Number of Americans visiting BC rising, as loonie continues to fall
Posted January 29, 2015 10:23 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – There appears to be a silver lining to our falling dollar. It turns out more Americans are heading north.
The Canadian Border Services Agency says the number of Americans crossing into BC last month was up by a couple of thousand travellers at every crossing except at the Aldergrove border, when compared year-over-year.
Walt Judas with Tourism Vancouver says there are a number of factors that go into an increase like this. “The American economy is improving, oil prices are low, and in particular, Americans have more confidence. So now, they’re travelling more and Canada is one of the destinations that they’re choosing.”
Judas tells us the figures are good news for local retailers, adding the low loonie is keeping Vancouverites from heading south.
“When our dollar is what it is today, compared to the US dollar, people think twice about going stateside for vacation or even to shop. Many more people would choose to stay home,” he tells us.
Local businesses have cited significant losses in past years, thanks to cross-border shopping.
The CBSA stats show a drop in the number of Canadians who drove to the States last month at all five of BC’s crossings.
Numbers from the CBSA:
Boundary Bay
| Month / Year |
Canadian Travellers |
American Travellers |
| December 2014 |
97,097 |
19,015 |
| December 2013 |
106,179 |
17,619 |
| December 2012 |
97,676 |
16,995 |
| December 2011 |
88,949 |
14,914 |
| December 2010 |
75,035 |
16,084 |
Abbotsford-Huntingdon
| Month / Year |
Canadian Travellers |
American Travellers |
| December 2014 |
126,074 |
23,096 |
| December 2013 |
141,815 |
21,342 |
| December 2012 |
140,467 |
20,967 |
| December 2011 |
120,595 |
18,571 |
| December 2010 |
90,764 |
18,276 |
Aldergrove
| Month / Year |
Canadian Travellers |
American Travellers |
| December 2014 |
69,676 |
16,069 |
| December 2013 |
95,853 |
18,389 |
| December 2012 |
103,325 |
18,446 |
| December 2011 |
97,854 |
15,090 |
| December 2010 |
84,023 |
16,839 |
Pacific Highway
| Month / Year |
Canadian Travellers |
American Travellers |
| December 2014 |
229,559 |
55,797 |
| December 2013 |
264,007 |
51,786 |
| December 2012 |
274,700 |
53,662 |
| December 2011 |
236,688 |
47,633 |
| December 2010 |
201,498 |
48,043 |
| January 2014 |
217,483 |
41,256 |
| January 2015 (to date) |
154,456 |
37,569 |
Douglas
| Month / Year |
Canadian Travellers |
American Travellers |
| December 2014 |
296,697 |
85,782 |
| December 2013 |
321,181 |
81,229 |
| December 2012 |
315,830 |
79,045 |
| December 2011 |
293,950 |
79,894 |
| December 2010 |
222,401 |
76,596 |
| January 2014 |
278,784 |
69,573 |
| January 2015 (to date) |
212,345 |
61,928 |
