China, a major source of outbound tourists, has left Canada off a list of countries now approved for travel by tour groups, its embassy in Ottawa said on Wednesday, due to anti-Beijing rattling by Ottawa.

Last week, Beijing lifted a Covid-era ban on group tours to dozens of countries including the United States, Germany, Japan and Australia, but not Canada.

Travel agents turn to the list of approved destinations when promoting and arranging foreign vacations for Chinese nationals. There are currently 138 countries on the list.

The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa said in a statement that the reason behind the snub was "the Canadian side has repeatedly hyped up the so-called 'Chinese interference.'"

It said "rampant and discriminatory anti-Asian acts and words are rising significantly in Canada" and "the Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting the safety and legitimate rights of overseas Chinese citizens and wishes they can travel in a safe and friendly environment."

Janice Thomson, the head of tourism at Niagara Falls – the top tourism destination in Canada – said China's decision to leave Canada off its approved destinations list was "disappointing."

She expressed hope that Canada would make it onto the list in a future round of country additions. (AFP)