Summer travel heats up for Canadians

Many Canadians are ready to get out and explore again this summer — and for some, there’s no place like home.

According to the latest Finder’s Travel Index results, 10.7 million Canadians plan to travel during June, July and August, representing more than 35% of the population.

“The industry is seeing more demand as four million more Canadians plan to travel this summer than when we asked a similar question this time last year,” Nicole McKnight, PR Manager Canada for Finder, tells Travel Courier.

According to the semi-annual travel survey, one in three Canadians are planning to travel over the summer months, with 30% planning a domestic trip and 10% internationally.

“There was hope among Canadians last year when higher vaccination rates appeared to be the ticket towards safe travel,” she says. “But Omicron and new travel restrictions put travel plans on hold over the holiday season. Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen a significant spike in traffic to our core travel pages, which include hotel and short-term rentals deals as well as car rental and vacation package deals.”

Interestingly, the survey found that men were more likely to travel this summer than women.

“We were surprised that 8% more men plan to travel as compared to women,” McKnight says. “In previous studies we found women tended to have more cautious attitudes related to the pandemic so that could be part of the reason slightly more women are opting to stay home this summer.”

Meanwhile, the results also showcased that millennials and young Canadians were more prone to travel this summer.

• Young Canadians aged 25 to 44 are 4% more likely to travel (39%) compared to the average 35%
• Most Gen X’ers (aged 45 to 54) and Canadian seniors (65+) are planning to stay home for summer. With just 30% planning to travel in each age group
• While Canada’s youngest adults (aged 18 – 24) are about average in their plans to travel in general, they are most likely to be travelling abroad at 14% (national average 10%)

The survey also found that there were some significant differences in travel demand based on the location of respondents.

“Interestingly, just over a quarter (27%) of Quebecers plan to travel, whereas Atlantic Canadians are the second most likely to travel within Canada (30%) but least likely to travel abroad this summer at just 6%,” she says. “The province filled with jet-setters is surprisingly Manitoba, with twice as many people planning to travel abroad VS the national average (20% vs 10%).”

• Quebecers are least likely to travel in general at just 27%
• Ontarians, British Columbians and Albertans most likely to travel
• Manitobans are twice as likely to travel abroad at 20%, as compared to the national average of 10%
• Atlantic Canadians and Saskatchewanians most likely to just explore Canada at 30% and 31% respectively
• Atlantic Canadians least likely to travel abroad at just 6%