B.C. tourism numbers boosted by international visitors

The British Columbia government says the number of international visitors to the province is increasing and France comes firston a list of seven countries and regions.

It says tourism to B.C. from France jumped by 33 per cent in 2014 compared to the previous year.

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The government says there was a 15.5 per cent hike in tourists from Japan, which placed second, while Europe was at the bottom of the list, with 3.8 per cent more visitors.

Almost 360,000 more international visitors came to the province in 2015, with the total number approaching five million people.

The ministry is crediting its marketing strategy, along with the province's aboriginal tourism sector and more direct flights to B.C. for the jump in visitors from outside Canada.

It says B.C.'s tourism sector is growing despite fierce global competition for tourists and that the industry generated $14.6 billion in revenue in 2014.