Cold treats on offer

British Columbia has launched a set of distinctive winter travel itineraries and products to woo Chinese visitors. And they range from skiing and Christmas activities to city visits, Chinese New Year celebrations and Spring Festival events, with a focus on personalization and experience-oriented tourism, as revealed at a tourism promotion meeting in Beijing in early October.

"Over the past few years, tourists have begun to pay more attention to experiences and diversity in their travel plans. Experiential travel, covering culture, food, sports and education, is becoming increasingly popular," says Monica Leeck, Asia Pacific Market Development Manager for the Destination British Columbia.

According to Canadian customs reports, as of March 2018, 131,029 Chinese mainland tourists visited Canada, with 61,373 traveling to British Columbia.