More than 454,000 Chinese tourists visited Canada last year, a year-on-year increase of 28.8 percent, according to latest figures released by the Canadian Tourism Commission.

And the number of Chinese tourists paying overnights visits to Canada last December reached about 28,000, increasing by 19.6 percent compared with the same period in 2013, and maintaining the yearlong double-digit growth.

China achieved its highest level of overnight stays ever last year, compared to arrivals of 2013, the peak year at about 352,000.

Recent years have seen more frequent exchanges between Chinese and Canadian citizens. As the largest source of international students and fastest-growing inbound tourism market for Canada, China has about 100,000 students studying in the North American country and the number of visa applications from Chinese tourists to the country has surged by around 20 percent since 2006.

The multiple-entry visas with 10-year validity for Chinese traveling to Canada, which officially took effect in February 2014, have made it more convenient and fueled Chinese visitors’ passion to visit Canada.

“Last year we observed about a 20-percent increase in the number of international students from China and nearly 30percent more Chinese tourists to Canada,” said Canada’s ambassador to China, Guy Saint-Jacques.

“The two countries will further cooperation in issuing more favorable visa policies to Chinese and Canadian citizens and expect bigger growth in travel between the two countries,” said Saint-Jacques.

With the current ease of visa application and resulting increase in Chinese visitors, this year the CTC will introduce more quality tourism resources in Canada and encourage local Chinese travel agencies to come up with travel products more fit for Chinese visitors, said Derek Galpin, managing director for China at the Canadian Tourism Commission.

This year the CTC will work with Canadian provinces to launch a series of travel products targeting different types of Chinese tourists through the channels of local travel agencies.

Yukon Territory in northwestern Canada, best known for daytime dogsleds and aurora sightseeing at night, aims to to further attract and better accommodate Chinese visitors this year. Last year, it hosted 3,000 international visitors, up 30 percent compared with 2013.

According to Elaine Taylor, minister of the Department of Tourism and Culture of Yukon, China ranks as the fourth largest overseas market for Yukon and is the fastest growing, she said during a tourism promotion seminar in Beijing early this month.

“With rich travel resources and distinct local culture, we will provide a different and more diversified travel experience,” said Taylor. “We will work with the CTC and tour operators in China to better cater to the travel demands of Chinese tourists.” The CTC will also further its cooperation with Chinese tourism professionals to enhance its brand image, said the director.

“The biweekly online travel program Travel to Canada will continue to be key promotion in the Chinese market and share more practical and interesting travel information.”

xiaolixin@chinadaily.com.cn