The travel deficit hit a record $10.3 billion last year, compared with $6.7 billion in 2006, Statistics Canada reported. In 2002, the deficit was $1.7 billion, the report said.

Part of the deficit hike was the fact Canadians spent a record $26.9 billion outside the country in 2007, which represents a 15.5 percent increase over 2006, the agency said.

Visitors to Canada however spent just 0.3 percent more last year than 2006, or $15.6 billion.

Another factor the agency said was behind minimal visitor spending growth was the rising value of the Canadian dollar, known as the loonie. On Sept. 20, it reached par with the U.S. dollar, which decreased buying power for visitors from the United States and abroad.

Accordingly, travel spending in the United States by Canadians climbed to $15.4 billion in 2007, a jump of 19.1 percent from 2006, StatsCan said.