Annual Survey of Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services

Detailed information for 1999

This survey collects financial and operating data needed for the statistical analysis of the travel arrangement industry.

Data release - November 22, 2001

• Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s)
• Description
• Data sources and methodology

Description

The Annual Survey of Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services collects detailed characteristics such as client base, revenue by type of service, detailed expenses items and employment data from retail travel agencies, tour operators, wholesalers, and other miscellaneous service industries in Canada.

The information is used by various levels of government for marketing and promotional purposes, as well as Tourism Canada which uses the data for planning purposes.

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 statistical establishments (sometimes referred to as firms or units) classified as travel agencies (NAICS 561510) or Tour operators (NAICS 561520) according to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) during the reference year.

• Additional documentation

Sampling

This is a sample survey.

Data sources

Responding to this survey is mandatory.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents.

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

Industry estimates are influenced by the attribution of a firm's data to a single industry even though it may be engaged in more than one industrial activity. Provincial estimates are influenced by the sampling method used relation to estimate unincorporated business income. Unincorporated business income estimates were drawn from a sample at the Canada level and as a result, the sample characteristics at the provincial level may be less than optimum, particularly for the smaller provinces.

Administrative data are used for imputation to adjust revenue estimates for survey non-response, and to provide estimates of business revenue below the survey threshold (less than $250,000). The firm or legal entity is used as the statistical unit in this report.

Estimation

The survey data collected from the sample were then weighted to produce estimates representative of the target population. Tax information was used to estimate the portion that was excluded from survey activity (i.e. unincorporated firms and incorporated firms with revenue less than $50,000).

Quality evaluation

This survey, which is part of the annual service sector survey program, combines the use of survey data with information obtained from administrative (Canada Customs and Revenue Agency) sources. The survey frame encompasses a sample firms with a gross business income above certain size thresholds.. Administrative data are used for imputation to adjust revenue estimates for survey non-response, and to provide estimates of business revenue below the survey thresholds . The firm or legal entity is used as the statistical unit in this report.

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.