

Currently released so far... 12478 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AU
ASEC
AE
AF
AORC
AEMR
AMGT
ABUD
AFFAIRS
APER
AS
AMED
AY
AG
AR
AJ
AL
AID
AM
AODE
ABLD
AMG
AFIN
ATRN
AGAO
AFU
AN
AA
ALOW
APECO
ADM
ARF
ASEAN
APEC
AMBASSADOR
AO
ASUP
AZ
AADP
ACOA
ANET
AMCHAMS
ACABQ
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APCS
AGMT
AINF
AIT
AORL
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
ADANA
ADPM
AX
ADCO
AECL
AMEX
ACAO
ASCH
AORG
AGR
AROC
ASIG
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
BL
BR
BO
BA
BD
BM
BK
BG
BU
BB
BH
BTIO
BY
BEXP
BP
BE
BRUSSELS
BF
BIDEN
BT
BX
BC
BILAT
BN
BBSR
BTIU
BWC
BMGT
CA
CASC
CVIS
CM
CH
CO
CU
CD
CWC
CI
CS
CY
CMGT
CF
CG
CR
CB
CV
CW
CE
CBW
CT
CPAS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CJAN
CODEL
CIDA
CDG
CDC
CIA
CTR
CNARC
CSW
CN
CONS
CLINTON
COE
CROS
CARICOM
CONDOLEEZZA
COUNTER
CL
COM
CICTE
CIS
CFED
COUNTRY
CJUS
CBSA
CEUDA
CLMT
CAC
COPUOS
CIC
CBE
CHR
CTM
CVR
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CACS
CAN
CITT
CARSON
CACM
CDB
CAPC
CKGR
CBC
EC
EG
EPET
ECON
ETRD
EFIN
EIND
EMIN
ENRG
EAID
EAGR
EUN
ETTC
EAIR
ENIV
ES
EU
EINV
ELAB
ECIN
EFIS
ELTN
EWWT
ECPS
ECONOMIC
ENGR
EN
EINT
EPA
ELN
ESA
EZ
ER
ET
EFTA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
EXTERNAL
EI
EUR
EK
ERNG
ENGY
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENERG
EINVEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELECTIONS
ETC
EUREM
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EURN
ECINECONCS
EEPET
EXIM
ERD
ENVI
ETRC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EAIG
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
EIAR
EXBS
ECUN
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINVETC
IZ
IT
IR
IS
IN
IC
IAEA
IO
ICAO
IWC
ID
IV
ISRAEL
IAHRC
IQ
ICTR
IMF
IRS
IDP
IGAD
ICRC
ICTY
IMO
IL
INRA
INRO
ICJ
ITU
IBRD
INMARSAT
IIP
ITALY
IEFIN
IACI
ILO
INTELSAT
ILC
ITRA
IDA
INRB
IRC
INTERPOL
IA
IPR
IRAQI
ISRAELI
INTERNAL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IBET
INR
IEA
IZPREL
IRAJ
ITF
IF
KDEM
KU
KPAL
KNNP
KCRM
KZ
KN
KS
KJUS
KTFN
KSCA
KV
KISL
KPAO
KPKO
KIRF
KTIA
KIPR
KFLO
KFRD
KTIP
KAWC
KSUM
KCOM
KAID
KE
KTDB
KMDR
KOMC
KWBG
KDRG
KVPR
KTEX
KGIC
KWMN
KSCI
KCOR
KACT
KDDG
KHLS
KSAF
KFLU
KSEO
KMRS
KSPR
KOLY
KSEP
KVIR
KGHG
KIRC
KUNR
KIFR
KCIP
KMCA
KMPI
KBCT
KHSA
KICC
KIDE
KCRS
KMFO
KRVC
KRGY
KR
KAWK
KG
KFIN
KHIV
KBIO
KOCI
KBTR
KNEI
KPOA
KCFE
KPLS
KSTC
KHDP
KPRP
KCRCM
KLIG
KCFC
KTER
KREC
KTBT
KPRV
KSTH
KRIM
KRAD
KWAC
KWMM
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KOMS
KX
KMIG
KRCM
KVRP
KBTS
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNAR
KPWR
KNPP
KDEMAF
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KGIT
KPAI
KTLA
KFSC
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KOM
KMOC
KJUST
KGCC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KO
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KCMR
KCHG
KICA
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KCGC
KWWMN
KPAK
KWNM
KWMNCS
KRFD
MOPS
MCAP
MPOS
MARR
MO
MNUC
MX
MASS
MG
MY
MU
ML
MR
MILITARY
MTCRE
MT
MEPP
MA
MDC
MP
MAR
MASSMNUC
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MD
MI
MEETINGS
MK
MCC
MEPN
MRCRE
MAS
MIL
MASC
MC
MV
MTCR
MIK
MUCN
MEDIA
MERCOSUR
MW
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTRE
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
NO
NATO
NL
NP
NZ
NSF
NI
NH
NG
NAFTA
NU
NASA
NR
NATOPREL
NSSP
NSG
NA
NT
NW
NK
NPT
NPA
NATIONAL
NPG
NSFO
NS
NSC
NE
NGO
NDP
NIPP
NRR
NEW
NZUS
NC
NAR
NV
NORAD
OTRA
OPCW
OVIP
OAS
OREP
OPIC
OIIP
OPRC
ODIP
OEXC
OPDC
OSCE
OIC
OSCI
OECD
OFDP
OFDA
OMIG
OPAD
OFFICIALS
OVP
OIE
OHUM
OCS
OBSP
OTR
OSAC
ON
OCII
OES
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PTER
PINS
PINR
PREF
PK
PROP
PA
PARM
PBTS
PMAR
PM
PGIV
PE
PRAM
PHUH
PHSA
PL
PNAT
PO
PLN
PAO
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PF
PEL
PBIO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PAS
POL
PREO
PAHO
PMIL
POGOV
POV
PAK
PNR
PRL
PG
PREFA
PSI
PINL
PU
PARMS
PRGOV
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
PROG
PORG
PTBS
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PRELP
PSEPC
PGOVE
PINF
PNG
