Canada's New Tourism Vision

加拿大将在中国新增7个签证中心

日前，加拿大政府表示，要在中国新增七个签证中心，以方便大批中国游客跨越太平洋，来亲身探索和感受加拿大。不得不说，设立新的签证中心，对于留学生、游客和移民申请人来说，是一大利好。

据悉，新增的7个签证中心，分别位于南京、沈阳、济南、杭州、武汉、成都、昆明。目前，各城市签证中心正在紧张筹备中。第一个将于今年10月开门营业，地点很可能是在南京。

另外，据了解，目前已有11个中国城市开通飞往加拿大的航班，其中包括南京——温哥华航班。因为南京原来没有签证中心，所以南京游客一定要到邻近的上海去办理签证。

　　中国游客猛增

相关数据显示，2016年上半年，到加拿大旅游的中国游客数量增加了24%，数量仅次于美国游客及英国游客。自加拿大航空在2015年9月开通北京直飞蒙特利尔的航班后，到访蒙特利尔的中国游客数量翻了一倍。

据悉，截至今年5月份，共有超过20万的中国游客前往加拿大旅游，相比去年同期增长15.6%。同时，不列颠哥伦比亚省及安大略省成为了中国游客最爱前往的加拿大目的地。

另外，加拿大政府今年5月也公布了“新旅游远景”(New Tourism Vision)20点计划，到2021年，将来加的海外游客人数提升30%。针对中国市场，政府确立了更高的目标，要在未来四年内将中国游客的数量翻番。如果这些目标实际，到2025年，加拿大将成为游客访问最多的全球前十大国家。

　　2018年或将实行指纹采集

联邦旅游部长Bardish Chaggar表示，2018年是“加拿大—中国旅游年”，加拿大将在签证、航班和交通安排等各方面做好准备工作，迎接大批中国游客的到来。

不过，加拿大将在明年全面实行指纹采集。这也意味着，办理加拿大签证，必须由申请人本人到签证中心办理。

同时，实施“生物采集”后，申请签证时还将增收额外的费用。根据加拿大签证中心官方信息，单人采集费用为人民币425元，两人或以上的家庭为人民币850元，三人或以上的文艺团体为人民币1275元。

对此， Chaggar表示，加拿大已在付款系统方面做好了迎接中国游客的准备，包括接受微信支付和阿里支付。

加拿大护照与瑞士、韩国、挪威、葡萄牙等国家的“自由度”排在全世界第六名，可以免签前往172个国家。持有中国护照并拥有加拿大签证的中国公民，将能免签前往菲律宾、韩国、新加坡、巴拿马、多米尼加、洪都拉斯、哥斯达黎加、土耳其、秘鲁等国，也能方便地在网上申请有“史上最难签国家之一”的阿根廷电子签证。


Ministers Chagger and Champagne meet with tourism industry representatives to prepare for Canada-China Year of Tourism in 2018

Increase in Chinese tourists will mean more jobs and growth for tourism businesses across Canada

TORONTO, Aug. 9, 2017 /CNW/ – China is now the world’s leading source of outbound tourists, surpassing the United States and Germany. In preparation for the Canada-China Year of Tourism in 2018, the Government of Canada is working closely with tourism stakeholders and industry leaders to ensure that Canada is well-prepared to welcome the expected increase in Chinese visitors.

Today, the Honourable Bardish Chagger, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism, and the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade, co-hosted the Second China Market Readiness Round Table for the Tourism Industry.

The round table, held in Markham, Ontario, was an opportunity to hear from key industry stakeholders, including the Hotel Association of Canada and Tourism Toronto, on the industry’s readiness in advance of next year. The ministers also provided an update on the Government of Canada’s preparations, including a debrief from Minister Chagger on the outcomes of her trip to China in July with the Governor General.

Discussions also focused on developing a calendar of events to celebrate the Year of Tourism throughout 2018.

Quote

“We are pleased to work together with the many tourism stakeholders across Canada to ensure we are well prepared for the Canada-China Year of Tourism next year. Canada’s tourism industry is a strong economic driver and employs more than 1.8 million people in communities large and small from coast to coast to coast. With the Canada-China Year of Tourism in 2018, we expect to build on the great success we have seen this year with the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Confederation. Round tables like today’s help us hear from some key industry leaders directly, and they give us an opportunity to work closely together to ensure that Chinese visitors have unforgettable experiences and keep coming back to Canada again and again.”

– The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism

“China’s growing middle class represents one of the most dynamic and promising new sources of demand for Canada’s high-quality goods and services, including tourism. With the Canada-China Year of Tourism in 2018 fast approaching, we look forward to working together with tourism stakeholders and industries across Canada to make sure not only that Canada is ready to welcome more Chinese tourists but also that increased tourism translates into good, well-paying jobs and opportunities for middle-class Canadians.”
– The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade

Quick facts

On September 1, 2016, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang announced the Canada-China Year of Tourism. This is an opportunity to showcase Canadian and Chinese culture in each other’s markets and promote strong people-to-people ties through tourism.

  • Canada’s New Tourism Vision commits to doubling the number of Chinese visitors to Canada by 2021.
  • China is now Canada’s second-largest single-nation trading partner. Two-way merchandise trade between Canada and China totalled almost $86 billion in 2016.
  • China is one of Canada’s fastest-growing tourism markets and is now our third-largest tourism source market. In 2016,
    610,000 Chinese nationals visited Canada—an increase of almost 24 percent over 2015—and spent an estimated $1.25 billion.