International travel to Canada increased in October, with preliminary Statistics Canada figures showing 4.9 million arrivals by air and automobile, up 4.2 per cent from the same month in 2025.
The increase reflected growth in travel by both U.S. and overseas residents, while Canadian residents also made more return trips from abroad. The figures include Canadian-resident return trips and arrivals by U.S. and overseas residents.
Canadian travel to the U.S. records seventh consecutive monthly increase
Canadian residents made 2.8 million return trips from the United States and overseas countries in October, an increase of 2.2 per cent compared with October 2025.
Return trips from the United States by air and automobile totalled 1.9 million, up 3 per cent year over year. It was the seventh consecutive month of growth in return trips from the U.S.
Automobile travel increased 2.2 per cent, while air travel rose 5.6 per cent compared with October 2025. Despite the annual increases, return trips remained below October 2024 levels, with automobile travel down 29 per cent and air travel down 19.6 per cent.
Canadian residents returning from overseas countries by air totalled 1 million in October, a modest increase of 0.5 per cent from the same month a year earlier.
The highest number of Canadian-resident return trips from abroad occurred on Thanksgiving, Monday, Oct. 12, when 172,900 trips were recorded. The lowest daily total was 66,700 on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
U.S. visitors to Canada increase for ninth consecutive month
Travel to Canada by U.S. residents continued to grow in October, with 1.5 million trips recorded by automobile and air, an increase of 8.1 per cent from October 2025.
It marked the ninth consecutive month of year-over-year growth in U.S.-resident trips to Canada.
Automobile arrivals accounted for 1.1 million trips, up 8.7 per cent, while air arrivals totalled 414,400, an increase of 6.5 per cent compared with the same month last year.
The highest daily number of U.S.-resident arrivals was recorded on Friday, Oct. 9, ahead of the Columbus Day long weekend in the United States, when 102,100 trips were reported. The lowest daily total was 24,800 on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
Overseas visitors also increase travel to Canada
Arrivals from overseas countries by air and automobile increased 5 per cent in October compared with the same month in 2025.
Air travel accounted for the majority of overseas arrivals, with 417,000 trips recorded, up 5.4 per cent year over year. Automobile arrivals totalled 48,300, an increase of 2 per cent.
The highest daily number of overseas-resident arrivals occurred on Friday, Oct. 2, with 20,800 trips. The lowest was recorded on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 9,000.
Overall, the October figures show increases across all three categories of international travel tracked by Statistics Canada: Canadian residents returning from abroad, U.S. residents visiting Canada and overseas residents arriving in the country.