

Currently released so far... 12553 / 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
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
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
APECO
ASEC
AMGT
AFIN
APER
ACABQ
AORC
AEMR
AF
AE
AR
AGMT
AU
AY
ABLD
AS
AG
AJ
APCS
AX
AM
AMEX
ATRN
ADM
AMED
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AL
ASUP
AND
ARM
ASEAN
AFFAIRS
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AODE
APEC
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AO
ABUD
AC
ADPM
ADCO
ASIG
ARF
AUC
ASEX
AGAO
AA
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
AIT
AADP
ASCH
AORL
AROC
ACOA
ANET
AID
AMCHAMS
AINF
AMG
AFU
AN
ALOW
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ACS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AGR
BEXP
BR
BM
BG
BL
BA
BTIO
BO
BP
BC
BILAT
BK
BU
BD
BRUSSELS
BB
BF
BBSR
BIDEN
BX
BE
BH
BT
BY
BMGT
BWC
BTIU
BN
CA
CASC
CFED
CO
CH
CS
CU
CE
CI
CM
CMGT
CJAN
COM
CG
CIS
CVIS
CR
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTER
CIA
CLINTON
CY
CPAS
CD
CBW
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CDG
CW
CODEL
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
COE
CN
CARICOM
CB
CONDOLEEZZA
CWC
CACS
CSW
CIDA
CIC
CITT
CONS
CL
CACM
CDB
CDC
CAN
CF
CJUS
CTM
CBSA
CARSON
CT
CLMT
CBC
CEUDA
CV
COPUOS
CTR
CROS
CAPC
CAC
CNARC
CICTE
CBE
ECON
ETRD
EIND
ENRG
EC
ELAB
EAGR
EAID
EFIS
EFIN
EINV
EUN
EG
EPET
EAIR
EU
ELTN
EWWT
ECIN
ERD
EI
ETTC
EUR
EN
EZ
ETC
ENVI
EMIN
ET
ENVR
ER
ECPS
EINT
EAP
ES
ENIV
ECONOMY
EXTERNAL
EINN
EFTA
ECONOMIC
EPA
EXBS
ECA
ELN
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENGR
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
ELECTIONS
EIAR
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
ENERG
EFIM
EAIDS
EK
ETRDECONWTOCS
EINVETC
ECONCS
EUNCH
ESA
ECINECONCS
EUREM
ESENV
EFINECONCS
ETRC
ENNP
EAIG
EXIM
EEPET
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
ERNG
ETRO
ETRN
EINVEFIN
ICTY
IN
IS
IR
IC
IZ
IA
INTERPOL
IAEA
IT
IMO
IO
IV
ID
IRAQI
IEA
INRB
IL
IWC
ITU
ICAO
ISRAELI
ICRC
IIP
IMF
IBRD
ISLAMISTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
ILO
IPR
IQ
IRS
IAHRC
IZPREL
IRAJ
IDP
ILC
ITF
ICJ
IF
ITPHUM
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
IACI
IBET
ITRA
INR
IRC
IDA
ICTR
IGAD
INRA
INRO
IEFIN
INTELSAT
INTERNAL
INDO
ITPGOV
KWMN
KSCA
KDEM
KTFN
KIPR
KCRM
KPAL
KE
KPAO
KPKO
KS
KN
KISL
KFRD
KJUS
KIRF
KFLO
KG
KTIP
KTER
KRCM
KTIA
KGHG
KIRC
KU
KPRP
KMCA
KMPI
KSEO
KNNP
KZ
KNEI
KCOR
KOMC
KCFC
KSTC
KMDR
KFLU
KSAF
KSEP
KSAC
KR
KGIC
KSUM
KWBG
KCIP
KDRG
KOLY
KAWC
KCHG
KHDP
KRVC
KBIO
KAWK
KGCC
KHLS
KBCT
KPLS
KREL
KCFE
KMFO
KV
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KVPR
KTDB
KSPR
KIDE
KVRP
KTEX
KBTR
KTRD
KICC
KCOM
KO
KLIG
KDEMAF
KMRS
KRAD
KOCI
KSTH
KUNR
