Canada firms as expat favourite

Not content with being named as the best country for expats to live in Canada has given its tourism industry a massive boost with China affording British Columbia as an approved destination.

What this essentially means is that Canadian travel and tourism companies can now start to advertise in China – one of the world’s largest outbound market. The financial benefit to BC is estimated to be somewhere in the neighbourhood of $15 million per annum based on a 15 percent rise in passenger numbers at existing levels.

China’s middle class is booming and fast becoming the major player in the disposable income sector. Industry analysts predict that by 2020 China will see 100 million tourists travelling from its shores each year. BC tourism statistics reveal that the average Chinese tourist spends 20 percent more than one from the US, whose numbers have fallen dramatically in the ravages of the recession.

To date, over 130 countries are on the approved list for Chinese travellers, but Canada has been waiting a long time to experience the windfall of Chinese spending seen elsewhere. The announcement also means that Chinese citizens will be able to travel to Canada for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

The good news for Canada comes just weeks after it was named best expat destination for quality of life and ease of integration with the locals. Canada topped the 2nd Annual Expat Experience poll from Australia and Thailand.