2018 Canada-China Year of Tourism: Let's seize it together

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang have announced 2018 as the Canada-China Year of Tourism. This initiative is intended to create closer ties between Chinese and Canadian citizens. There has never been a better reason to visit and explore everything Canada has to offer. Destination Canada is working with industry and the Government of Canada to extend a warm invitation to our Chinese friends to visit and explore Canada as well as participate in Canadian-themed events in China.

---<Destination Canada>

Canada has welcomed its first official leisure tourists from China this week, after Asia's economic powerhouse granted approved destination status to Canada earlier this summer.

"Several hundred" Chinese tourists arrived in Vancouver on Wednesday, the Canadian Tourism Commission said in a statement, after a group of 18 Chinese tourists landed in Victoria, B.C. on Monday.

Treasury Board President Stockwell Day and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell were on hand at the Vancouver airport to officially greet one group, which included a delegation from the China National Tourism Administration.

Day said that he was "delighted" to welcome the visitors, calling it an "important day for the Canadian tourism industry." He added that Beijing's decision means that "doors are opening to attract even more visitors" from the East Asian country.

---CTV News <Canada welcomes first official Chinese leisure tourists>