An agreement between Canada and China has loosened Canadian Visa requirements for tourists.
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25 June 2010
Canadian Visa agreement opens way for Chinese tour groups
A landmark tourism agreement signed during the G20 Summit in Toronto will open the way for Chinese tour groups to visit Canada more easily.
A memorandum of understanding on enabling Chinese tour groups to visit Canada was "an important moment in the bilateral history of tourism cooperation", Shao Qiwei, head of the National Tourism Administration of China, said.
China granted Approved Destination Status (ADS) to Canada last December, but it has taken a few months to draft implementation details. The ADS makes it easier for Chinese to visit with a tourist Canadian Visa instead of a business visa – allowing the Canadian tourism industry to actively market the country in China.
It is estimated that after the ADS takes effect the number of Chinese tourists to Canada would rise by up to 50 percent every year before 2015.
The Canadian Government has been urged by Chinese counterparts to further simplify the Canadian Immigration process for Chinese tour groups to assist tourism, and add signs in Chinese and Chinese TV channels.
In anticipation of the increased travel demand after the signing of the agreement, national carriers from both countries expanded capacity this month.
The Canadian Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people apply for a Canadian Visa with the Canadian Embassy.
