Travel between Canada and other countries, November 2024.
Canadian residents returning to Canada from abroad (non-regulated)
3,903,977
Key points
In November, U.S. residents made 1.4 million trips to Canada, and overseas residents made 284,500 trips. The number of non-resident arrivals (arrivals of U.S. residents and overseas residents combined) to Canada was 96.7% of the number observed in November 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
In November 2024, Canadian residents returned from 3.9 million trips abroad, which is 94.5% of the level recorded in November 2019.
According to seasonally adjusted data, on a monthly basis, non-resident arrivals to Canada increased by 3.3% in November 2024. The number of returning Canadian resident arrivals increased by 1.6% compared to October. To further explore current and historical data in an interactive format, visit the Border Numbers Interactive Dashboard.
Travel to Canada by U.S. Residents
In November, U.S. residents made 1.4 million trips to Canada, up 18.4% from the same month in 2023, driven by increased automobile and air arrivals. The number of trips by U.S. residents recorded in November 2024 was 98.6% of the level observed in November 2019, before the pandemic.
In November 2024, 74.2% of U.S. residents visiting Canada arrived by automobile (1.1 million arrivals), and 53.4% of these arrivals were day trips. Car arrivals increased 21.3% year-on-year and 1.5% from November 2019 levels. U.S. residents also crossed the Canadian land border in November 2024 by other means, such as by bus (19,700), on foot (7,900), and by train (5,400).
Air arrivals (326,700) accounted for 22.6% of all trips to Canada by U.S. residents in November. These arrivals increased by 14.0% compared to the same month in 2023 and accounted for 96.0% of those trips made in November 2019.
As of November 2024, the top entry points for U.S. residents entering Canada by car were near Niagara (including Niagara Falls and Fort Erie), near Vancouver (including Douglas and Pacific Highway in Surrey), and in southwestern Ontario (including Windsor and Sarnia). Together, these entry points represent 73.1% of all these trips. In November, the busiest ports of entry by air were Toronto (including Toronto Pearson International Airport and Toronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport), Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary. Together, these ports of entry accounted for 91.9% of all U.S. resident arrivals to Canada by air during the month.
Travel to Canada by Foreign Residents
In November, 284,500 foreign residents arrived in Canada, 5.3% fewer than the same month in 2023 and the second consecutive month of year-over-year decline. The level observed in November 2024 reached 88.1% of that recorded in November 2019. In November 2024, 80.8% of foreign resident arrivals to Canada were by air (229,700 arrivals). Together, the top three countries of residence for foreign visitors – the United Kingdom (31,100), France (24,300) and Mexico (22,000) – accounted for 27.2% of all foreign arrivals to Canada. This was the first time since March 2024 that Mexico was among the top three countries of residence for foreign visitors, following changes to visitor visa requirements for Mexican citizens coming to Canada.
In November, foreign residents arrived in Canada most frequently at airports in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary, which together accounted for 96.6% of all foreign resident arrivals by air.
Travel abroad by Canadian residents
Canadian residents returned from 3.9 million trips abroad in November, up 6.8% from November 2023 and representing 94.5% of such trips made in the same month in 2019.
Car trips to the United States (2.1 million) accounted for 52.9% of total outbound trips by Canadian residents in November 2024, and 70.4% of these trips to the United States were day trips. Travel by Canadian residents returning by car from a trip to the United States increased by 6.6% year-over-year and accounted for 89.2% of such trips in November 2019.
In November 2024, Canadian residents returned to Canada by air after 1.8 million trips abroad, representing 45.7% of their total trips. Air arrivals in November were 7.6% higher than the same month a year earlier and were 3.4% higher than the number of such arrivals recorded in November 2019.
The busiest ports of entry for Canadian residents returning from the United States by car in November 2024 were near Vancouver (including Douglas and Pacific Highway in Surrey), in southwestern Ontario (including Windsor and Sarnia), and near Niagara (including Niagara Falls and Fort Erie). Together, these entry points represent 63.7% of these trips. The busiest airports for Canadian residents returning from abroad in November were Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary. Together, these airports accounted for 89.9% of all air arrivals by Canadian residents from abroad.
Seasonal Arrivals
Tourism is affected by seasonal effects (e.g., the current seasons and holidays, such as Canada Day and Thanksgiving) and calendar effects (e.g., the number of weekends ending in a month). All statistics in this section are based on seasonal data (for more information, see the Note to Readers).
In November, the number of arrivals to Canada by residents of the United States increased by 4.6% compared to October, driven by both automobile and air travel. The November increase marks the third consecutive monthly increase since September 2024.
The number of foreign resident arrivals to Canada decreased by 1.3% in November compared to October. With the exception of the Americas (excluding the United States), the volume of arrivals from all continents (Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania) decreased.
Resident arrivals from Europe, the largest overseas market, which accounted for 45.2% of total overseas arrivals to Canada, decreased by 1.2% from October to November. In terms of volume, the largest declines in arrivals were recorded by Switzerland, France and Denmark. Arrivals from Asia, the second-largest overseas market, representing 27.1% of total overseas arrivals to Canada, decreased by 2.3% from October to November. Lower arrivals from China, the Philippines and Taiwan contributed the most to the overall decline.
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Arrivals of residents from the Americas (excluding the United States) - the third-largest overseas market, representing 17.9% of total overseas arrivals - increased by 7.0% from October to November. There was an increase in the number of visitors from Brazil and Mexico.
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