KNSD
KGIT
KFSC
KHIV
KPAI
KICA
KACT
KHUM
KREC
KSEC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCMR
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KNAR
KNUC
KPWR
KENV
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KPRV
KOM
KBTS
KCRS
KNPP
KWNM
KRFD
KVIR
KTBT
KAID
KRIM
KDDG
KRGY
KHSA
KWMM
KMOC
KSCI
KPAK
KX
KPAONZ
KCGC
KID
KPOA
KIFR
KFIN
KWAC
KOMS
KCRCM
KNUP
KMIG
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KJUST
MOPS
MARR
MASS
MNUC
MX
MCAP
MO
MR
MI
MD
MK
MA
MP
MY
MTCRE
MOPPS
MASC
MIL
MTS
MLS
MILI
MAR
MU
MEPN
MAPP
MTCR
MEPI
MZ
MEETINGS
MG
MW
MAS
MT
MCC
MIK
ML
MARAD
MV
MERCOSUR
MTRE
MPOS
MEPP
MILITARY
MDC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MRCRE
MAPS
MEDIA
MASSMNUC
MC
NZ
NZUS
NL
NU
NATO
NP
NO
NIPP
NE
NH
NR
NA
NPT
NI
NSF
NG
NSG
NAFTA
NC
NDP
NEW
NRR
NATIONAL
NT
NS
NASA
NAR
NV
NORAD
NSSP
NK
NPA
NGO
NSC
NATOPREL
NW
NPG
NSFO
OPDC
OTRA
OIIP
OREP
OVIP
OSCE
OEXC
OIE
OPRC
OAS
OPIC
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFFICIALS
OECD
OSCI
OBSP
OFDA
OPCW
ODIP
OFDP
OES
OPAD
OCII
OHUM
OVP
ON
OIC
OCS
PHUM
PREL
PGOV
PINR
PTER
PARM
PREF
PM
PE
PINS
PK
PHSA
PBTS
PRGOV
PA
PORG
PP
PS
PGOF
PL
PO
PARMS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PAK
POL
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PBIO
PINF
PNG
PMIL
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PAO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PTBS
PCUL
PROP
PNAT
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PROG
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
PGOC
PY
PCI
PLN
PDOV
PREO
PGIV
PHUH
PAS
PU
POGOV
PF
PINL
POV
PAHO
PRL
PG
PRAM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLICY
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGGV
PHUS
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PEL
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PBT
PTERE
RS
RU
RW
RM
RO
RP
REGION
RSP
RF
RICE
RCMP
RFE
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
RUPREL
RELATIONS
ROOD
REACTION
RSO
REPORT
SENV
SNAR
SCUL
SR
SC
SOCI
SMIG
SI
SP
SU
SO
SW
SY
SA
SZ
SAN
SF
SN
STEINBERG
SG
ST
SIPDIS
SNARIZ
SNARN
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SAARC
SL
SEVN
SARS
SIPRS
SHUM
SANC
SWE
SHI
SYR
SNARCS
SPCE
SYRIA
SEN
SH
SCRS
SENVKGHG
TRGY
TSPL
TPHY
TSPA
TBIO
TI
TW
THPY
TX
TU
TS
TZ
TC
TH
TT
TIP
TO
TERRORISM
TRSY
TINT
TN
TURKEY
TBID
TL
TV
TNGD
TD
TF
TP
TFIN
TAGS
TK
TR
UNSC
UK
UNGA
UN
US
UNHRC
UG
UP
UNMIK
UNHCR
UE
USTR
UNVIE
UAE
UZ
UY
UNO
UNESCO
USEU
USOAS
UV
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNEP
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNDP
UNPUOS
UNC
UNAUS
USUN
UNCHC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCSD
UNDC
USNC
USPS
USAID
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