Tourism expected to grow after Canada given destination status from China

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RICHMOND (NEWS1130) – China has now approved Canada as an official destination for leisure travel.  The good news from the G8 summit is a long-awaited boost for local tourism and for the City of Richmond it’s a huge shot in the arm.

Currently the city gets six per cent of its visitors from Asia and thanks to the approval are now looking to market both Richmond and B.C. overseas to up that number.

The city’s Tracy Lakeman says it has a great opportunity to become the ‘home away from home’ for Chinese tourists and become the gateway into the province.  “We speak their language whether it be Cantonese or Mandarin.  We certainly have their food and even our hotel properties, their front line staff speak the language.”

According to the Conference Board of Canada the number of Chinese visiting Canada will grow by 50 per cent over the next five years.

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