2018“中加旅游年”标志12月4日上午在北京正式发布，来访的加拿大总理贾斯廷•特鲁多，中国国家旅游局局长李金早，加拿大众议院领导人、小型企业及旅游部长楚萱歌女士共同为标志揭幕。
2016年中国国务院总理李克强和加拿大总理特鲁多宣布，将2018年设为“中加旅游年”，同意就促进双向游客往来扩大合作。根据双方签署的关于旅游合作的谅解备忘录，两国政府同意在2025年前将双方访客人数提高一倍。加拿大旅游局的数据显示，中国是加拿大第三大入境游海外市场，截止到2017年9月，中国游客全年入境人数达到 557178 人。
伴随着中加旅游年标志的亮相，加拿大-中国旅游年官方网站也正式启动，为两国旅行者提供更多实用信息。加拿大的风景十分多元，有世界一流的城市，有海、有山、有北极群岛，有北方森林、大湖泊。特鲁多在致辞中表示，明年2018年是中加旅游年，为了便捷大家的加拿大之旅，加方已经在中国各地新开了7个签证申请中心。
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, visited the headquarters of a top online media company in Beijing, China – Sina Weibo – where he promoted Canada as a premier destination for Chinese tourists. Joined by Chinese youth, he also highlighted the celebrations that will be held in both countries during the 2018 Canada-China Year of Tourism.
Our government is working closely with Canadian businesses and communities to ensure they are prepared to welcome an increased number of Chinese tourists during the Canada-China Year of Tourism and beyond.
Events and celebrations that showcase Canadian and Chinese cultures will be held in both countries next year. The Prime Minister also announced that Canada will host the Canada-China Year of Tourism closing ceremonies next fall in China and that China will host the opening ceremonies next spring in Canada.
Quotes
“The Canada-China Year of Tourism is an exceptional opportunity to strengthen the people-to-people connections between our two countries and celebrate the best that Canada and China offer the world. It will grow our tourism sector, which means more middle class jobs for Canadians and better economic growth for communities across the country.”
— The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
“Canada and China are united by strong people-to-people ties and a long history of cooperation. I am happy to join Prime Minister Trudeau and my colleagues today to announce the next steps on the Canada-China Year of Tourism, which will offer a unique opportunity to share our respective rich cultures, amazing attractions and unforgettable experiences. We are committed to working together with our Chinese partners to create memorable experiences that keep visitors coming back to Canada time and again.”
— The Hon. Bardish Chagger, Minister of Small Business and Tourism, and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Quick facts
China is one of Canada’s fastest-growing tourism markets and our third-largest source of tourism. Nearly 610,000 Chinese tourists visited Canada in 2016, an increase of more than 20% on average each year since 2011, and spent an estimated $1.25 billion. That number is expected to grow significantly over the next four years.
Canada’s tourism industry is a key economic driver, and employs one in ten Canadians.
Over five per cent of Canada's population has Chinese ancestry, and Mandarin and Cantonese are Canada's third and fourth most widely spoken languages.
