Increases in overnight visitors from the U.S. and the Asia-Pacific are helping the tourism industry continue to recover from the worldwide recession, as B.C. recorded its eighth straight month of higher numbers, Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, said today.

"More tourists coming to B.C. means more jobs for B.C. families and more revenue from this important sector that we can invest in critical services including education and health," Bell said. "The fact that more travellers arrived here this January than in January 2010 - when numbers were bolstered by an influx of media, athletes and other visitors preparing for the Winter Games - testifies to the strength and resilience of this sector, which provides one in 14 jobs in British Columbia."

Figures released by Statistics Canada today comparing January 2011 with the same month in 2010 show a rise in U.S. overnight visits of 3.2 per cent, despite the high Canadian dollar and struggling U.S. economy. The increase to British Columbia was more than double the 1.4 per cent increase for all of Canada, and U.S. visitors accounted for 62.6 per cent of all overnight international visitors to B.C.

Meanwhile, visitors from Asia-Pacific countries increased by 11 per cent overall, including Australia, which climbed by 22.6 per cent to 11,317. This is the 11th increase in Australian visitors in the past 12 months, most of which were over 20 per cent, compared with the same month the previous year.

The number of visitors from China rose 22.8 per cent, from Hong Kong by 52.6 per cent, and from South Korea by 7.8 per cent.

"This is the fourth straight month of increases in overnight visits from the U.S., and the ninth increase in a row from China, where we are working to build on our approved destination status and strengthen our tourism industry by focusing on the world's second-largest economy, where we already have great connections," Bell said.

All in all, 185,591 international overnight visitors entered B.C. in January, compared with the same month in 2010, when 177,378 people arrived here from other countries. That 4.6 per cent increase is nearly double the nationwide bump of 2.4 per cent.

The numbers reported by Statistics Canada are based on international visitors who cross through Canada Customs into British Columbia. Actual numbers of visitors to B.C. are higher, as people coming from elsewhere in Canada are not included. As well, some international visitors pass through customs outside of B.C. and then travel to the province.

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Deb Pearce

Senior Public Affairs Officer

Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation

250 356-5613

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

BACKGROUNDER

For Immediate Release

2011JTI0036-000275

March 17, 2011 Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Innovation

Tourism by the numbers - Stats Canada for January 2011

Tourism is seasonal, so year-over-year comparisons are used instead of month-over-month. For more information, visit www.tti.gov.bc.ca/research online.

* Total international overnight arrivals to B.C. rose 4.6 per cent in January to 185,591, compared with January 2010, while Canada reported growth of 2.4 per cent to 657,104.

* Two out of every seven international overnight visitors to Canada entered the country in B.C.

* Overnight entries to B.C. from the U.S. rose 3.2 per cent - to 116,201 from 112,571. Travellers from the U.S. accounted for 62.6 per cent of all overnight international visitors, and more than one in four U.S. visitors to Canada entered through B.C.

* Overnight visitor arrivals from Asia-Pacific countries rose 11 per cent in January to 46,097, compared with January 2010.

* Arrivals from China rose 22.8 per cent in January to 7,703, compared with January 2010, building on a total increase of 18.9 per cent last year.

* Visitors from Australia were up 22.6 per cent to 11,317, compared with January 2010.

Contact:

Deb Pearce

Senior Public Affairs Officer

Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation

250 356-5613

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect