Chinese will soon be able to travel to the United States on tourist visas, according to an agreement signed in Beijing yesterday.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the two countries grants the US Approved Destination Status (ADS) after years of negotiations.
Chinese travelers will be able to travel in groups as early as this spring. Currently, the US issues only business travel visas.
The China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) said the agreement will stimulate the tourism industry, and encourage bilateral ties in such sectors as the economy, trade and culture.
"The agreement will open a large and growing market for the US travel and tourism industry," said US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez yesterday.
The US Department of Commerce forecast the number of Chinese visitors could reach 579,000 annually by 2011, up from 320,000 last year.
"We are very excited. We have been waiting for this day to come, and it came sooner than we thought," said Jamie Y. Lee, chief representative of the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, the first city-level tourism office established in China.
More US states and cities will likely open offices in China to promote tourism, she said.
According to the MOU, US destinations will be allowed to market themselves in China.
The MOU may be terminated only when significant numbers of group travelers overstay in the US, the Department of Commerce said.
Previously, the worry hindered tourism negotiations, said Li Xinjian, a senior researcher at the school of tourism management affiliated to Beijing International Studies University.
But the increasing number of Chinese outbound tourists and their rising spending power made the opening of the US market inevitable.
In the past five years, China has overtaken Japan to become the largest source of outbound travelers in Asia.
Statistics from the US Department of Commerce show the United States attracted 320,000 Chinese travelers in 2006, up 19 percent from the previous year.
They spent up to $2.07 billion last year, up 35 percent year-on-year. The expenditure included accommodation, communications, tickets to tourist spots and shopping.
"It is much higher than the average expenditure of Chinese travelers in other countries and regions," Li said.
CNTA figures for 2006 showed that the average Chinese traveler spent $735, compared with more than $6,400 in the US.
In the long run, tourists' spending will continue to grow, along with the increase in incomes, Li forecast.
The MOU is also good news for the domestic tourism industry.
"The US is an important destination with huge market potential for us," said Dun Jidong, marketing director of the China Travel Service's overseas tourism department.
Before yesterday's agreement, the US and Canada were the last two major tourism destinations that were closed to Chinese tour groups.
Questions:
1. The United States now has Approved Destination Status. What does that mean?
2. Previously, what was the main concern of granting ADS to the US?
3. On average, how much money did Chinese travelers spend in the US last year?
Answers:
1.Chinese can travel in groups to the United States.
2.That Chinese travelers would overstay in the US.
3.$6,400.
（英語點津 Celene 編輯）
About the broadcaster:
Bernice Chan is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Bernice has written for newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong and most recently worked as a broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, producing current affairs shows and documentaries.
