Annual Survey of Travel Arrangement Services
Detailed information for 2003
Status:
Active
Frequency:
Annual
Record number:
2423
This survey collects the financial and operating data needed to produce statistics on the Travel Arrangement Services industry in Canada.
Data release - March 23, 2005
Description
This annual sample survey collects the financial and operating data needed to produce statistics on Travel Arrangement Services in Canada. The survey also collects detailed information on the characteristics of the businesses, such as type of revenue and type of client.
These data are aggregated with information from other sources to produce official estimates of the national and provincial economic production of the Travel Arrangement Services industry in Canada. The results from this survey provide data to businesses, governments, investors, and associations. These data allow these groups to monitor the growth of the industry, measure performance, allow comparison across similar businesses and to better understand this industry to react to trends and patterns.
Statistical activity
This survey is part of the Service Industries Program. The survey data gathered are used to compile aggregate statistics for over thirty service industry groupings. Financial data, including revenue, expense and profit statistics are available for all of the surveys in the program. In addition, many compile and disseminate industry-specific information.
Reference period: Calendar year
Subjects
- Accommodation and food
- Business, consumer and property services
- Business performance and ownership
- Financial statements and performance
- Travel and tourism
Data sources and methodology
Target population
The target population consists of all establishments classified to Travel Arrangement Services
industry (NAICS 5615) according to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) during the reference year. This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in Travel Arangement and Reservation Services.
Instrument design
The annual survey questionnaire covers detailed financial and operating characteristics. In addition, questions on such topics as employment and sources of revenue are asked. The questionnaire was developed in consultation with potential respondents, data users, and questionnaire design specialists.
Sampling
This is a sample survey with a cross-sectional design.
The frame is the list of establishments from which the portion eligible for sampling is determined and the sample is taken. The frame provides basic information about each firm, including: address, industry classification, and information from administrative data sources (as discussed above). The frame is maintained by Statistics Canada's Business Register, and is updated using administrative data.
The survey design was based on probability sampling and only covered the portion of the frame subject to direct data collection.
Prior to the selection of a random sample, establishments are classified into homogeneous groups (i.e., groups with the same NAICS codes, same geography (province/territory), and same business type (incorporated/unincorporated) attributes). Quality requirements are targeted, and then each group is divided into sub-groups called strata: take-all, must-take, and take-some.
The take-all stratum includes the largest firms in terms of performance (based on revenue) in an industry. Every firm is sampled, which means each firm represents itself and is given a weight of one. The must-take stratum is also comprised of self-representing units, but these are selected on the basis of complex structure characteristics (multi-establishment, multi-legal, multi-NAICS, or multi-province enterprises). Units in the take-some strata are subjected to simple random sampling.
Finally, the sample size is increased, mostly to compensate for firms that no longer belong in the industry; i.e., they have gone out of business, changed their primary business activity, they are inactive, or are duplicates on the frame. After removing such firms, the sample size for 2003 was 797 collection entities.
Data sources
Responding to this survey is mandatory.
Data are collected directly from survey respondents and extracted from administrative files.
Data are collected through a mail-out/mail-back process, while providing respondents with the option of telephone or other electronic filing methods.
Follow-up procedures are applied when a questionnaire has not been received after a pre-specified period.
View the Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s) .
Error detection
Data are examined for inconsistencies and errors using automated edits coupled with analytical review. Where possible, data will be verified using alternate sources.
Imputation
Partial records are imputed to make them complete. Data for non-respondents are imputed using donor imputation, administrative data, or historical data.
Estimation
As part of the estimation process, survey data are weighted and combined with administrative data to produce final industry estimates.
Quality evaluation
Prior to dissemination, combined survey results are analyzed for overall quality; in general, this includes a detailed review of individual responses (especially for the largest companies), an assessment of the general economic conditions portrayed by the data, historic trends, and comparisons with other data sources.
Disclosure control
Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects which could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.
Data accuracy
For the Annual Survey of Travel Arrangements, CVs were calculated for each estimate.
. Excellent 0.01% to 4.99%
. Very good 5.00% to 9.99%
. Good 10.00% to 14.99%
. Acceptable 15.00% to 24.99%
. Use with caution 25.00% to 34.99%
. Unreliable 35.00% or higher
The response rate for this survey was 57% in reference year 2003.
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