China has been an economic boon for B.C. As a market, it’s been key to B.C.’s latest mining boom, helped save the province’s forestry sector during the collapse of the U.S. housing market and will be important to B.C.’s nascent liquefied natural gas industry.
But until the province gets its natural gas fracking act together, the Chinese can likely benefit another struggling sector: tourism.
For much of the new millennium, B.C.’s tourism sector has had to contend with the decline in the number of international visitors coming to experience super, natural British Columbia. The biggest declines have come from drops in U.S. visitors to Canada’s west coast.
According to Statistics Canada, the number of U.S. tourists to B.C. has declined nearly 40% to 374,786 in February 2013 from its peak of 624,121 visitors in 2001. While the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games provided a temporary boost in U.S. (and European visitors), it hasn’t resulted in a meaningful longer-term recovery in U.S. visits.
A persistently challenging economy south of the border with uncomfortably high unemployment has likely been a key factor in reducing the number of American travellers. An Expedia survey last year suggested U.S. workers received fewer paid vacation days in 2012 than in 2011. That was the result of an increase in workers finding new jobs and starting out at the low end of available days off. But while they got fewer vacation days, they didn’t take advantage of them either. The survey found Americans used only 10 out of the 12 days they had. Overall, Asia has been the key source of growth in tourists to B.C. While the number of Aussies and Kiwis rose over the past decade, the most significant growth has come from key emerging markets, particularly China. Nationally, the number of tourists from the Middle Kingdom has risen 500% since 1992 and doubled since the 2010 Olympics to nearly 30,000. With 100 million Chinese tourists expected to roam the world over the next decade, B.C. is an ideal destination given its position as Canada’s Asia Pacific gateway.
Our camera-friendly scenery, fresh air and world-class gastronomic scene are some of our best attributes – not to mention the large number of Mandarin speakers and Chinese signs. What better place to visit than a home away from home? •
