1. Ontario Skiing Tourism Statistics 2015
Fall 2017

2. This report summarizes key characteristics of visitors and visitor spending of trips in Ontario which included the activity of downhill skiing or snowboarding. Data was sourced from Statistics Canada’s Travel Survey of the Residents of Canada and International Travel Survey, Some slides include an index table which simplifies the comparison of Skiing and total trip statistics. Since total trips equals 100, an index of 105 indicates Skiing is 5% higher than total, similarly an index of 90 signifies Skiing is 10% lower than total. Index Interpretation less than 80 Skiing trips underdeveloped versus total trips Skiing trips similar to total trips greater than 120 Skiing trips overdeveloped versus total trips 2

3. Visits and Spending
Region
Visits
(millions)
Visitor Spending
($ billions)
Ontario Total
141.9
25.4
Ontario Skiing
1.0
0.3
Ontario Skiing proportion of Ontario Total
0.7%
1.1%
In 2015, there were 974,000 Skiing visits in Ontario, representing 0.7% of total visits in Ontario
Skiing visitors in spent $288 million, accounting for 1.1% of total visitor spending in Ontario
Source: Statistics Canada’s Travel Survey of the Residents of Canada and International Travel Survey 2015; Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport

4. Skiing and Total Visits by Origin
Skiing vs. Total
Visit Index
Ontario
112
U.S. 13
Other Canada 15
Overseas
130
Ontario residents accounted for the majority of Skiing (96%) and total (86%) visits
U.S. visitors accounted for 1% of Skiing visits compared to 8% of total visits
Visitors from Other Canada comprised 1% of Skiing visits and 5% of total visits
Overseas visitors accounted for 2% of Skiing visits and 2% of total visits
Source: Statistics Canada’s Travel Survey of the Residents of Canada and International Travel Survey 2015; Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport

5. Skiing and Total Spending by Origin
Skiing vs. Total
Spending Index
Ontario
138
U.S. 24
Other Canada 14
Overseas 89
Ontario residents accounted for the majority of Skiing (76%) and total (55%) spending
U.S. visitors accounted for 4% of Skiing spending compared to 14% of total spending
Visitors from Other Canada comprised 1% of Skiing spending and 9% of total spending
Overseas visitors accounted for 19% of Skiing spending and 22% of total spending
Source: Statistics Canada’s Travel Survey of the Residents of Canada and International Travel Survey 2015; Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport

6. Ontario Skiing Visitors by Region of Residence
Skiing vs. Total
Visits from Ontario Index
Reg 1 30
Reg 2 10
Reg 3
132
Reg 4
100
Reg 5
139
Reg 6
115
Reg 7
124
Reg 8 38
Reg 9
225
Reg 10 21
Reg 11 3
Reg 12
Reg 13 57
30% Skiing visitors from Ontario are from Region 5 compared to 22% of total visits, 16% from Region 6 (14% total visits), and 14% from Region 3 (11% total visits)
Note: Ontario origin Skiing visitors represented 96% (934,000) of visits and 76% ($219 M) of visitor spending
Source: Statistics Canada’s Travel Survey of the Residents of Canada and International Travel Survey 2015; Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport 6

7. Destination – Skiing Visits by Region
Skiing vs. Total
Destination Index
Reg 1 32
Reg 2 17
Reg 3 23
Reg 4
Reg 5 46
Reg 6
204
Reg 7
487
Reg 8 96
Reg 9 47
Reg 10 58
Reg 11
316
Reg 12
Reg 13 44
43% of Skiing visits took place in Region 7 compared to 9% of total visits, and 16% in Region 6 (8% total)
Source: Statistics Canada’s Travel Survey of the Residents of Canada and International Travel Survey 2015; Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport 7

8. Skiing Visits by Length of Stay
Skiing vs. Total
Length of Stay Index
Same-day 97
Overnight
105
Avg # nights
119
The majority (62%) of Skiing visits were same-day visits. For comparison, 64% of total visits in Ontario were same-day visits
The average number of nights spent on Skiing overnight visits was 3.7, above Ontario’s average of 3.2 nights
Source: Statistics Canada’s Travel Survey of the Residents of Canada and International Travel Survey 2015; Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport

9. Skiing $/Trip by Length of Stay
Skiing vs. Total
$/Trip Index
Total
165
Same-day
226
Overnight
135
Skiing visitors spent an average of $295/trip ($179/trip for total trips)
On average, overnight visitors spent over twice as much per trip as same-day visitors
Total trip spending, not just spending on Skiing
Source: Statistics Canada’s Travel Survey of the Residents of Canada and International Travel Survey 2015; Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport

10. Skiing Spending by Category
Skiing vs. Ontario
Spending Index
Transportation 64
Accommodation 68
Food & Beverage 79
Rec./Entertain.
220
Retail/Other
216
The largest proportions of expenditures were spent on Retail (27% Skiing, 12% total) and Transportation (23% Skiing, 36% total)
Skiing visitors spent a larger proportion on Recreation, 17%, than total visitors, 8%
Source: Statistics Canada’s Travel Survey of the Residents of Canada and International Travel Survey 2015; Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport

