The Chinese mainland has surpassed Japan as the biggest source of visitors from Asia to British Columbia, according to latest data released by the Canadian province.

While total entries to Canada via B.C. was down 4.3 percent in 2011, those from the Chinese mainland were up 14.1 percent in the same year after growing 17.5 percent in 2010, making the Chinese mainland largest source of non-resident entries from Asia to B.C. for the first time.

Historically, Japan had been B.C.' s largest source of visitor entries from Asia, said the provincial statistics agency.

The number of entries from the Chinese mainland rose 468.4 percent from 25,000 in 1996 to 139,000 by 2011, it said.

China granted Canada Approved Destination Status in June 2010, allowing Chinese citizens to travel to Canada in organized, pre-sold tour groups and thus opening up a rapidly growing segment of the Chinese tourism market to B.C.