Major inbound tourism leaders recently hailed relaxed rules on China group tours.
China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism just allowed tour groups to travel to the US, the UK and Australia among many more.
China group tours are now allowed to 138 countries.
However, there is one glaring omission – Canada.
This is likely a legacy of a long running political row.
In a response, China’s embassy in Ottawa said ‘the Canadian side has repeatedly hyped up the so-called ‘Chinese interference.’
The row has led to tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions.
Relations have been frosty since Canada detained a Huawei executive in 2018.
China has been a major source market for tourism, generating about $740m a year in spending.
It could continue to have a major impact on Canada’s tourism industry.
