Dare to ride the rapids in Alberta’s Rocky Mountain playground. Go nose to nose with the Yukon’s mighty polar bear. Climb to Vancouver’s snowy peaks and then take a refreshing dip in the mighty Pacific under the summer sun.

Tourists coming to Canada from around the world have an infinite choice of adventures and retreats. And in a bid to attract travelers, this week Canada’s tourism industry is holding its annual Rendez-Vouz Canada at Vancouver’s Convention and Exhibition Centre.

For several hours a day, over 1,500 people participate in a speed-dating ritual for the tourism-minded. Every 15 minutes, a bell chimes and it’s time to move on to the next destination of intrigue, where brochures are handed out, business cards exchanged and rapid-fire appeals made for business partnerships.

Each province is represented at the convention, with aisles of brightly-coloured pictures and maps promoting Canada’s hot destination spots, in what amounts to be a $70 billion annual industry.

At this year’s convention, the "experiential vacation" is all the rage — Canada’s latest approach to attracting more visitors.

"People are becoming very active," says Yas Yamamoto, manager of Tourism Vancouver’s Travel Trade Asia. "We have been showcasing Vancouver as a great place to find adventure and so far the reaction from all the buyers has been very positive."

Taking a step away from packaged bus tours, Yamamoto says the Asian market, particularly Japanese and South Koreans tourists, are keen to blend their vacations with "luxury activities," such as golf.

By marketing Vancouver as a place where visitors can stay physical while taking advantage of high-class dining and accommodations, the local tourism industry is well positioned to attract visitors from around the world.

"When I was walking around Vancouver, I realized just how unique the city is," says Kenta Najima, the product manager for Apple World, a Tokyo-based accommodation booking company.

"Here you have a beautiful harbour as well as wonderful mountains to provide a splendid backdrop."

But in the face of rising fuel prices, Najima hopes a strong partnership between his country and Canada will encourage Japanese travelers to spend a little more to explore B.C.’s people, culture and history.

Air travel from Japan to Vancouver is expected to rise by $160 in July.

As fuel prices surge to record levels, many find they have to dig far too deep into their pockets to explore foreign countries.

"Japanese people are not traveling as far away as they used to," says Teruaki Hamada, president of Nippon Travel Agency Canada.

Hamada moved to Vancouver last month to focus his company’s resources on building bridges with the West, despite the fact that fuel costs have put a damper on future travel opportunities for many Japanese.

As if a dark fuel forecast wasn’t bad enough, Air Canada’s announcement that it is suspending flights from Osaka to Vancouver has many in the tourism industry perplexed.

"We are concerned," says Dayna Miller, director of sales, travel trade and cruises for Tourism Vancouver, the city’s official source for tourism information and services.

"This is a really big hit for us but we still plan to focus a lot of our resources on Japan as Osaka is a very important market."

Depending on fuel costs and the level of interest, Air Canada might resume the flight in the near future, adds Miller.

While Vancouver may not currently be a top destination for many Japanese, interestingly enough, Prince Edward Island is.

One hundred years ago, Lucy Maud Montgomery published Anne of Green Gables, a novel about the precarious 11 year old, Anne Shirley, set against the stunning and picturesque backdrop of the small town of Avonlea.

"We don’t know why Japanese are so attracted to Anne," says Yuka Takahashi of Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership, "but we think the fascination stems from the way Lucy describes Prince Edward’s beautiful scenery. When you visit the island, it’s like reliving the book."

From walking in Anne Shirley’s shoes on PEI, to whale watching in B.C., tourists want to live their vacation, not simply see it through the lens of a Nikon.

Getting here from there may cost a little more by 2010, but in the run up to the Olympics, Vancouver will continue to sell itself as a culturally rich and scenic escape.