In 1992, 18.6 million Canadians visited the United States, but only 11.8 million U.S. residents visited Canada. By 2002, roles had been reversed: more U.S. residents visited Canada than vice versa. Why did the tourism reverse direction? Canada didn’t get any warmer from 1992 to 2002 – but it did get cheaper. The reason is a large change in the exchange rate: in 1992 Canadian dollar was worth $0.80, but by 2002 it had fallen in the value by 20% to about $0.65. This means that Canadian goods and services, particularly hotel rooms and meals, were about 20% cheaper for Americans in 2002 compared to 1992. American vacations had become 20% more expensive for Canadians. Canadians responded by vacationing in their own country or in other parts of the world. Foreign travel is an example of a good that has a high price elasticity of demand: elasticity=4.1. One reason is that foreign travel is a luxury good for most people – you may regret not going to Paris this year, but you can live without it. A second reason is that a good substitute for foreign travel typically exist – domestic travel. A Canadian who finds it too expensive to vacation in San Francisco this year is likely to find that Vancouver is a pretty good alternative. Give an example of a good that has a high price elasticity of demand.

In 1992, 18.6 million Canadians visited the United States, but only 11.8 million U.S. residents visited Canada. By 2002, roles had been reversed: more U.S. residents visited Canada than vice versa. Why did the tourism reverse direction? Canada didn’t get any warmer from 1992 to 2002 – but it did get cheaper. The reason is a large change in the exchange rate: in 1992 Canadian dollar was worth $0.80, but by 2002 it had fallen in the value by 20% to about $0.65. This means that Canadian goods and services, particularly hotel rooms and meals, were about 20% cheaper for Americans in 2002 compared to 1992. American vacations had become 20% more expensive for Canadians. Canadians responded by vacationing in their own country or in other parts of the world. Foreign travel is an example of a good that has a high price elasticity of demand: elasticity=4.1. One reason is that foreign travel is a luxury good for most people – you may regret not going to Paris this year, but you can live without it. A second reason is that a good substitute for foreign travel typically exist – domestic travel. A Canadian who finds it too expensive to vacation in San Francisco this year is likely to find that Vancouver is a pretty good alternative. Give an example of a good that has a high price elasticity of demand.