Can Canada Finally Work Out China’s Tourism Puzzle?

For long, Canada has been eyeing an increment in visitors from China. In a new move, labeled as one to “ease criticism of Ottawa’s cooling relations with Beijing,” senior government officials from Canada are planning to travel to China in the New Year.

According to information available, Canadian International Trade Minister David Emerson and Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay are gearing up to visit China.

For Canada, overcoming restrictions such as grant of Approved Destination Status (ADS) is critical. Beijing forbids travel to non-ADS-approved countries, such as Canada, except for purposes of business, study, or visiting friends or relatives.

In fact, it was earlier this year when Derek Galpin, the Canadian Tourism Commission’s managing director in China, had shared that China is expected to make Canada an approved tourist destination within the year.

That time, it was also indicated that China only allows its citizens to visit Canada for business or family visits, a figure estimated by Canadian officials at about 100,000 per year.