Canadians plan to take vacations despite uncertain economy
Posted October 18, 2011 8:50 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A new survey suggests Canadians still have their sights set on vacation spots despite uncertainty about the direction of the economy.
The survey conducted by Leger Marketing for Bank of Montreal found that 61 per cent of respondents will take a fall or winter holiday this year. In comparison, about 79 per cent of Canadians vacationed this past summer.
“Tourism generated about $30 billion for the Canadian economy in 2010, or 2 per cent of GDP,” BMO economist Robert Kavcic said in a release. “So, if travel plans can hold up despite economic uncertainty and lower consumer confidence, it would certainly be welcome news for the Canadian economy.”
About 20 per cent of respondents say they’ll travel outside of Canada, with 14 per cent planning to head to the United States and five per cent vacationing outside North America.
The survey was conducted Sept. 6-8 and had a sample size of 1,506 Canadians, 18 years and older, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 per cent.
