BC Tourism Sees More International Visitors

West Vancouver. (Photo Credit: BCGov Flickr)

For the third year in a row, our province saw another increase in international visitors.

The increase for BC in international overnight visitors for 2014 was 5.3 per cent, significantly higher than the national increase of 3.2 per cent. Statistics Canada shows an increase in all key markets, including those that Destination British Columbia has identified as potential growth markets in the new three-year strategy.

The majority of these international visitors were from China, with an additional 53,217 visitors to B.C. marking a 26.2 per cent increase. Increased air access helped visitors from Japan visit, with an increase of 12.2 per cent. A flight by All Nippon Airways was introduced at the end of March last year.

Harrison Hot Springs. (Photo Credit: BCGov Flickr)

Visitors from both the United States and Australia were also up at 3.3 per cent and 5.3 per cent respectively. The growth from the US is partly being attributed to economic growth south of the border and a strengthened US dollar.

B.C. also saw an increase in European visitors, with a 1.4 per cent increase from the United Kingdom and a 2.2 per cent increase from Germany.

"British Columbia is one of the top tourism destinations in the world,” says Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business. “Our tourism sector is an important economic driver and a key contributor to the prosperity of B.C. communities. I applaud tourism operators throughout British Columbia for the outstanding economic contribution they make by providing world-class services in an increasingly competitive industry."

Gellatly Bay in West Kelowna. (Photo Credit: BCGov Flickr)

"We are delighted to see such positive growth from the province's key tourism markets,” says Marsha Walden, CEO of Destination British Columbia. “With a revitalized tourism brand and a refinement of our marketing strategies, that will see refocused investment into growth markets, we are poised to build upon the accomplishments of last year for the benefit of the tourism industry and the province as a whole, in 2015."

The tourism industry in BC generated $13.9 billion in revenue in 2013, a 44 per cent increase since 2003.