.
Canadian-Resident Return Trips by Automobile
In contrast to the decline in US-resident automobile arrivals, the number of Canadian residents returning from the United States by automobile saw significant growth. In September 2024, 2.1 million Canadian residents returned from the US by car, an 8.2% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
The busiest day for Canadian-resident automobile return trips was also on Labour Day, September 2, with 181,800 trips recorded. This daily figure was 161.1% higher than the average of the other Mondays in September.
When compared to 2019, Canadian-resident return trips by automobile in September 2024 reached 92.8% of the number recorded before the pandemic. This near-recovery highlights a strong demand for cross-border travel by Canadian residents, especially during long weekends and holidays.
Key Insights from September 2024 Data
The September 2024 data on international arrivals reveals several important trends:
- Air Travel is Leading the Recovery: Both non-resident and Canadian-resident air travel to and from Canada continue to rise, with Canadian return trips exceeding pre-pandemic levels. The convenience of air travel and the gradual return of international tourism are likely key factors driving this increase.
- Automobile Travel Shows Mixed Results: While Canadian residents are returning from the US by automobile at increasing rates, there has been a notable decline in US-resident trips to Canada by car. This could be due to a variety of factors, including travel restrictions, economic conditions, or changing travel preferences among US visitors.
- Labour Day Travel Surge: Labour Day weekend had a significant impact on international travel in September 2024, with both air and automobile travel seeing spikes around this time. This suggests that long weekends and holidays remain peak periods for cross-border travel.
- Comparison to Pre-Pandemic Levels: Although international travel has yet to fully return to pre-pandemic levels, the recovery is well underway. Air travel is almost at 2019 levels, while automobile travel is still lagging slightly behind.
In September 2024, Canada’s international arrivals data shows a continued upward trend, especially in air travel. The overall increase of 4.5% in international arrivals compared to September 2023 highlights a growing recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. While air travel is rebounding rapidly, automobile travel—particularly by US residents—is still in the process of recovering.
As we move forward, it will be interesting to see how these trends develop, particularly with the ongoing shifts in global travel behavior. The data from September 2024 serves as a strong indicator of the resilience of the tourism and travel sectors in Canada, signaling a positive outlook for the months and years ahead.
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