Alberta courting visitors from China

To capitalize on the tourism year, Alberta has been ramping up efforts in offering tailored services to Chinese travelers.

"Whether traveling for business or on vacation, we want to help Alberta businesses to exceed the customer service expectations of Chinese travelers", said Royce Chwin, CEO of Travel Alberta, an organization responsible for tourism marketing and support services for Alberta.

Services include translation of content into simplified Chinese and ensuring ease of payment and adoption of mobile payment methods, said Chwin.

Alberta's enthusiasm for China is partly fueled by the market's rapidly emerging urban middle class, Bilous told China Daily in a written reply. "This means there is a high demand for energy resources, raw materials and quality commodities."

Besides tourism, Alberta's trade with China has potential for growth and plays a role in the province's economic diversification efforts, Bilous said.

China is Alberta's second largest destination in trade volume, with a trading relationship spanning several sectors including energy, agriculture, science and technology, and cultural industries.

"Alberta will continue to work collaboratively with the federal government and with other jurisdictions in Canada to build trust and mutual benefits in our relationship with China," Bilous added.