Today: 21 June 2025
17 August 2023
2 mins read

China excludes Canada from list of approved group tour destinations

China’s latest move could have a significant impact on Canada’s tourism industry…reports Asian Lite News

China has lifted restrictions on group tours to multiple countries, including the US and UK, but excluded Canada from the list of nations, suggesting in a deterioration of ties after Ottawa recently accused Beijing of meddled in its internal politics, the media reported on Thursday

Last week, China added 78 countries to its list of approved destinations for group tours, excluding Canada, while adding other major G20 countries like the US, Germany, Australia, and South Korea, reports the BBC.

There are currently 138 countries on the list.

In a statement, China’s embassy in Ottawa said it was concerned that “the Canadian side has repeatedly hyped up the so-called ‘Chinese interference'”.

Beijing is focused on “protecting the safety and legitimate rights of overseas Chinese citizens and wishes they can travel in a safe and friendly environment”, the statement said.

China’s latest move could have a significant impact on Canada’s tourism industry.

Destination Canada, which promotes tourism in the country, told broadcaster CBC that China accounts for the largest source of tourist arrivals from the Asia-Pacific region.

It is also its second-largest long-haul market after the UK.

Chinese tourists were estimated to have injected over C$1 billion ($740 million) into the Canadian economy annually in years prior to the Covid pandemic.

More than 700,000 Chinese tourists travelled to Canada in 2018, with each visitor spending an average of C$2,600.

Group tours from China to Canada were first approved in 2010, and it boosted air travel and tourism between the two countries, reports the BBC.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries deteriorated rapidly earlier this year amid a series of leaks to Canadian media of reports from domestic intelligence agencies that laid out accusations that China meddled in recent federal elections.

Canada has also accused Beijing of trying to intimidate Conservative member of parliament Michael Chong and waging a disinformation campaign against him on the popular Chinese messaging app WeChat.

Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei was expelled from Canada in May over some of the allegations.

In a tit-for-tat move, China expelled Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, Canada’s diplomat in its Shanghai consulate, the BBC reported.

In 2018, bilateral relations had suffered a set back when Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was detained in Canada at the request of the US.

Two Canadians were arrested in China not long after, in a move viewed by Canada and its allies as “hostage diplomacy”.

Meng and the two men were released after the Huawei executive came to a deal with US prosecutors.

ALSO READ-SPACE RACE: China Overtakes US In Tactically Responsive Space Launch

Previous Story

UAE urges peace in Libya’s Tripoli

Next Story

Lanka’s education budget falls short amid economic crisis

Latest from -Top News

IAEA sounds nuclear alarm in Iran

UN nuclear watchdog urges restraint, calls for diplomacy to prevent crisis. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has issued a stark warning about the potential nuclear fallout

Trump says it’s hard to tell Israel to stop

President downplays European diplomacy as Israeli jets strike over 35 Iranian missile sites US President Donald Trump has said it would be “difficult” to ask Israel to stop its ongoing airstrikes on

War on Children Worsens, Says UN

The new high surpassed 2023, another record year, which itself represented a 21 per cent increase over the preceding year….reports Asian Lite News Violence against children in conflict zones soared to record

US weighs joining fight with Israel

Europe’s push for diplomacy is in sharp contrast to messages from Washington, with President Trump openly weighing bombing Iran  Iran’s foreign minister will meet in Geneva with counterparts from Germany, France and

Kremlin warns US against Iran strike

Putin revealed that Moscow had proposed several compromise frameworks to all involved parties — including the US, Israel, and Iran Washington would be making a serious mistake by launching an attack on
Go toTop

Don't Miss

PLA Navy to conduct drill in disputed South China Sea

This comes after US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman

India-China talks focus on border protocol

The discussions also included not increasing troops by both countries