Richmond tourism group is assured that tourism from China will rebound after the pandemic.

Organizational tourism from China will recover after the pandemic.

The sudden bottoming out of tourism as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t stopped the Richmondites from entering the tour guide market.

For the fifth year in a row, the Canadian Inbound Tourism Association in Asia Pacific (CITAP), a Richmond-based nonprofit that aims to make Canada the destination of choice for Asian travelers, launched a Chinese-language training program this week for tour guides.

Over the past few years, 40-50 students have signed up for the program. That number rose to 56 students that year, which, according to David Lin, CEO of CITAP, is well above the program organizer’s expectations.

“Some people are confident that British Columbia’s tourism sector will grow strongly in a post-pandemic world. In particular, with the introduction of the vaccine, domestic travel could resume in late September, ”said Lin. “We still remain hopeful that after the pandemic ends, people will not put off any more adventures.”

China’s state media reports that the country’s travel industry has recovered since the government eased travel restrictions. For example, the recent Qingming Festival, also known as Grave Day, held on April 4th, allows families to visit their ancestors’ cemeteries. Chinese citizens made 102 million domestic trips in three days – an increase of 145 percent compared to the same period last year.

Lin expects Canada to see similar trends.

“I’ve heard from a few people that they scoured YouTube videos and virtual tours of breathtaking scenery in BC in an attempt to weather the pandemic,” Lin said.

“The crisis makes us realize that life is short. Now we are more than trying to get in touch with people and create unforgettable experiences with our loved ones. It doesn’t matter if the destination is far or close to your home, it’s all about the experiences and we don’t want any regrets in life. “

In the meantime, due to COVID-19, some changes have been made to this year’s program, such as: B. teaching students the travel safety protocols, Lin said.

The three-week program provides students with a certificate upon graduation that allows them to search for work opportunities in local travel agencies.