Rubber and the Road

Manitoba Motorists and

Cross-Border Travel
September 2015

Survey Methodology
This province-wide survey was designed and conducted by Probe
Research Inc. as part of a broader syndicated study on tourism and
transportation.
This online survey was conducted between July 21st and 29th, 2015 with
816 Manitoba-based adults including 421 Manitobans who have
travelled by car to the U.S.A. in the past 12 months.

As an online survey is a sample of convenience, no margin-of-error can

be ascribed. However, a random and representative non-convenience
sample of 421 adults would have a margin of error of 4.51 percentage
points, 19 times out of 20. Minor statistical weighting was conducted to
ensure that the sample of respondents closely reflect known
demographic characteristics of the entire Manitoba adult population.

Incidence of Road Trips to the U.S.

How many times in the past 12 months have you driven across the
border to the U.S.? (n=816)

33%

One trip

No trip to U.S. by
road
48%

25%

Two trips

U.S. road trip

52%
42%

Three + trips

0%

Base: Manitoba Residents

20%

40%

60%

Base: Manitoba residents who travel to U.S. by road

Changes in Frequency of Past Year

U.S. Road Trips
Compared to 12 months ago, do you now drive to the U.S. more often, less often or the same amount as you
did before? (N=421)

80%
57%
60%
38%
40%

20%
5%

0%
More Trips
Base: Manitoba Cross-Border Travellers

Same Amount

Fewer Trips

Reason For Travelling Less Frequently To U.S.

Q.23 Why do you now visit the U.S. less often? (n=157)

67%

Lower Canadian dollar

Personal circumstances (age, health)

7%

Less affordable

6%
3%

US not appealing

Prefer to shop locally

2%

Travelling less in general

2%

Other

3%
7%

Unsure
0%

Base: Those Now Travelling Less Often To The U.S.

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Destination for Most Recent U.S. Road Trip

During your most recent trip by road to the U.S., which of the following U.S. cities/regions did you visit? (n=421)
- Total Mentions* -

68%

Grand Forks
37%

Fargo
23%

Minneapolis/St. Paul
13%

Pembina
8%

Minot
Other Minnesota

6%

New York State

6%
5%

Other North Dakota

Bismark

4%

Thief River Falls

4%
13%

Others

0%

20%

Base: Manitoba Cross-Border Travellers

*Multiple mentions were accepted. Thus totals exceed 100%

40%

60%

80%

Length of Most Recent Cross-Border Visit

How many days did you stay in the U.S. during your most recent visit by road? (N=421)

100%

Five+ Days
22%
Four Days

80%
16%

Three Days

60%
25%

Two Days
40%

20%

0%

Base: Manitoba Cross-Border Travellers

13%

24%

One Day or
Less

Value and The Cross-Border

Shopping Experience
Strongly

48%

More variety in U.S.

Canadian dollar makes me visit less

11%

No real saving/with cost of travel

5%

0%
Base: Manitoba Cross-Border Travellers

34%

57%

39%

33%

20%

85%

65%

39%

23%

(N=421)

37%

26%

U.S. should offer better deals

Online shopping is replacing need for U.S. trips

Moderately

50%

38%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Manitoba Motorists International Border

Crossing Experiences
U.S. Entry

Wait time?
Inspected?
Satisfaction with
border agent?

Canada Re-entry

58%
(less than 15 mins)

20%
69%
(6 or 7 on
7-point scale)

Wait time?
Inspected?
Satisfaction with
border agent?

53%
(less than 15 mins)

11%
70%
(6 or 7 on
7-point scale)

Incidence and Types of

Duty-Free Purchases
What duty-free items did you purchase? (n=421)

Did you bring any duty-free items into Canada

with you? (n=421)

No duty-free
43%

92%

Alcohol

27%

Tobbacco

9%

Perfume
Yes, purchased
57%

6%

Other

0%

Base: Manitoba Cross-Border Travellers

25%

50%

75%

100%

Base: Manitoba residents who purchased duty-free

items when returning from U.S. road trip

Cross-Border Shoppers and Personal Goods

Tax Exemption on Limits
The personal exemption on goods you can bring back to Canada is $200 if you are outside of Canada for at
least 24 hours and up to $800 if you are outside of Canada for more than 48 hours. Which of the following
three statements best describes your experience when you purchase goods in the U.S.? (N=421)
79%

80%

60%

40%
16%

20%

5%

0%
Less than allowable limit
Base: Manitoba Cross-Border Travellers

Meet limit

Exceed limit