The revival of tourism between Canada and China is accelerating after Beijing lifted group tour restrictions and implemented a 30-day visa waiver for Canadian passport holders. According to Statistics Canada data cited by CBC News,17,940 Chinese visitors entered Canada in March 2024, nearly double the 10,632 recorded a year earlier. The thaw in diplomatic relations, marked by Prime Minister Mark Carney's January meeting with President Xi Jinping, is now visible on the ground—from sold-out tour packages to a fourfold surge in agency bookings.

17,940 arrivals in March: a 69% year-over-year jump

The March figure, reported by Statistics Canada, is the clearest statistical evidence yet of recovery. While still far below pre-pandemic levels—when Chinese visitors spent close to $2 billion annually—the trajectory is upward.. The visa-free policy, announced in February after Carney's Beijing trip, appears to be the primary catalyst, according to travel industry executives quoted in the report.

Laurus Travel Inc., a Vancouver-based agency, told CBC News that bookings for its China tours rose more than fourfold from late February to late May compared with the same period in 2023. Owner Julius Yan attributed the jump directly to the visa waiver, noting it occurred without any additional advertising.

Utour Group's sold-out spring tours to Canada

On the Chinese side, Utour Group in Beijing reports its spring tours to Canada have already sold out, signaling pent-up demand. Travel agent Li Wei, interviewed at the company's headquarters, said she is now considering a trip to the Canadian Rockies after Beijing reinstated approved group tours for the winter season. She has personal ties to Canada—a nephew in Toronto—and told the reporter, "I would definitely go there to experience Canada's life, environment, and attmosphere."

The annual industry trade show Rendez-vous Canada in Toronto saw the number of Chinese travel representatives double compared with the previous year, according to the report. Marsha Walden, CEO of Destination Canada, highlighted that Chinese tourists' spending on local culture, cuisine, and shopping disperses widely across the economy, making their return especially valuable for recovery.

The $2 billion spending hole that hasn't yet filed

Before the pandemic, Chinese visitors spent close to $2 billion annually in Canada , a figure that underscores why the tourism industry views the current rebound as a vital lifeline.. Yet the March arrivals of 17,940 are a fraction of pre-pandemic monthly totals, which often topped 50,000. The gap between enthusiasm and actual volume remains wide.

The report suggests that high-level diplomacy—Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand spoke of "recalibrating the relationship"—has created the conditions for recovery, but economic and geopolitical uncertainties could still slow momentum. Tour operators are watching whether Chinese airlines will add more routes and whether visa processing times will shorten further.

What's still unknown about the Carney-Xi thaw's durability

The source article does not address whether the diplomatic warming extends beyond tourism. Trade tensions, technology disputes, and human rights concerns remain unresolved. The visa waiver for Canadians is a one-sided gesture from China; Canada has not reciprocated with similar visa concessions. The tourism surge, while welcome, is a narrow indicator of a broader relationship that could cool again if political conditions shift.

Another open question is whether Chinese consumer sentiment will sustain the recovery. Li Wei's personal story—considering Canada but not yet booking—reflects a cautious optimism. The sold-out spring tours suggest strong immediate demand, but the multi-year trend will depend on consistent policy stability on both sides.