— Designation could pump $100 million annually into Canada’s tourism industry

Edmonton Tourism is thrilled with today’s announcement that the Government of China has granted Canada ‘Approved Destination Status’ (ADS), a designation that makes it easier for Chinese citizens to visit our country and for the Canadian tourism industry to advertise Canada to China.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the announcement in Beijing following his meeting with counterpart Wen Jiabao, Premier of China.

“We’re very happy with today’s historic announcement by China,” says Ken Fiske, Vice-President, Economic & Tourism Development, Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC). “We have been laying the groundwork in preparation for ADS since 2005. Edmonton Tourism has established working relationships in Shanghai, Beijing, Harbin, Jinan and Chengdu. This work has resulted in the signing of formal cooperative tourism agreements in February 2009 with Jinan, Harbin and Chengdu,” Fiske adds.

In 2008, visits to Canada by Chinese citizens were up 5.3 per cent from 2007 for a total of 159,000. Chinese travellers had the highest average length of stay - 28 nights - in Canada and spent more than visitors from any other country – on average $1,650. According to a Conference Board of Canada survey, ADS is expected to boost the yearly rate of travel to Canada from China by up to 50 per cent by 2015.

Media Contact:
Cathy Ennis,
Communications Manager, External Relations
Edmonton Economic Development Corp. (EEDC)
Phone: 780.917.7894
Email: Cennis@edmonton.com

Edmonton Tourism promotes Greater Edmonton as the destination of choice for tourism, conventions, major events and film production and is a division of Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC). For more information, visit www.edmonton.com. Learn more about Edmonton through the stories of people who've experienced it at www.edmontonstories.ca.