Statistics Canada has reported on Tuesday that tourism spending in Canada edged up 0.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, despite the economic recession.

The agency said that the increase was the second consecutive quarterly gain after four negative quarters.

With passenger air transport increasing 1.1 percent, Canadians' spending on domestic tourism increased 0.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Spending by international visitors to Canada edged up 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 on the heels of large declines in the first three quarters of the year.

StatsCan further said, "Tourism employment was up for a second consecutive quarter following job losses in the first two quarters of 2009." (With Inputs from Agencies)