Driving tourism in Canada

Outdoor activities are popular in Canada. [Photos provided to China Daily]

By cooperating with domestic travel agencies, the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership has mapped out several driving routes for Chinese tourists.

Ontario has more than 250,000 lakes and 100,000 km of rivers, vast tracts of towering forests, long sandy beaches and the natural wonder of Niagara Falls. Its cosmopolitan cities such as Toronto offer world-class entertainment, shopping and dining and there are charming small towns with lots of local color.

For tourists, Ontario is also a paradise for canoeing, hiking, cruising, biking and rafting, besides driving. The accommodations range from hotels and resorts, to quaint country inns and B&Bs, to rustic cottages or even camping under the stars.

Since Feb 6, Canada has upgraded single-entry visas to multiple-entry visas for Chinese visitors, making it much easier to travel in Canada.

"The Canadian government welcomes more Chinese visitors to discover the beauties of Canada and thus strengthen the ties between the two countries," says Guy Saint-Jacques, Canada's ambassador to China.

In 2013, 332,000 Chinese tourists visited the country, compared to 192,000 in 2010. This July alone, about 40,000 tourists from China visited Canada.

With the multi-entry visa, eligible visitors can stay in Canada for a maximum period of six months each time, and the length of the visa validity has been extended to a maximum of 10 years.

"A Chinese driving license with an English-language certificate is legal in Canada, as long as the driver does not stay more than six months," says Wang Wei, a marketing manager of Hertz Corporation, an international car rental company.

"Car rental in Canada is affordable for many Chinese tourists. The most important thing is to make sure to take out a damage and loss insurance before renting a car," he says.

"It is relatively safe in Canada, but we still recommend that Chinese tourists don't bring too much cash, and that they do not leave expensive personal belongings in their cars."