BC – In the first nine months of this year, nearly half a million more international visitors travelled to BC than in the same period last year, representing an 11.9% year-over-year increase with over 4.5 million travellers.
The latest international overnight visitors from Statistics Canada also show a 14.9% increase in international visitors over September 2015 (74,287 more visitors).
Other notable increases for September (over September 2015) include:
- South Korea + 44.6%
- China + 32.2%
- Mexico + 28.2%
- UK + 27.9%
- Australia + 21.1%
- Europe + 20.5%
- India + 15.8%
- United States + 11%
A new international marketing strategy from the Province’s marketing arm, Destination BC, and increased air access and capacity to Vancouver are a couple of factors contributing to the province’s tourism growth.
Large increases in international visitors from China, Mexico and the United Kingdom are due in part to improved air access from those regions and Vancouver International Airport’s vision and business model.
China has a new three-times-per-week flight on Xiamen Airlines, which was introduced between Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport in China and Vancouver this summer. Air China also introduced an additional three flights per week for August and September.
The new flights are thanks in part to a 2012 international jet fuel tax eliminated by the provincial government to reduce costs for airlines and give travellers more choice.