Canada tourism expected to soar despite recent downturn

The Conference Board of Canada announced yesterday that the country’s tourism industry can expect to see strong growth leading up to 2014. This follows disappointing figures in 2009 for Vancouver tourism, as well as poor predictions for travel from the U.S.

The global recession has impeded growth in the travel sector over the last year as both business and leisure trips saw a steep decline - Vancouver reported a 1.1% drop in overnight visits in 2009.

Figures are not expected to get back to their pre-recession levels until 2012, although an overall increase for 2010 is expected due to the Winter Olympics drawing in tourists. The forecast for Vancouver is a 4.8% increase in visitor numbers, with a 5.9% increase in travel spending in Canada as a whole. This growth will bring the total tourism revenue for Canada in 2010 to $37.8 billion (CAD).

U.S. and overseas travellers account for over half of overnight visits to Vancouver, but domestic business trips also form a significant portion. According to thereport issued by the Ottowa-based Conference Board of Canada, "Growth is expected across all markets this year."

However, the majority of this growth is not expected to come from U.S. visitors. Travel from Canada’s neighbour has dropped by around 30% since its high point in 2002 and it is doubtful whether this will ever recover. One reason for this is the new requirement for a valid passport while travelling between the U.S. and Canada to have a passport; this has hampered tourism as passport possession is relatively low in the U.S.

There has only been marginal growth in expenditures from U.S. travellers this year, with the overall figures forecasted to be 0.9%, compared with 5.7% from overseas visitors.

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