B.C. tourism marketers urge Ottawa to eliminate Brazilian visa restrictions

SpongeG · #1 Posted **Mar 21, 2019, 10:32 PM**

B.C. tourism marketers urge Ottawa to eliminate Brazilian visa restrictions

Brazilian government is dropping longtime requirement that Canadian visitors require visas

By Glen Korstrom | March 21, 2019

What happened: Tourism marketers in B.C. are calling on the federal government to lift visa restrictions on Brazilians who enter Canada in the wake of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announcing earlier this week that Canadians will be able to visit his country visa-free.

Why it matters: Tourism is one of B.C.’s biggest industries and Brazilian visits to B.C. surged 64.6% in 2018 after Canada loosened visa requirements in 2017

Tourism Industry Association of British Columbia (TIABC) CEO Walt Judas told Business in Vancouver that loosening or eliminating visas for visitors is effective in encouraging foreigners to come to Canada on vacations. Canada, however, has not said that it will reciprocate with Brazil and allow its citizens to visit Canada visa-free.

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https://biv.com/article/2019/03/bc-t...cFWr4VGVlRcN-M

misher · #2 Posted **Mar 21, 2019, 11:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

B.C. tourism marketers urge Ottawa to eliminate Brazilian visa restrictions

Brazilian government is dropping longtime requirement that Canadian visitors require visas

By Glen Korstrom | March 21, 2019

What happened: Tourism marketers in B.C. are calling on the federal government to lift visa restrictions on Brazilians who enter Canada in the wake of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announcing earlier this week that Canadians will be able to visit his country visa-free.

Why it matters: Tourism is one of B.C.’s biggest industries and Brazilian visits to B.C. surged 64.6% in 2018 after Canada loosened visa requirements in 2017

Tourism Industry Association of British Columbia (TIABC) CEO Walt Judas told Business in Vancouver that loosening or eliminating visas for visitors is effective in encouraging foreigners to come to Canada on vacations. Canada, however, has not said that it will reciprocate with Brazil and allow its citizens to visit Canada visa-free.

...

https://biv.com/article/2019/03/bc-t...cFWr4VGVlRcN-M

Makes sense, nations are too restrictive about tourism in general.

trofirhen · #3 Posted **Mar 22, 2019, 1:48 AM**

If the government gives the green light, this will also surely bring about flights from YVR to Brazil at last, plus the extra jobs it will create at YVR and throughout BC

Migrant_Coconut · #4 Posted **Mar 22, 2019, 3:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

If the government gives the green light, this will also surely bring about flights from YVR to Brazil at last, plus the extra jobs it will create at YVR and throughout BC

One'd think that anybody trying to get between Vancouver and Brazil is doing so already, regardless of visas. Is there really that much potential traffic?

trofirhen · #5 Posted **Mar 22, 2019, 6:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

One'd think that anybody trying to get between Vancouver and Brazil is doing so already, regardless of visas. Is there really that much potential traffic?

Whether or not this proves anything I'm not sure, but several years back, I remember Johnny Aussie posting that he had read the O&D volume between Vancouver and Brazil, and was surprised at how high it was. As such, it would seem that there probably is, in fact, such a market. Imagine if Ottawa complied. The scenario might resemble what what happened with Mexico: traffic took off.

SpongeG · #6 Posted **Mar 22, 2019, 6:27 AM**

It would really make Brazil a gateway for South America from here instead of Toronto

trofirhen · #7 Posted **Mar 22, 2019, 12:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

It would really make Brazil a gateway for South America from here instead of Toronto

Yes, and it would be a giant step in the direction of making YVR a connecting hub between China and Latin America, as envisioned by Craig Richmond.

Aroundtheworld · #8 Posted **Mar 22, 2019, 7:08 PM**

From my own experience, I can say there's a ton of Brazilians in Vancouver and I'm sure more will come here to visit if holiday visa requirements are dropped.

Migrant_Coconut · #9 Posted **Mar 23, 2019, 3:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Yes, and it would be a giant step in the direction of making YVR a connecting hub between China and Latin America, as envisioned by Craig Richmond.

Why China? Korea and Japan maybe, but Hong Kong to Rio via the Atlantic is almost equidistant to the Pacific - and you get to stop in Dubai or Heathrow instead.

trofirhen · #10 Posted **Mar 23, 2019, 12:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Yes, and it would be a giant step in the direction of making YVR a connecting hub between China and Latin America, as envisioned by Craig Richmond.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Why China? Korea and Japan maybe, but Hong Kong to Rio via the Atlantic is almost equidistant to the Pacific - and you get to stop in Dubai or Heathrow instead.

You are right. São Paulo is closer to Hong Kong via through DXB.
However, via vacouver, the target cities would be in North East Asia: Tokyo and Seoul. That fits the Great Circle. GRU to Tokyo is only 44 miles longer through YVR than through YYZ.

SpongeG · #11 Posted **Mar 23, 2019, 6:40 PM**

Plus it opens up Africa.

Migrant_Coconut · #12 Posted **Mar 23, 2019, 8:48 PM**

Points taken. Any reason why they aren't going through LAX?

trofirhen · #13 Posted **Mar 24, 2019, 8:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Points taken. Any reason why they aren't going through LAX?

May I ask for a clarification please. Any reason WHO aren't going through LAX?
Sorry, but I got your question wrong. Thanks.

Migrant_Coconut · #14 Posted **Mar 24, 2019, 8:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

May I ask for a clarification please. Any reason WHO aren't going through LAX?
Sorry, but I got your question wrong. Thanks.

Koreans and Japanese. Tokyo and Seoul would be closer to the West Coast, yes, but couldn't they just as easily go through the States (Seattle, San Fran, L.A.)? Why Vancouver?

SpongeG · #15 Posted **Mar 24, 2019, 8:38 PM**

Vancouver is the closest for the west coast

trofirhen · #16 Posted **Mar 24, 2019, 9:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Vancouver is the closest for the west coast

Yes, and also, I think the visa procedures and so forth are more hassle going through the USA. I think it's a simpler ride through a Canadian city. Correct me if I'm wrong.

SpongeG · #17 Posted **Mar 25, 2019, 1:47 AM**

it would also open a new route to Africa. You can fly Brazil - South Africa instead of going Via Atlanta or Europe etc.

giallo · #18 Posted **Mar 25, 2019, 1:50 AM**

^It is. LAX sucks for connecting to international flights.

trofirhen · #19 Posted **Mar 25, 2019, 4:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Koreans and Japanese. Tokyo and Seoul would be closer to the West Coast, yes, but couldn't they just as easily go through the States (Seattle, San Fran, L.A.)? Why Vancouver?

Thanks for the question. A belated reply. >> Tokyo to São Paulo via LAX: 11900 miles. /// Tokyo to São Paulo via YVR: 11556 miles.

Only slightly shorter, but no doubt a much pleasanter connection. (Hurray for our side

)

Migrant_Coconut · #20 Posted **Mar 25, 2019, 6:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Thanks for the question. A belated reply. >> Tokyo to São Paulo via LAX: 11900 miles. /// Tokyo to São Paulo via YVR: 11556 miles.

Only slightly shorter, but no doubt a much pleasanter connection. (Hurray for our side

)

Thanks for the math. That's merely over half an hour less though; I can understand wanting to bypass US visas and the TSA, but you're still stuck watching Infinity War eight and a half times.