Michael Chan, Ontario's minister of tourism, culture and sport, says he is excited about the province's being approved for destination status that will allow it to develop a huge tourism business with China.

The approval will deepen and strengthen a "unique friendship" that is grounded in mutual respect, he said.

Being granted destination status "has built a bridge, allowing many more visitors from China to explore Ontario's world class hospitality, multicultural society, acclaimed attractions, great outdoors, international sporting competitions and festivals," Chan said during the second Canada-China Travel Trade Forum in Toronto on April 26.

In 2010, 96,000 visitors from China came to Ontario - whose license plate slogan is "Yours to Discover" - and spent C$195 million during their stay.

Chan said the number of Chinese visitors coming to Ontario would double to 190,000 next year.

Some 600,000 people of Chinese descent call Ontario home.

Chan said Ontario's agreements with three Chinese provinces would create jobs and generate more than C$200 million in benefits for the local tourist economy.

Capital investment already has made the province home to international hotel brands such as Trump, Ritz-Carlton, Shangri-La and the New Four Seasons, Chan said.

On top of that, the province expects "a growing number of private projects and public private partnerships" that will create attractions such as the C$12 million Legoland Discovery Centre in Vaughan, the C$50 million Calypso Waterpark near Ottawa, and the C$130 million Ripley's Aquarium, set to open in Toronto this year, he said.

Chan said Ontario welcomed more than 104 million visitors in 2011 while its tourism sector generated $23 billion in annual revenue and supported 330,000 jobs.

Eddy Lok and Li Na

(China Daily 05/03/2013 page11)