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
POLINT
PGGV
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RELATIONS
RW
RO
RM
RP
ROOD
RICE
RUPREL
RSO
RCMP
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RF
RFE
RSP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
SU
SCUL
SNAR
SOCI
SF
SA
SHUM
SENV
SP
SR
SY
SANC
SC
SMIG
SZ
SARS
SW
SEVN
SO
SEN
SL
SNARCS
SNARN
SI
SG
SN
SH
SYR
SAARC
SPCE
SHI
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SYRIA
SWE
STEINBERG
SIPRS
ST
SNARIZ
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SIPDIS
SAN
TC
TI
TBIO
TH
TSPL
TRGY
TSPA
TPHY
TU
TW
TS
TAGS
TK
TX
TNGD
TZ
TF
TL
TV
TN
TD
TIP
TR
TP
TO
TT
TFIN
THPY
TERRORISM
TINT
TRSY
TURKEY
TBID
US
UK
UNGA
UP
UZ
UNMIK
USTR
UNO
UNSC
UN
UNESCO
UNAUS
UNHRC
UY
UG
UNHCR
UNCND
USOAS
USEU
UNICEF
UNEP
UV
UNPUOS
UNCSD
USUN
UNCHR
UNDC
USNC
UE
UNDP
UNC
USPS
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
UNFICYP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 10OTTAWA140, Tales of the U.S.-Canada Border #1 - Who Goes Where
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #10OTTAWA140.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
10OTTAWA140 | 2010-02-03 18:36 | 2011-04-28 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Ottawa |
INFO LOG-00 EEB-00 AID-00 CA-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 CTME-00
INL-00 DODE-00 ITCE-00 DOTE-00 EAP-00 EXME-00 EUR-00
E-00 FAAE-00 UTED-00 VCI-00 FOE-00 FRB-00 HHS-00
H-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 VCIE-00 NSAE-00 ISN-00
NSCE-00 OES-00 OMB-00 NIMA-00 EPAU-00 GIWI-00 MA-00
ISNE-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 VO-00 NCTC-00
FMP-00 CBP-00 BBG-00 EPAE-00 IIP-00 PRM-00 DRL-00
G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 FA-00 SEEE-00 /002W
R 031836Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0332
INFO HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
AMCONSUL CALGARY
AMCONSUL HALIFAX
AMCONSUL MONTREAL
AMCONSUL TORONTO
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
APP WINNIPEG
AMCONSUL QUEBEC
AMCONSUL VANCOUVER
UNCLAS OTTAWA 000140
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON CA EIND ETRD SOCI SMIG
SUBJECT: Tales of the U.S.-Canada Border #1 - Who Goes Where
¶1. (U) Summary: Canadians regularly complain to U.S. officials
that increased U.S. security measures such as the June 2009 Western
Hemisphere Travel Initiative passport requirement have stifled
cross-border travel and U.S. tourist visits to Canada. Recent
Statistics Canada figures show that while U.S. visits to Canada
steadily declined between 2003 and 2008, Canadian visits to the
U.S. actually increased during the same period. Factors such as
the rise of the Canadian dollar and the more severe recession in
the U.S. may have had a longer lasting and more significant impact
than increased security measures. End summary.
U.S. Canada Cross-Border Travel Trends
--------------------------------------------- -------
¶2. (U) On January 21 Statistics Canada reported that travel from
Canada to the United States increased between October and November
2009 by 3.4 percent while travel from the United States to Canada
increased during the same period by 0.8 percent. Despite this one
month increase, however, in recent years travel by US residents to
Canada has been on a steady decline even as travel by Canadians to
the United States has increased.
¶3. (U) According to Statistics Canada figures, in 2008 there were
43,613,000 visits to the United States from Canada, up 21 percent
from 2003. By contrast, in that same year there were 22,605,000
visits to Canada from United States, down 35 percent from 2003.
(Note: these figures include multiple visits by the same traveler
and persons in transit from third countries.) Not only is the
decline in U.S.-based travelers significant in relative terms but,
given that the population of the United States is roughly ten times
that of Canada, there is a significant disparity in absolute terms
as well. Five years ago, the numbers were roughly equal, with each
side sending approximately 35 million visitors across the border.
