Businesses worry absence of Chinese tourists will hurt bottom line

As Canada remains off a list of countries approved by the government of China as travel destinations for tour groups, some Ottawa businesses are worried about a future without Chinese tourists.

Since February, China has resumed outbound group tours to138destinations across the world after it had barred them during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry.

Ofthecountriesapproved for group tours and packagetravel, 78 were addedto the list about three weeks ago. Canada was not among them.

The apparentsnubwhich China'sembassy in Ottawasaid is due torising anti-Asian discrimination and a recent focus amongCanadian politicianson allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian electionscould mean local businesses will miss out on thousands of dollars in tourism revenue.

Etienne Cameron, who co-owns Ottawa-basedLady Dive Tours, saidChinese tourist groups made up about 30 per cent of his pre-pandemicclientele and revenue. Now, those tourists arenoticeably absent.

"The Asian market is definitely the one that's been hit the most at this point, and we still feel the difference It's not where it used to be," he said. "Eventually, we thought they would come back, [but] we're still waiting."

Cameronsaid his business is still recovering from the pandemic and having Chinese tourists back would be "very, very important."

'A blow'

Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, outbound tourism from China was a valuable international commodity.

Chinese travellers spent $255 billion in 2019 andaccounted for 20 per cent of all international tourism spending, according tothe United Nations' World Tourism Organization.

Destination Canada, the Crown corporation thatpromotes tourism, told CBCthatChina was Canada's largest source of tourist arrivals from the Asia-Pacific region in 2019andused to be Canada's largest market in terms of tourist spending.

But that was before international travel waslimited due to the pandemic.

Colton Hroncich, manager of the Crazy Moose souvenir shop in the ByWard Market, saidhe's worried about the continued absence of thosetourists from his storeand what it means for his bottom line.

"Everyone that comes in usuallyends up buying a shirt, maybe a magnet or anything like that," he said.

"To be hit with such a large number of our customers that aren't going to be able to come into the store as easily or at all anymore,it's definitely going to be kind of a blow."

At Quichua World Market, aByWard Market handicrafts and jewelry store, assistant manager Karidia Nietorecalled that Chinese touristsused to visit herstore after arriving ontour buses.

On average, Nieto said about 20 families would come into the store per day, contributing to at least $1,000 in revenue.

But now, as the store grapples with a post-pandemic economy, Nieto saidshe's disappointed she won't haveChinese tourists as clients.

"Knowing that they are putting those barriers between Canada and their country is very sad," Nieto said. "Because we really appreciate the Chinese people."

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