TORONTO and SHANGHAI, Dec. 18,
2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey released today by
Travelzoo® (NASDAQ: TZOO), a global publisher of exclusive offers
and experiences for members, predicts a record number of Chinese
leisure travellers will visit Canada in 2018.
According to Destination Canada, the official government body
promoting travel to Canada, an
estimated 750,000 Chinese tourists will have visited Canada by the end of 2017, a 23% increase over
the previous year. In 2018, this trend is expected to continue. The
Travelzoo Winter Travel Trends Survey* found that 88% of Travelzoo
members in China report they will
be travelling to North America in
the next two years, and nearly all of them (97%) are coming for
leisure travel. One-third plan to visit Vancouver and 28% intend to travel to
Toronto. These are encouraging
figures in the wake of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing in September that
initiatives intended to boost travel between the two nations will
be launched in 2018.
"China and Canada are building a strong relationship in
tourism," says Lara Barlow, General
Manager, Canada, for Travelzoo.
"From the top destination for the Chinese—the Rocky Mountains—to
the most-visited cities of Vancouver and Toronto, Canada's sites look set to continue
to attract record numbers of Chinese visitors."
China is a significant market
for the Canadian tourism industry. Statistics Canada has stated that Chinese visitors alone
contribute more than $1 billion to
the Canadian economy, supporting an estimated 7,400 jobs. A 2016
international travel survey also conducted by Statistics Canada
found the average stay in Canada
for a Chinese tourist is 24 days.
Chinese tourists are especially attracted by Canada's outstanding natural beauty. "Unlike
10 years ago, when the Chinese travelled to shop, we are witnessing
a growing appetite among Chinese tourists to explore nature in
depth," said Yoyo Huang, publisher
in Travelzoo's Shanghai office.
"Canada offers some of the most
awe-inspiring scenery on the planet. Travelzoo in China is working with suppliers to offer our
members more opportunities to enjoy the types of experiences they
are seeking in Canada."
Canada and China have been working together on ways to
make travel between the two countries easier. Since summer of this
year, travellers can now fly directly to Canada from 11 cities in China. Historically, travel visas have been
harder to get, but the recent opening of seven new visa application
centres across China makes it
quicker and easier for Chinese travellers to apply for their
Canadian visas closer to home.
Furthermore, the Canada-China
tourism relationship is not a one-way affair. "Travelzoo has also
seen a significant increase in more affordable travel offers from a
variety of Canadian providers, including many packages under
$1,000 including flights, making 2018
also a great time for Canadians to visit China as well," adds Barlow.
About the Research
*The Travelzoo® Winter Travel
Trends Survey was completed by 2,300 Travelzoo members in
China who responded to an online
questionnaire.
About Travelzoo
Travelzoo® provides our 28 million
members insider deals and one of a kind experiences personally
reviewed by one of our deal experts around the globe. With more
than 25 offices worldwide we have our pulse on outstanding travel,
entertainment, and lifestyle experiences. For over 15 years we have
worked in partnership with more than 2,000 top travel vendors—our
long-standing relationships allow us access to the very best
deals.
Travelzoo and Top 20 are registered trademarks of Travelzoo. All
other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.
Media contact:
Cat Jordan
+1 (647) 557 8617
cjordan@travelzoo.com
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SOURCE Travelzoo