Japanese multinational travel agency group H.I.S. Co. Ltd has sealed a deal to buy Canadian inbound tour operator Jonview Canada.
H.I.S. will buy the company for C$44 million from Transat A.T. Inc. which is also parent of Canadian leisure airline Air Transat.
The deal is expected to close by the end of November subject to the usual regulatory approvals.
Jonview Canada offers escorted tours, sport and adventure packages, and custom group tours bringing about 300,000 international visitors to Canada each year.
It has a workforce of 180 in in Toronto and Montreal, and employs 120 seasonal guides.
"The acquisition of Jonview Canada is in keeping with our ambitious expansion plan in North America, and bodes well for the development of this leading incoming tour operator, which has become a reference for Canada as a travel destination," said Hideo Hatano, executive officer for global business development at H.I.S.
H.I.S. Co. Ltd. has more than 500 outlets in Japan and 155 cities around the world, along with travel business units including a theme park and hotel brands.
"With this transaction, Transat has carried out the implementation of its strategic refocusing around its leisure travel operations in Canada and development of its hotel division. The sale of our Canadian incoming tour operator business will accelerate development of those key sectors," said Jean-Marc Eustache, Transat CEO.
