The Conservatives' Failure to Push Forward the ADS Talks
Hurts Canada's Tourism Industry

There is no doubt that encouraging Chinese tourists to choose Canada as a vacation destination will translate into a multibillion-dollar industry for Canada. However, the lack of importance the new Conservative government has placed on maintaining a positive relationship with China has broken down negotiations to grant Canada Approved Destination Status (ADS).

Ever since the Conservatives government took office this January, the Canada-China relationship has deteriorated. Within weeks of being sworn in, Conservative Foreign Affairs Minister Peter McKay made damaging allegations accusing China of sending a thousand spies to Canada. These allegations were denied by the Chinese government.

Stephen Harper has not made strengthening Canada's relationship with China a priority and, as a result, we are losing billions in tourism revenue.

In fact, in the six months the Conservative government has been in power, not a single senior cabinet minister has bothered to travel to Beijing to promote good relations between the two countries.

While many difficult issues exist between Canada and China, the failed ADS negotiations must have the attention of the highest level of government. But because of the lack of importance that the Conservative government has placed on China, Canada is missing out on a huge potential market.

Chinese tourists are among the biggest spenders in the world. It is estimated that Chinese tourists will take up to 120 million foreign vacations every year for the next seven years. Canada's tourism industry had hoped to receive up to 700,000 tourists from China annually - each spending an average of $1,800 on hotels and shopping in Canada.

But without ADS status, Canada is losing out to other countries, such as Australia as a vacation destination. When negotiations began in 1999, Canada was at the front of the pack in terms of tourism. But thanks to the inaction of this government, Chinese tourists are flocking to the 81 countries which have ADS status instead of Canada.

Unlike the Conservatives, the previous Liberal government valued its relationship with China and saw the tremendous potential the country brought to Canada's tourism industry. This realisation contributed to our decision to move the headquarters of the Canadian Tourism Commission to Vancouver.

Unfortunately, the current Conservative government's attitude towards China has allowed Canada's relationship with China to drift into uncertainty and disarray.