11. Other Activities done by Skiing Visitors
Activity
Skiing Visit Participation
Index vs Total
Any Outdoor/Sports Activity
100%
582
Skiing/Snowboarding
14574
Hiking
10%
224
Play a sport 7%
344
National/Provincial Nature Parks 5%
186
Restaurant or bar 72
Sightseeing 4% 75
Visit Friends or Relatives 13
Shopping 46
Cross-country Skiing
1140
Activity
Skiing Visit Participation
Index vs Total
Theme Parks 4%
337
Museums/Art Galleries
138
Zoos/Aquariums/Botanical Gardens
243
Historic Sites 3%
104
Casinos
121
Wildlife/Bird watching
136
Snowmobiling
994
Cultural Performances 65
Sports Events 2% 46
Movies
204
Activity
Skiing Visit Participation
Index vs Total
Fishing 2% 47
Business Meeting/Conference/Seminar 35
Visit a beach 1% 33
Golfing
113
Medical/Dental appointment
106
Festivals/Fairs 50
Camping 42
Cycling
114
Indigenous
726
Boating 32
Skiing visitors participate primarily in skiing
Source: Statistics Canada’s Travel Survey of the Residents of Canada and International Travel Survey 2015; Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport

12. Main Purpose of Skiing Visit
Skiing vs. Total
Purpose Index
Pleasure
242
VFR 28
Business 19
Other 4
VFR: Visiting Friends and / or Relatives
Most trips were pleasure trips (85% compared to 35% of total trips)
Other includes shopping, medical, religious, hobby/trade show, etc.
Source: Statistics Canada’s Travel Survey of the Residents of Canada and International Travel Survey 2015; Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport

13. Skiing Visits by Accommodation Type
Skiing vs. Total
Type Index
Private
100
Commercial
114
Campground 33
The majority (61%) of overnight Skiing visits were spent at unpaid accommodations such as private homes and cottages, compared to 61% of total visits
30% of overnight Skiing visits were spent in hotels/motels versus 26% of total visits
Source: Statistics Canada’s Travel Survey of the Residents of Canada and International Travel Survey 2015; Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport

14. Skiing Visits by Time of Year
Skiing vs. Total
Quarter Index
Jan-Mar
433
Apr-Jun 1
Jul-Sept 2
Oct-Dec 56
The largest proportion of trips occur in the winter months with 86% of Skiing trips taking place in Jan-Mar versus 20% of total trips
Source: Statistics Canada’s Travel Survey of the Residents of Canada and International Travel Survey 2015; Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport 14

15. Skiing Visits by Gender
Skiing vs. Total
Gender Index
Male
116
Female 81
Males made the majority (62%) of Skiing visits. For comparison, 54% of total visits in Ontario were among male visitors
Source: Statistics Canada’s Travel Survey of the Residents of Canada and International Travel Survey 2015; Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport

16. Skiing Visits by Party Size
Skiing vs. Total
Party Size Index
1 person 76
2 persons 50
3+ persons
217
Avg party size
153
With children
209
Avg Party Size
With children % %
51% of Skiing visits were among groups of 3 or more people compared to 24% of total visits
26% of Skiing visits included children versus 12% of total visits
Source: Statistics Canada’s Travel Survey of the Residents of Canada and International Travel Survey 2015; Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport 16

17. Domestic Skiing Visitor’s Income
Skiing vs. Total
Income Index
< $50 K 58
$50 K- $75 K 34
$75 K - $100 K 63
$100 K+
164
59% of Canadian Skiing visitors in Ontario had an household income greater than $100,000 compared to 36% of total visitors
Source: Statistics Canada’s Travel Survey of the Residents of Canada 2015; Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport

18. Domestic Skiing Visitor’s Education
Skiing vs. Ontario
Education Index
< High School 45
High School 76
Some post-secondary 55
University degree
182
59% of Canadian Skiing visitors in Ontario had a university degree compared with 32% of total visits
Source: Statistics Canada’s Travel Survey of the Residents of Canada 2015; Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport

19. Skiing Summary
In 2015, there were 974,000 Skiing visits, accounting for 0.7% of total visits to Ontario. Skiing visitors spent $288 million, or 1.1% of total visitor spending in Ontario.
Ontario residents accounted for 96% of visits and 76% of spending, residents of Other Canada accounted for 1% of visits and 1% of spending, U.S. visitors represented 1% of visits and 4% of expenditures, and overseas visitors accounted for 2% of visits and 19% of spending
30% Skiing visitors from Ontario are from Region 5 compared to 22% of total visits, 16% from Region 6 (14% total visits), and 14% from Region 3 (11% total visits)
43% of Skiing visits took place in Region 7 compared to 9% of total visits, and 16% in Region 6 (8% total)

20. Skiing Summary
The majority (62%) of Skiing visits were same-day visits. For comparison, 64% of total visits in Ontario were same-day visits. The average number of nights spent on Skiing overnight visits was 3.7, above Ontario’s average of 3.2 nights
Skiing visitors spent an average of $295/trip ($179/trip for total trips). On average, overnight visitors spent over twice as much per trip as same-day visitors
The largest proportions of expenditures were spent on Retail (27% Skiing, 12% total) and Transportation (23% Skiing, 36% total). Skiing visitors spent a larger proportion on Recreation, 17%, than total visitors, 8%
Most trips were pleasure trips (85% compared to 35% of total trips)

21. Skiing Summary
The majority (61%) of overnight Skiing visits were spent at unpaid accommodations such as private homes and cottages, compared to 61% of total visits. 30% of overnight Skiing visits were spent in hotels/motels versus 26% of total visits
The largest proportion of trips occur in the winter months with 86% of Skiing trips taking place in Jan-Mar versus 20% of total trips
51% of Skiing visits were among groups of 3 or more people compared to 24% of total visits. 26% of Skiing visits included children versus 12% of total visits
59% of Canadian Skiing visitors in Ontario had an household income greater than $100,000 compared to 36% of total visitors
59% of Canadian Skiing visitors in Ontario had a university degree compared with 32% of total visits