China has re-instated Canada as approved for group travel

Good news for the Canadian tourism industry and inbound tourism.

 

In a reversal of recent policy, the Chinese government will now allow Chinese group tour operators to resume travel to Canada, a potential boon for tourism in Canada, following Prime Minister Mark Carney‘s recent meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

 

Yesterday, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, issued the following statement:

 

“The granting of Approved Destination Status (ADS) for group travellers to Canada by China marks another important step in the recalibrated bilateral relationship.

 

“Tourism plays an important role in fostering people-to-people ties, which are a foundation for broader mutual understanding and cooperation. Canada maintains high standards for travel safety and quality, and remains a welcoming, secure destination for Chinese visitors.

 

“Following Prime Minister Carney’s recent meetings with President Xi Jinping last week, Premier Li Qiang in September and my meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing in October, we are demonstrating that, through engagement, we can advance this important bilateral relationship constructively and pragmatically.”

 

Canada was dropped from the list in 2023 when China loosened restrictions on group travel imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, Canada received more than 700,000 visitors from China.