BC – People from around the world are choosing British Columbia as their destination for business and leisure travel.
The latest numbers from Statistics Canada show a 3 per cent increase in visitor arrivals in December 2017 over the same month in 2016, resulting in 11,869 more visitors arriving in British Columbia. In total, over 5.7 million overnight visitors came to the province last year — an increase of 3.3 per cent, or 181,700 visitors, over 2016.
The growth in 2017 is attributed to several factors, including increased access to BC from several key international markets, such as Australia, Germany, Mexico, China and France. Increased air traffic to Vancouver contributes to the vitality of the tourism industry.
The government’s tourism marketing agency, Destination BC, works with tourism stakeholders throughout the province to market British Columbia as a world-class tourist destination. Tourism supports over 133,000 jobs that help people all over B.C. pay their rent and mortgages, purchase food, cover their post-secondary tuition and provide for their families.
Increases for December 2017 (over December 2016) include:
- France – up 42.9 per cent;
- Japan – up 26.2 per cent;
- South Korea – up 21.3 per cent;
- Australia – up 15.7 per cent;
- China – up 14.5 per cent;
- Germany – up 14.4 per cent;
- United States (excluding same-day visitors) – up 1.9 per cent;
- Asia/Pacific – up 8.9 per cent; and
- Europe – up 5.3 per cent.
Increases for 2017 include:
- Australia – up 20.4 per cent;
- Germany – up 15.4 per cent;
- Mexico – up 12.9 per cent;
- China – up 7.1 per cent;
- France – up 5.7 per cent;
- Japan – up 5.1 per cent;
- South Korea – up 3 per cent;
- United States (excluding same-day visitors) – up 1.9 per cent;
- United Kingdom – up 0.2 per cent;
- Asia/Pacific – up 6.4 per cent; and
- Europe – up 3.4 per cent;
Destination BC is an industry-led crown corporation that works collaboratively with tourism stakeholders around the province to co-ordinate tourism marketing at the international, provincial, regional and local levels.
It also supports regions, communities and Indigenous people in developing or expanding tourism experiences, businesses and jobs.
