Summary:
- Canada logged solid growth in overnight arrivals during 1Q2018 with 3.1 million international visitors, a +9.3% increase versus the year prior;
- China has emerged as Destination Canada's largest long haul market for the first time in any quarter;
- Canadian arrivals from the US in 1Q2018 reached their highest level since 2005, growing 8.9%;
- For the month of Mar-2018, overnight arrivals from China to Canada grew to a record-setting 34.2%, which drove 15.2% growth from the Asia Pacific region for the month.
The tourism body's data show that 3.1 million international visitors during the first three months of the year, 9.3% increase versus the year prior. Arrivals from the US reached their highest level since 2005, growing 8.9%. Destination Canada's long haul markets marked a 10.8% rise in overnight arrivals in 1Q.
Timing of the Easter holiday, which was the last weekend in Mar-2018, overnight arrivals grew 15% for the month, driven by a 15% gain in US arrivals and a 14% jump in visitors from Destination Canada's long haul markets.
For the month of Mar-2018, overnight arrivals from China to Canada grew to a record-setting 34.2%, which drove 15.2% growth from the Asia Pacific region for the month.
New peak arrivals from China, combined with record growth levels from India (30%), South Korea (22.9%) and Australia (9.4%) , "combined to mask a double digit contraction from Japan", Destination Canada concluded. Arrivals from Japan plummeted 16.6% year-on-year.
The organisation noted air capacity between Canada and Japan was down slightly in 1Q2018, and data from CAPA - Centre for Aviation and OAG show the largest operators between Canada and Japan based on seats, Air Canada and ANA, have each decreased their seats as of late Jun-2018. Air Canada holds a 77% seat share and ANA's share is 13%. Japan Air Lines' seats have remained steady year-on-year, but due to decreases by Air Canada and ANA, its seat share has grown from 8.9% to 9.6%.