Summer vacation: Gas prices having marginal impact on Quebecers’ plans
The results of CAA-Quebec’s 13th annual survey1 on Quebecers’ vacation plans are clear: Quebecers have a very strong desire to take a vacation (67%) and many will be leaving the comfort of home to travel in and out of Quebec.
And despite record prices at the pump, cars remain the most popular mode of transportation for vacationers to get to their destination (69%). Air travel is also making a strong comeback with 15% of travellers flying to their destination, a 10% increase over last year. It’s a sign that the recovery is well underway as we approach the 19% observed in 2019.
Quebec and its various regions will continue to be very popular in the coming months, with nearly one in two (45%) vacationing in the province this summer. About 11% of vacationers will go to another Canadian province and 10% will visit the U.S. this summer, in line with pre-pandemic numbers.
The number of travellers has been high since the federal government first announced it would be easing health measures in February. This trend seems to be continuing into the summer as Quebecers answer with a resounding yes when asked if they plan to get away. The average vacation budget has increased from $1,323 last year to $1,687.
Gas prices having an impact on vacation planning
Many motorists will be on the road this summer, and 43% of Quebec vacationers say that rising gas prices will have an impact on their vacation planning. The main changes observed include the total distance travelled, the number of trips once at the destination, and spending on food and entertainment.
More specifically, 37% have decided to stick closer to home this summer, while 11% have simply opted not to leave home at all.
In addition, the popularity of recreational vehicles is still growing as 10% of vacationers will use RVs as their primary mode of transportation—that’s twice the pre-pandemic number.
Key data on vacation plans
Planned vacation destinations
· Quebec: 65%
- Staying home: 20%
- Visiting another region of Quebec: 45%
- Top 5 regions: Gaspésie (21%), Charlevoix (17%), Quebec City (14%), Laurentians (14%), Lower Saint-Laurence (14%)
· Other Canadian provinces: 11%
- Top 3: Ontario (55%), New Brunswick (21%), Nova Scotia (15%)
· United States: 10%
- Top 5 states: Florida (22%), New York (21%), Maine (20%), Massachusetts (14%), California (13%)
· Europe: 5%
- Top 3 countries: France (41%), Italy (24%), Spain (15%)
· Caribbean and Mexico: 2%
Vacation length
- A few days: 9%
- A week: 21%
- Two weeks: 36%
- Three weeks or more: 32%
Vacation period
- June: 22%
- July (before the construction holiday): 36%
- During the construction holiday: 29%
- August (after the construction holiday): 46%
- September: 12%
Top activities at the destination
- Up from 2021: Attending cultural or sporting event(s), going to the beach, shopping, attending a family event (e.g., wedding)
- Down from 2021: Resting or do nothing, camping, hiking or trekking, cycling
Type of accommodation
- Traditional accommodations (hotel, motel, inn, B&B, etc.): 33%
- Residence (staying with friends or at a second home): 25%
- Tourist residence (house, villa, cottage, apartment, or condo rental): 17%
- Nature (camping or outfitting): 16%
- Resort (seaside resort, vacation centre, cruises, etc.): 5%
About CAA-Québec
CAA-Quebec is a not-for-profit organization that assists each of its members by providing mobility, travel, insurance, and residential benefits, products, and services. CAA was named Canada’s most trusted brand in the annual Brand Trust Index for 2022 by the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria.
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1. This Web survey was conducted by Léger, on behalf of CAA-Quebec, with a panel of 1,000 respondents aged 18 or older, representative of the Quebec population, between April 29 and May 5, 2022. As an indication, a probability sample of the same size would allow the results to be extrapolated with a margin of error of +/- 3.1%, within a 95% confidence interval (19 times out of 20).