OTTAWA, ON, December 3, 2009 ─ In an announcement of great significance to Canada’s tourism sector, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today that China has granted Approved Destination Status to Canada.

This agreement will allow Chinese citizens to more easily obtain tourist visas to travel to Canada for leisure purposes, and will allow Canada to actively market its tourism products in China. The ADS agreement will also authorize Chinese travel agencies to market and promote leisure group tours for travel in Canada.

“This is a vital and historic announcement for Canada’s tourism industry,” said Randy Williams, President and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada. “The Approved Destination Status agreement with China will allow Canada’s tourism industry to tap into the world’s most significant emerging outbound tourism market, and will provide us with greater opportunities to grow our businesses while sharing all that Canada has to offer with our friends in China.”

TIAC had highlighted the urgent need for an ADS agreement with China in The Report on Canada’s Tourism Competitiveness in June of 2008, and had raised the need for such an agreement for several years previous. TIAC also raised this issue directly at a meeting the Prime Minister in June of 2009, urging him to visit China and come to an agreement on this file as soon as possible.

By 2020, China is expected to be the world’s largest outbound market, producing some 100 million outbound tourists. With an emerging middle class that is increasingly looking to spend its disposable income on travel and tourism, there is a tremendous opportunity for Canada to attract a significant flow of visitors across the Pacific.

The Conference Board of Canada estimates that an Approved Destination Status agreement will increase the annual rate of travel to Canada from China by as much as 50 per cent by 2015.

“TIAC sincerely appreciates the good work done by the government and the relevant departments to finalize this important agreement for our sector’s competitiveness,” said Williams. “In particular, we would like to acknowledge the Prime Minister, the Minister of State for Tourism, Diane Ablonczy, and the Minister of International Trade Stockwell Day, for their determination in moving this file forward at a critical juncture in the development of Canada’s tourism industry.”

TIAC looks forward to working with the government and all stakeholders in the development of China ADS policies and processes so that our sector can capitalize on this monumental opportunity.

About the Tourism Industry Association of Canada

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada is the voice of Canadian tourism. Founded in 1930 to encourage the development of tourism in Canada, TIAC serves today as the national private-sector advocate for this $74.7 billion industry, representing the interests of the tourism business community nation-wide.

For more information, please contact:

Kevin Desjardins, Director, Communications

Tourism Industry Association of Canada

Phone: 613.238.6251

Mobile: 613.240.7225

Email : kdesjardins@tiac.travel

Source: Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC)