Despite fears of trade wars, fractured relations with its “closest neighbour” and a relentless economic pessimism which the Conference Board of Canada (CBoC) describes as being at its lowest (point) “in many months,” Canadians remain among the world’s most determined outbound travellers by air, land or sea. The economy may be a challenge, but Canadians will fight for their freedom to travel. By Milan Korcok According to World Atlas in 2019, Canada stood sixth in the world for average number of out-of-country trips per person per year. Tops was Hong Kong, with 4.30 (an outlier, considering that its location is so intertwined with China). Second was Norway, with 2 outbound trips per person; Finland, with 1.70; Sweden, with 1.50; Denmark, with 1.40; and Canada, with 1. Except for Hong Kong, it’s worth noting the polar proximity of these countries. NOTE – All travel data relate only to trips involving at least one overnight stay, not single-day shopping trips south to Plattsburgh or Niagara Falls, New York or Minot, North Dakota. According to the CBoC, Canadians took 33.1 million trips throughout the world in 2024 – nine per cent more than in 2023. And, although that’s not quite as many as pre-Covid 2019, it does reflect a strong resurgence in all regions: Europe/U.K.; Asia, Oceania, South Pacific; Caribbean and Latin America; and the United States, where air and road trip numbers surpassed those of pre-Covid 2019. Not bad for a population of 41 million! 22 | www.snowbirds.org Travel
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