China has given Canada "Approved Destination Status"

China Gives Canada Approved Destination Status

By 250 News

Thursday, December 03, 2009 12:44 PM

VANCOUVER - China has given Canada "Approved Destination Status" a move that is expected to increase tourism throughout Canada but especially in central B.C. It may be especially beneficial to Barkerville (which is only 2 hour drive south of Prince George), which has looked to promote it's historical links with the Chinese.

Approved Destination Status allows Chinese tour operators and travel agents to organize tours and advertise Canadian destinations. It also allows British Columbia's tourism industry to promote directly to tour
operators and market B.C. as a destination, including the development of specific promotions. It is anticipated that ADS could increase Chinese tourism to British Columbia by 25 per cent annually over the next few years.

Currently, most visitors from China are business travellers, students, or people visiting friends and relatives. The growth potential with ADS is substantial. For example, within three years of receiving ADS, the number
of Chinese visitors to Australia almost doubled. British Columbia's tourism industry has been preparing for this announcement and is ready to focus on opportunities that deliver new business as quickly as possible.

Currently more than half of all Chinese visitors to Canada come to British Columbia. From January to September 2009, British Columbia welcomed 79,845 Chinese visitors, of the 127,787 who came to Canada.
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On a personal note I think this is fantastic for our Prince George Airport YXS. Besides future refueling of cargo flights I can see tourist flights direct from China coming to PG to launch their tours of BC from here.

Cheers
Dean