B.C.’s tourism sector will get a boost from an increasing number of Chinese tourists thanks to China granting Canada approved destination status (ADS), according to a July 4 Conference Board of Canada report.
Led by robust travel from emerging markets and Japan, overseas visits are forecast to grow 3.1% this year, the report noted.
As well, Travel Markets Outlook - Spring 2012: National Focus projects that overnight visits from the U.S. will edge up 0.5% across Canada in 2012.
“While we expect continued growth in the number of overnight domestic trips, Canadians’ limited gains in household discretionary income will curtail the average spending per trip,” said Greg Hermus, associate director of the Conference Board’s Canadian Tourism Research Institute.
Overall, tourism spending is expected to increase 3.8% in 2012 even though prices are expected to edge up only 1.5%, the report noted.
The conference board produces the report twice each year with each study forecasting a five-year outlook for the industry.
