Record number of Brits holiday in Canada

Britons flocked to Canada in record numbers last year, new research reveals.

For the first time ever, the number of Brits travelling to Canada to take in the sights of cities such as Montreal and Vancouver exceeded 900,000, the Canadian Tourism Commission says.

This makes Brits the second most frequent travellers to Canada, after the neighbouring United States.

Part of the reason for the number of British visitors taking a holiday in Canada rising to 906,179, is the increase in cheap flights to country. Return flights from London to Montreal now start at around £200.

Air capacity has also risen, allowing more Brits to make the trip across the Atlantic, with many tourists attracted by its mix of French and American culture that provide a uniquely Canadian experience.

Maggie Davidson, managing director of the Canadian Tourism Commission, said of the rise in Brits visiting the country: "These numbers serve to strengthen the position of the UK as the second largest market to Canada after the US.

"The UK arrivals represent a 9.9 per cent increase on 2004. December visitation alone from the UK was up 14.5 per cent."

Canada's burgeoning tourism sector looks set to continue over the next four years. In 2008, the country will celebrate its 400th founding year, something that is scheduled to be recognised with countless festivals and parties.

And two years later the 2010 Winter Olympics will take place in Vancouver, providing even more reason for Brits to visit this snow-clad and culturally rich country.

For more information on holidays in Canada, visit www.canadatourism.ca.

Click here for cheap holidays in Canada. XXX