Lonely Planet, one of the world's top travel guides has named Whistler its top adventure destination in Canada.
The accolade comes in the guide's online top-ten destination tips and articles. It outlines the vast skiing terrain for those looking for advice as they book vacations to Canada.
Also making the top ten list was Whislter's ziplining.
"...Ziplining turns out to be one of the best ways to encounter the Whistler wilderness," states the guide.
Meanwhile new figures from Statistics Canada show increases of more than 10 per cent in overnight visitors from the U.S. and China, key tourism markets for British Columbia.
That's contributed to the sixth straight month of gains in international countries, the Statscan numbers show.
International overnight visitors to B.C. jumped 7.5 per cent in November 2010 compared with November of the previous year, bringing 175,121 visitors to the province.
Canada, by comparison, saw a 6.3 per cent increase. Overnight visitors to B.C. from the U.S. rose 10.9 per cent, while overnight visitors from China jumped 10.4 per cent.
"Clearly, our targeted marketing campaigns are working, and people from around the world are realizing that B.C. is second to none as a place to visit, live, work and invest," said Margaret MacDiarmid, B.C.'s Minister of Tourism, Trade and Investment in a release.
Key markets in the Asia-Pacific region also posted gains in November, with overnight arrivals from South Korea up 21.9 per cent, India up 18.4 per cent, and South East Asia up 19.5 per cent.
Tourism was estimated to be worth $12.7 billion in 2009. It provides jobs for 129,000 employees in the province.
The numbers reported by Statistics Canada are based on international visitors who cross through Canada Customs into British Columbia. Actual numbers of visitors to B.C. are higher, as domestic visitors are not included. As well, more international visitors pass through customs outside of B.C. and then travel to the province.
TOURISM BY THE NUMBERS - STATS CANADA
- Total international overnight arrivals to B.C. rose 7.5 per cent in November, compared with November 2009, while Canada reported growth of 6.3 per cent.
- From Jan. 1 to Nov. 30, 2010, international visitor arrivals to B.C. grew 3.9 per cent to 4,006,896 visitors. Canada reported 2.3 per cent growth during this time.
- Overnight customs entries from the U.S. rose 10.9 per cent in November; compared with 2009, with Canada reporting a 6.7 per cent increase in its U.S. visitors.
- Overnight visitor arrivals from Asia-Pacific countries rose 2.5 per cent in November, compared with November 2009, while entries from Jan.1 to Nov. 30, 2010, were up 11.2 per cent, representing 750,718 visitors.
- Arrivals from China rose 10.4 per cent in November, compared with November 2009.
- Visitors from New Zealand were up 22.2 per cent, compared with November 2009.