Visitors from the United States to Canada (one or more days;
thousands of travelers)
Visitors from Canada to the United States (one or more days;
thousands of travelers)
Reports are available at
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/66-201-x/66-201- x2008000-eng.htm
andalso at
http://cansim2.statcan.gc.ca/cgi-win/cnsmcgi. pgm?Lang=E&SP_Action=Result&SP_ID=4007&SP_TYP =5&SP_Sort=1&SP_Portal=2
Why are U.S. visits declining?
-------------------------------------
¶4. (U) Many Canadians complain to U.S. officials that American
security requirements are the reason for fewer U.S. visitors to
Canada: however; the decline could be the result of several factors
including changes to border crossing requirements for travelers,
the effects of the economic recession, or changes to the exchange
rate.
-- Border Crossing
¶5. (U) On June 1, 2009, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
went into effect requiring travelers at land borders to use a
passport or enhanced driver's license to enter the United States.
Both the air and land requirements also applied to U.S. residents
returning to the United States. There is anecdotal evidence that
the WHTI led to a downturn in cross-border land traffic in the
latter half of 2009. However when a similar requirement was
introduced for air travel in January 2007, visits to the US from
Canada actually increased in 2008. Similarly, monthly data
following June 2009 show an overall increase in land travel from
Canada to the U.S. despite the addition of passport requirements.
-- Recession
¶6. (U) The economic downturn combined with changes to the exchange
rate may offer a more plausible explanation for declining U.S.
visits to Canada and increased Canadian visits to the United
States. First, Canadians may have more money to spend on travel
since Canada has been less hard hit by the effects of the
recession. From December 2007 to October 2009, the U.S
unemployment rate has doubled from 4.9 percent to 10.2 percent.
During the same period, Canada's unemployment rate rose from 5.2
percent to 7.7 percent. Average economic growth in Canada declined
from 2.86 percent in 2006 to -2.9 percent in 2009, while in the
United States annual growth declined from 2.65 percent to -3.23
percent during the same period. While the magnitude of the decline
is about the same, the Canadian economy was relatively stronger at
the beginning of the recession.
-- Exchange Rate
¶7. (U) Since 2003, the Canadian dollar has been appreciating
relative to the US dollar. During the period from 2000 to the end
of 2004, the average exchange rate of the Canadian dollar was 69
cents U.S., but from 2005 to the end of 2009, the average exchange
rate has been 89 cents. The most dramatic period of appreciation
began in the summer of 2007 and between October 2007 and February
2008 the Canadian dollar hit and exceeded parity several times.
This was the first time the two currencies traded at par since
November 1976 and, throughout the autumn of 2007, the Canadian
media made frequent reports about large numbers of Canadians
heading south for cross-border shopping and more affordable
vacations. As of February 1, 2010, one Canadian dollar was worth 94
cents U.S.
Who goes south and who goes north?
--------------------------------------------- -
¶8. (U) Ranked according to number of individual trips, the top
five states visited by Canadians in 2008 were New York, Florida,
Washington, Michigan and California. However, for longer-term
vacations, Canadians spent more than 48 million visitor nights in
Florida, far surpassing second-place California (approx. 11 million
visitor nights). In total, Canadians enjoyed more than 144,000,000
visitor nights in the United States in the course of more than 43
million visits during 2008. On an annual basis, Canadians spent
the most money in Florida ($3 billion), California ($1 billion),
New York ($895 million) and Nevada ($871 million). In total,
Canadians spent nearly $12 billion on travel and tourism in the
United States in 2008. (Americans spent approximately $6.1 billion
in Canada.)
¶9. (U) According to Statistics Canada, sixty percent of U.S.-bound
Canadian travelers are over 45 years of age and they travel to the
United States twice as often by car than by plane. The average
traveler spends about 82 dollars per night on food, accommodation,
fuel and recreation, unless he/she is from Saskatchewan in which
case per night spending rises to $108. And, if a Canadian is lured
by the bright lights of Vegas, individual per night spending rises
to 176 dollars. (At $146 per night, Washington DC ranks second in
per night spending by Canadians.) The average length of stay by
Canadians in the United States is 5.6 nights.
¶10. (U) The majority of U.S. travelers to Canada are also aged 45
and over and more often travel by car. Their top three
destinations are Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec. In total,
Americans spent more than 51,000,000 visitor nights in Canada the
course of more than 22 million visits during 2008.Although there
are fewer American travelers coming to Canada than the reverse,
average per person spending by Americans is higher at 122 dollars
per night. The highest per person spending is in Quebec at $145
per night and lowest is in the Atlantic provinces at $102 per
night.
Economy, more than passports, influences traveler choices
--------------------------------------------- ----------------------
¶11. (SBU) Comment: Although there is not a definitive study of
why U.S. travel to Canada has declined, given the strong exchange
rate and recession statistics noted above, it is clearly simplistic
to focus all blame on increased security requirements -- especially
as they do not seem to have slowed Canadians heading to the United
States. End comment.
JACOBSON