Travel experts and businesses in British Columbia are excited about Beijing’s recent decision to restart group tourism to Canada, anticipating the return of high-spending Chinese visitors who were a key part of the local travel industry pre-pandemic.
Glynnis Chan, president of Vancouver’s Happy Times Travel and Tour Ltd., has been organizing group tours for Chinese tourists in the city for over four decades. She foresees a significant economic boost following China’s announcement to resume group tours, which were suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Chan recalls that the visitors she accommodated would typically embark on a six-week journey across Canada, spending upwards of $1,300 per day. Their itineraries often included iconic Canadian landmarks like Stanley Park in Vancouver, the Rocky Mountains, and Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Another travel expert, Mabel Wu, owner of Next Vacation Ltd in Richmond, B.C., reminisces about the prosperous era of Chinese tourism before the pandemic, where groups indulged in lavish seafood dining experiences, from king crabs to live lobsters, at upscale restaurants.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand hails the resumption of Chinese group tourism to Canada as a significant milestone in the recalibrated bilateral relationship between the two nations. The decision follows a recent meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking a pivotal moment in their diplomatic ties.
Although Chinese travel to Canada saw a 45% decline in the year leading up to August compared to 2019, recent statistics show a positive trend with a 24% increase from last year.