The appeal of Vancouver is not diminishing, if anything, the tourism numbers show that it is increasing. The benefits of a thriving tourism industry will pour over into all sectors, including the real estate market.

Chinese Parade in Vancouver
If the recent real estate slump has you worried, keep in mind that Vancouver is far from falling off the map. A notable trend is the switch from most Chinese purchasers being Hong Kong residents originally, to an upswing of buyers from Mainland China.

Tourism Shows Same Trend

The same trends are in tourism. As tourist visas for travel to Canada became easier to obtain, Chinese visitors to Vancouver have been increasing steadily. Since 2010, after Canada was granted “Approved Destination Status” by China, the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) reported that the amount of Chinese tourists has been steadily increasing for 27 consecutive months. In the first four months of the year, the CTC has recorded a 25.9% growth in overnight trips from China to Canada.

Within British Columbia, Vancouver is a big draw; Tourism Vancouver sees visitor numbers increasing this year by almost 2%. Vancouver is a popular tourist destination that is well-equipped for the influx of Chinese tourists due to its thriving Chinese community. The ethnically diverse city is home to the second-largest Chinatown in North America.

The CTC launched a campaign last year aimed at the “affluent” Chinese tourists coming to Canada. With the potential for yearly revenues of $300 million by 2015 from Chinese tourists alone, increasing attention is being placed on promoting the high-end aspects of the country.

High-End Attractions Add to Vancouver’s Appeal

Shopping on Robson Street in Vancouver
Vancouver, for example, is host to many of these higher-end attractions. There is much to be found in the way of fine-dining, spa treatments, and, of course, shopping. With its various trendy neighbourhoods, Vancouver promises to pull all sorts of people into its retail stores.
 From Kitsilano, Granville Island, Gastown, Commercial drive and Chinatown to Robson Street and the downtown core, South Granville, Metrotown and Yaletown, the possibilities are endless. Tourists can explore Granville Island to fall in love with a local treasure, or they can scope out Holt Renfrew for the latest trends from high-end designers.

Perhaps Vancouver’s biggest draw is not the natural scenery or the city life, but the fact that both can be found in such close proximity to each other. In Li Yu’s article, “An Empirical Study of Recent Mainland Chinese Migration to Vancouver”, he quotes a migrant as saying, “if you live in cities for a long time, you will feel suffocated and want to go to the countryside for some fresh air. Vancouver is a marvellous place. Here you can enjoy all the conveniences of a city, but at the same time you feel you are living in the countryside.”

K-12 Schools See Mainland Influx

The same shift can be found in the education system. More than half of the total international students who arrived last year in the K-12 system are from mainland China. This bodes well for the real estate market. Education is a much more long-term investment than a vacation and points to the value of creating long-term relationships with newcomers when they are just forming business and personal relationships in the community.

Reaching this market can be easily done with some multilingual outreach. LAT can help you engage the Chinese community by translating your materials or getting you started on a Chinese social media marketing campaign.