Canadians flock to U.S. in record numbers

Canwest News Service
OTTAWA - Canadian travellers surged into the United States in record numbers last summer and spent record amounts of cash, Statistics Canada said Thursday.

The agency says Canadians spent nearly $2.8 billion between July and September of last year, the highest amount on record for a three-month period and a 22 per cent increase from the same period in 2006.

The money was spent during an estimated 5.8 million overnight trips south of the border. About 2.5 million of those trips between July and September of 2007 were to the states of New York, Washington and Michigan.

Conversely, travel to Canada by Americans declined by just over three per cent last summer, the 10th consecutive decline.

New York was the most popular state, with Canadians on 1.2 million overnight visits spending $336 million. Washington state was the second most popular destination for Canadians, although snowbirds visiting Florida spent more - nearly $280 million - while staying in the sunshine state.

Business travel to the U.S. also increased by just over seven per cent, as did the number of trips to visit friends and relatives.

Canadian residents also took a record 1.7 million trips overseas, an increase of nearly eight per cent over the third quarter of 2006. This continued a record-setting trend over the past few years.

© Canwest News Service 2008