With more Chinese tourists attracted to Montreal, Tourism Montreal has projected 180,000 will visit by 2020.
According to Tourism Montreal, 54,000 Chinese tourists came through the island in 2014, and by 2017 that number more than doubled to 123,000.
"There's a lot of young people who are interested in visiting the world, to discover and have new experiences, or to try new kinds of lifestyles, so Montreal is a good destination for them," said Sophique Morin from the Old Port Corporation.
Throughout 2018 direct flights between Montreal and China will be able to seat up to 168,000 passengers. The flow of passengers puts Montreal right behind Vancouver and Toronto as the most popular destination in Canada for Chinese tourists, La Presse reported, since flights between China and Vancouver this year will seat 860,000 passengers, while direct flights to Toronto will seat 580,000.
To help accommodate tourists who speak Mandarin the Old Port will be launching a website aimed at potential tourists that'll be written completely in Mandarin and hosted in China. Other population destinations in the Old Port like the Science Centre, IMAX theatre, beach and skating rink will also be adjusted in coming months to have signs with symbols that everyone can understand.
"Instead of translating we aim for a universal language of pictograms," explained Morin."The main advantage is that it can reach all kinds of audiences, including children who can't read yet."
Morin also said that rental services in the Old Port that offer sailing, biking and paddle boating will also begin to use AliPay and WeChat, two payment apps popular among Chinese tourists.