Canada is up in arms over the denial of ADS by China that prevents Chinese citizens from visiting the country and promotion of Canadian tourism in China.

According to the news reported by Cnews, Canada has accused China that it has negotiated an agreement of Approved Destination Status (ADS) with the US, similar to what it has with 130 other countries that is proving to be a major threat to the competitiveness of Canadian tourism.

The lack of an ADS agreement prevents Canada from promoting its tourism in China apart from being ineligible to receive Chinese tour groups.

Under these circumstances, Trade Minister of Canada, David Emerson, expressed his intention on January 8, 2008 to appeal to the World Trade Organization to let China to lift its ban on its citizens visiting Canada, should the matter remain unresolved, as reported by in AFP.

Canada happened to be among the first countries to seek an ADS agreement back in 1999. With traditional links to China in addition to a Chinese-Canadian community of a million, Canada should logically have acquired an early agreement.

Beijing’s refusal to open negotiations for an ADS agreement is attributed by the former head of Canada’s tourism office in Beijing and other sources to Canada’s failure in the extradition of Lai Changxing, the alleged smuggling kingpin and the most-wanted fugitive of China who has sought refuge in Canada.

Canadian officials have described China’s policy of refusing ADS to Canada as discriminatory as under normal circumstances, a part of China’s tourism to the US would extend to Canada as well. With an ADS agreement with the Chinese government, Canada expects not less than 700,000 to a million Chinese tourists annually.

The possession of ADS would enable not just the Canadian tourism industry to market in China but also the Chinese travel agents to endorse their travel packages in Canada.

Summing up the scenario, a Senior Research Analyst at RNCOS said, “Canada’s tourism sector is highly stable. The country is popular the world over for its cool climate. But unfortunately, the strained relations between the two countries (Canada and China) are taking a toll on Canada’s tourism industry as it’s depriving it with the world’s biggest population. In addition, certain negative effects of the Canadian tourism industry are also coming to light due to this.”