Alberta answers Canada's call to Chinese

Lake Louise draws visitors to the mountain town of Banff in Canada. The country's natural and cultural destinations anticipate waves of Chinese visitors as new direct flights enhance ease of entry.[Photo provided to China Daily]

A new direct flight from Beijing to Calgary in Alberta, Canada, will cater to growing demand from Chinese visitors.

Canada's tourism authority has partnered with Hainan Airlines to offer the flight three times a week from June 30 and four times a week from November.

"Travelers can see the prairies, the vibrant and dynamic city of Calgary and the Rocky Mountains, all at the same time through the window of their aircraft," says the Calgary Airport authority's senior vice-president, Stephan Poirier.

Then, they can explore these places from ground level after landing.

The airport handles 250 daily flights to more than 80 destinations, enabling tourists to easily travel to other destinations in the province and country.

A program has been launched to make the terminal user-friendly for Chinese through such amenities as Chinese-language signage and information, Poirier says.

Roughly 59,000 Chinese arrived in or departed from Alberta in 2013, says the provincial tourism authority's CEO, Royce Chwin.

Chinese currently must visit via connecting flights through Vancouver, Tokyo or Seattle.

"Alberta's nature, culture and adventure are strong travel motivators," Chwin says.

"We believe that these experiences, paired with Canada's simple and convenient 10-year multi-entry visa and nonstop air access, make Alberta a competitive choice for overseas travel for consumers in China."

Western Alberta is flanked by the Rocky Mountains, while expansive prairies cover the east. The area hosts UNESCO World Heritage sites, plus unique festivals and food.

Travel Alberta has curated itineraries for those who take the new flight. They include such themes as family travel, marathons, golf, shopping, summer outdoor adventure, winter wonderlands, skiing, photography, recreational-vehicle camping, train travel and road trips.