The report also recommends the government promote international education in conjunction with the 2010 Olympics to boost B.C.‘s “brand“ recognition around the world.

The B.C. Progress Board report states that international education is already bringing the province about $2 billion annually from about 150,000 foreign students, one third of that total going toward tuition fees and the rest for housing, food and leisure activities.

But market competition for the estimated two million students studying outside their home countries, which is expected to grow to five million by 2020, is coming from abroad and from other Canadian provinces.

Ontario and Quebec have adopted a coordinated approach to marketing and promotion supported by provincial governments.

The report also states that the “pending shortage of skilled workers in B.C.“ could be alleviated by tapping into “the pool of skilled, English speaking international students.”