Canadians flew less in the first quarter of 2009 compared to 2008's last quarter. Spending on air transportation fell 2.3 per cent, according to Statistics Canada. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

Total spending on tourism in Canada declined for the third consecutive quarter, falling 1.3 per cent, according to numbers released by Statistics Canada on Monday.

Tourism spending measures the cumulative expenditures by both travellers from abroad and Canadians. Three consecutive quarterly drops last occurred in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, when the tourism industry experienced a major decline.

Spending by visitors from abroad fell by 5.7 per cent compared with the previous quarter, the sharpest such decline since just after the SARS outbreak in the second quarter of 2003. These travellers spent less on all tourism commodities, Statistics Canada reported.

Among this group, consumption of vehicle fuel was down 10.3 per cent, and spending on food and beverages fell 8.0 per cent. These drops could be driven in part by declining numbers of U.S. visitors.

Numbers released in April by Statistics Canada show that same-day car trips from the U.S. fell 1.8 per cent in the quarter. Overnight trips were down 3.4 per cent to 3.1 million trips.

Modest domestic drop

Meanwhile, tourism spending by Canadians fell slightly by 0.1 per cent in the quarter. Canadians flew less, as spending on air transportation fell 2.3 per cent.

"Overnight travel within Canada was up, on the other hand, as indicated by higher spending on accommodation," Statistics Canada said in a release. "Gains were also registered in spending on vehicle rentals and gasoline, food and beverages and recreation and entertainment."

The numbers come a day after The Canadian Press and Harris-Decima released a poll suggesting the majority of Canadians planning summer vacations intended on staying close to home.

The survey found that among the 59 per cent with holiday plans, 61 per cent are making their summer vacation more of a "staycation."

Of those making plans, 26 per cent intend to vacation near the town or city where they already live, while 35 per cent said they planned to stay within their home province. Only 18 per cent plan to travel outside Canada.

With files from The Canadian Press