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International travel to BC drops - Vancouver Sun

July 7, 2007 - Posted in Agency, Car Rental, Destinations, Expedia Travel, Mexico packages, Travel News, Travel business

The tourism marketing agency said 1,271,000 overnight U.S. visitors travelled to B.C. during the first six months of this year -- a drop of 122,000 visitors from the same period last year.
A slowing U.S. economy, a strong Canadian dollar, rising fuel prices and confusion about passport requirements have all been cited as contributing factors to declining U.S. travel to Canada.
Total international visitation to B.C. fell by 5.7 per cent to 1.93 million during the first half of this year.
"The trends we're seeing here are consistent worldwide and all destinations are starting to feel the impact," said Harris, noting airline service cutbacks caused by skyrocketing fuel prices have also dampened global travel.
"That concerns us but while business in B.C. is challenged, it's not under as much pressure as the international numbers might have us believe."
Visitation to B.C. was also down significantly from Japan (down 16,000), Taiwan (down 6,000) and Germany (down 2,000) but those drops were largely offset by gains from Mexico (up 3,000), New Zealand (up 4,500), Australia (up 7,000) and Hong Kong (up 7,000).
Harris said Western Canada and Ontario have clearly become key targets for B.C. tourism operators in the wake of falling international traffic and noted current advertising programs to those markets include golf campaigns, food/wine/cuisine programs, outdoor adventure campaigns and ski campaigns that will ramp up this fall.
He expects international travel patterns will remain much the same for the rest of the year but stressed it's not all bad news.
"We're delighted with Australia, New Zealand and Mexico and we've enhanced our investments significantly in those markets and being very aggressive," Harris said.
New Zealand visitation to B.C. rose by 45 per cent during the first six months of 2008 -- largely on the strength of a new direct Vancouver-to-Auckland air service launched by Air New Zealand.
bconstantineau@vancouversun.com
Number of overnight international visitors to B.C. in the first six months of 2008 with the percentage change from the same period last year:
United States 1,271,000 -8.5%
Japan 69,000 -19.3%
Taiwan 26,000 -18.9%
Germany 32,000 -5.7%
Mexico 37,000 +9.1%
Australia 78,000 +10%
Hong Kong 38,000 +22.2%
New Zealand 14,500 +45%
ONLINE: Are you noticing more Aussies, Mexicans and/or Kiwis on the streets of Vancouver than Americans this summer? Let us know at vancouversun.com/business

Tags: drops, International, Travel, Vancouver