Canadian Travel to Minnesota Surpasses 3 Million Person-Visits
Release Date: Sep 18, 2012
Travel volume and spending by Canadians in Minnesota in 2011 surpassed previous record levels set in 2010, including more than 3 million total person-visits. The growth settled back to a moderate level in 2011, following big swings downward in 2009 and back up in 2010. The 3 million total (i.e., overnight and same-day) person-visits represented 2.5% growth over 2010, while total spending was up 4% to $338 million. Overnight person-visits were up 3.8% to 676 thousand, and spending by overnight Canadian visitors to Minnesota was up 3% to $228 million. Residents of Ontario accounted for 49% of overnight visitors and 82% of day visitors, while residents of Manitoba accounted for 39% of overnight visitors and 14% of same-day visitors. “Holiday or vacation” was cited as the main reason for travel by 43% of overnight visitors and 57% of same-day visitors. Shopping was at its highest level as the main reason for travel over the 11 years of available data. Shopping was cited by 9.5% of overnight visitors, but a much smaller portion (1%) of same-day visitors. For overnight Canadian visitors, the 3rd quarter accounted for 39% of person-visits. You can find a summary table of annual Canadian travel volume and spending from 2001 through 2011 and tables of detailed annual statistics for 2005 through 2011 on Explore Minnesota Tourism’s industry website.
