Canada has won approved destination status from China, easing restrictions on the burgeoning Chinese group tour business.

The status will assist Chinese requests to travel in groups to Canada, possibly cutting down the processing time from three or four months to one week.

The decision also means the Canadian tourism industry can advertise in China and the Canadian Tourism Commission will open a new office in Beijing.

The Canadian Tourism Commission expects Chinese tourism to Canada to expand fourfold over the next five years.

(CRI.com January 24, 2005)