In a move that is expected to generate millions of tourism dollars, China granted “approved destination status” to Canada on Thursday.
Paul Vallee, executive vice-president of Tourism Vancouver, said the timing works well with the 2010 Olympics just around the corner.
“We’ve been waiting a few years for this announcement and now that it’s here, it’s going to be a nice shot in the arm,” Vallee said. “It essentially puts us on a level playing field with other destinations that already have this status in place.”
He estimates that by 2015, Vancouver could see as many as 300,000 tourists from China.
The change was announced in Beijing on the second day of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s first official visit to that country. It allows Chinese travel agents to market Canada as a vacation spot. It also allows Canada to market its tourism products in China.
Glynnis Chan, owner of Richmond-based Happy Times Travel, said up until now Chinese tourists had difficulties obtaining visas to Canada.
“The problem has been with tourist groups,” he said, explaining that with some people being approved for visas but not others, it was tough to book hotels and buses.
WITH FILES FROM KRISTEN THOMPSON, STIG NIELSEN
