B.C. tourism sector worried as Canada left off China’s green list for group tours | 24CA News
British Columbia’s tourism business is elevating considerations after Canada was left off China’s record of accepted nations for tour teams.
Last week, the federal government of China launched its record of nations with ‘Approved Destination Status,” lifting its pandemic ban on group excursions.
The United States and Australia are among the many accepted nations, however Canada was conspicuously absent.
The transfer may have worrying penalties for B.C.’s tourism sector because it continues to recuperate from the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Statistics Canada, about 750,000 Chinese vacationers got here to Canada in 2018, spending an estimated $2 billion.
Destination B.C. estimates almost half of these vacationers got here to B.C. that yr. Statistics from the tourism group reported 333,000 Chinese guests in 2018, up from simply 131,000 in 2011.
“What it means is it will be much more difficult for Chinese tourists to get access to come and spend their dollars here,” journey advisor Claire Newell informed Global News. “It’s already impacting the Canadian tourism industry because there aren’t as many flights as there previously were.”
China started lifting group journey restrictions in January, with Russian and Thailand included in its first wave of approvals. France and Brazil had been amongst about 40 nations accepted this spring.
Royce Chwin, president and CEO of Destination Vancouver referred to as China’s choice “disappointing.”
“It will have some impact for tourism for sure, at the height of the Chinese market coming to Vancouver we had over 60 flights a week. We’re now down to only two carriers operating out of Vancouver, so in the immediate term there is an impact, it could have more of an impact over the longer term,” he mentioned.
“The Chinese market is critical to Vancouver’s tourism economy.”
The choice to depart Canada off the record of accepted locations comes amid a charged political ambiance between the 2 nations, spurred by allegations China tried to intrude in Canadian elections.
“Lately, the Canadian side has repeatedly hyped up the so called “Chinese interference,” and rampant and discriminatory anti-Asian acts and phrases are rising considerably in Canada,” the Chinese embassy mentioned in a press release to Global News.
The assertion went on to quote the significance of “protecting the safety and legitimate rights” of Chinese residents abroad and say China “wishes they can travel in a safe and friendly environment.”
Chwin mentioned B.C. tourism operators need to see the Tourism Industry Association of Canada lead a marketing campaign to get Canada’s standing restored.
“China has been a very important market for Canada,” he mentioned. “Approved destination status allows us to support our tour operators here working in the China market, so we’d like to see a return of approved status,” he mentioned.
— With information from the Canadian Press
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
