ONTourism

• In Q4 2016, there were 3.3 million international entries into Ontario, 7.9% more than in Q4 2015.

• There were 2.7 million U.S.A. entries into Ontario in Q4 2016, 5.3% more than in Q4 2015.
• Same-day entries increased 2.8% and overnight crossings grew 8.1%.

Source: Statistics Canada
Note: Border Crossings by port are available from Statistics Canada, cansim table 427-0001. Detailed data is available at Current Performance: Border Crossings

• In Q4 2016, there were 564,000 overseas entries into Ontario, an increase of 22.4% compared to Q4 2015.
• Arrivals were up from most tracked countries with Mexico +62%, India +31%, China +30%, South Korea +30%, and France +28%.

• Occupancy rates, average daily rates and revenue per available room all grew in Q4 2016.
• During October to December 2016, Ontario occupancy rates averaged 63.4% up 2.6 percentage points over the same time in 2015.
• The average daily rate grew 3.6% to $141.53.
• Revenue per available room increased 8.0% to $90.56.

• Employment in the transportation, arts, entertainment and recreation, food and beverage, retail and accommodation industries grew while the number of jobs in the travel services sector declined.
• Employment in tourism related sectors grew 2.0% in October to December 2016. During the same time period, total employment in Ontario increased 1.3%.

Source: Statistics Canada; Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport
Detailed data is available at Current Performance: Employment

• Ontario’s Travel Price Index (TPI) grew 2.4% in October to December 2016 compared to 2015. Prices of accommodations, food and beverage, recreation and entertainment, and transportation all grew over 2015 while retail prices declined slightly.
• Ontario’s TPI increased more than Ontario’s Consumer Price Index (CPI). During the fourth quarter of 2016, TPI grew 2.4% while CPI grew 2.0% over 2015.

Source: Statistics Canada; Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport
Detailed data is available at Current Performance: Travel Price Index

• In the fourth quarter of 2016, there were over 150,000 visits to Ontario’s Travel Information Centres, 8.8% more than in 2015.
• Calls to the 1-800-ONTARIO Call Centre totaled over 4,700 throughout October to December 2016, a decrease of 4.7% over October to December 2015.
• During Q4 2016, there were approximately 484,000 user sessions at www.OntarioTravel.net, down 43.2% over Q4 2015. (Note: 2015 marketing efforts were specifically designed to drive website visits resulting in a 134% increase over 2014).

Source: Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC)

• The value of the US dollar declined slightly, -0.1%, to $1.33 CAD.

• The average gas price in Ontario was $1.03 per litre in Q4 2016, 2.9% more than in Q4 2015.

Source: Ontario Ministry of Energy

• In April 2017, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport launched Tour By Bike: Ontario’s first Cycling Tourism Plan.
• In 2014, there were 1.7 million visits in Ontario that participated in cycling. This represents 1.2% of total visits in Ontario. Cycling visitors spent $428 million, accounting for 1.8% of total visitor spending.
• Ontario residents accounted for the majority of visits (88%) and spending (67%), residents of Other Canada accounted for 7% of visits and 10% of spending, U.S. visitors represented 2% of visits and expenditures, and overseas visitors accounted for 3% of visits and 21% of spending.

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