Savor every breath

Glacier Skywalk. [Photo/Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Have you ever imagined walking through a glacier? Be it a yes or no, it is now a possibility.

On October 10, Travel Alberta, the tourism organization for the province of Alberta, Canada, traveled to Beijing to promote its new project, “Glacier Skywalk,” at a press conference.

The project is currently under construction and is scheduled to open May 2014. The new attraction is only minutes away from the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Center, and is already expected to become a new Canadian landmark. The bold concept of walking amid a glacier may seem unrealistic, but a glass corridor extending from the glacier’s cliff will make the experience a reality.

[Photo/Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The glass corridor will function as a fully accessible walkway leading to a glass-floored observation platform 280 meters (918 ft) above the Sunwapta Valley, and will allow visitors to witness the powers of glaciology. From ice-capped mountain peaks to vast glacier-formed valleys, the Glacier Skywalk will provide visitors with a front row seat to some of nature’s most grandeur beauty.

The project will not only become an innovative travel spot, but will also be seen as an engineering miracle. Its main purpose will be to provide visitors with a brand-new viewing experience, in which one can go beyond nature’s edge and immerse themselves in an awe-inspiring trip in one of the world’s most unique ecosystems.

Royce Chwin, Chief Marketing Officer of Travel Alberta, delivers a speech at the press conference.[Photo/Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Remember to breathe

"Remember to breathe” is the slogan of Travel Alberta’s global promotional campaign. Royce Chwin, one of the developers of the project and the Chief Marketing Officer of Travel Alberta, elaborated on the idea in depth at the press conference. “’Remember to breathe’ is a key statement which serves as a reminder to stop, take a moment, refill your energy, remember to slow down, take in your surroundings, take it all in and to drink in the unique personal experience that you create.”

For city dwellers who have a hectic life schedule for almost 365 days a year, this idea serves especially as a reminder that life resides in every breath that is inhaled and exhaled, so people should never forget to slow down and enjoy every moment.

China: essential outbound tourism market

As more Chinese travelers embark on foreign trips, many Western countries are wooing Chinese tourists, and Alberta is no exception. “China is extremely important to Canada, we have seen a double-digit 18% growth of Chinese visitors year after year, which is the world’s largest outbound tourism market for Alberta,” said Chwin.

One advantage adding to Canada’s appeal for Chinese tourists is the Approved Destination Status, a 10-year multiple-entry visa which Chinese travelers can apply for to make their travel much smoother. With more than 82 connecting flights a week between the two countries, traveling to Canada has never been easier.