No. 24 - Travel in Canada and around the world

In 1999, seniors traveled within Canada somewhat more often than they did in the past. That year, seniors made an average of over 3 trips per person within Canada. While this was down slightly from the early 1990s, it was over a full trip more per person, on average, than in the early 1980s. Also, seniors made an average of 0.6 international trips per person in 1999.

Almost all the travel undertaken by seniors is for personal reasons. For example, 95% of all domestic trips made by seniors in 1999 were for personal reasons: 40% of these trips involved visiting friends or relatives, 39% were for pleasure, and 16% were for other personal activities. Similarly, personal reasons accounted for almost all (97%) of all international trips made by seniors that same year, with 62% of these trips being holidays or vacations, 26% were to visit family or friends, and 9% were for other personal reasons.

Distribution of domestic and international trips taken by seniors, by reason for travel, 1999

Source: Statistics Canada