WeChat parent Tencent and Tourism Vancouver launched a marketing partnership to promote Vancouver to Chinese travelers. The multi-year partnership will see Tourism Vancouver gain preferred access to mobile tech, big data insights and media platforms including the Tencent-owned WeChat app, which has one billion active users.

As part of the launch, Tencent Travel unveiled Canada's first official WeChat city Mini Program, a mobile guide that provides real-time services for Chinese travelers, including interactive itineraries, check-in features, and location-based information. The app will help Chinese visitors discover Vancouver attractions, hotels, shopping and restaurants they may not previously have known about, with details such as opening times, address, contact information, and dynamic maps for how to get there.

But currently, online booking is not directly available on the Mini Program.

Tourism Vancouver's cooperation with Tencent aims to attract more Chinese travelers from the world's largest source of outbound tourism. China is now Vancouver's second largest international visitor market after the United States.

Additional phases of the cooperation will include big data and user insight analysis to provide better services to Chinese visitors to Vancouver; e-payment integration; AI-powered customer service; and other creative campaigns. Strategic partner Trip Advisor China will cross-promote Tencent Vancouver content to Chinese audiences.

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