NTA Reports China Travel Market Opportunity

Since the initiation of travel under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the United States and China that allows Chinese leisure travelers to visit the United States in group tours, the NTA reports total visitation from China to the United States has increased by 54 percent (as of November 2010), and total spending for 2010 (through September) was $3.6 billion, a 28 percent increase.

China is the fastest-growing market for the United States, and by 2015 it is projected to become the sixth-largest arrival market for the United States (up from 16th before the MOU in 2008), the NTA says. Now in its third phase, the MOU includes 24 Chinese provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, giving the U.S. travel and tourism industry access to 67 million more Chinese citizens.

The NTA reminds members that if they are selling a U.S. destination or product, you can meet this huge market at NTA's U.S. Pavilion at the China Outbound Travel & Tourism Market. COTTM, April 13-15 in Beijing. The NTA says this is the only business-to-business exhibition in China dedicated to the China outbound travel market.

For the third year, NTA is assembling the U.S. Pavilion to host U.S. operators, suppliers, destinations and attractions interested in reaching the burgeoning Chinese outbound-to-U.S. market. "They're packed and ready to travel," said the NTA’s president Lisa Simon of the Chinese tourists. "They're just trying to decide where to go. We're working to bring them to the U.S."

In addition to a company booth, storage space and a central meeting area, Pavilion participants—up to 20 U.S. companies—will also have the opportunity to meet with the Chinese media and get listed in the Pavilion catalog for distribution.

Following COTTM, pavilion participants can opt for an additional program: a Road Show to Chongqing, a booming city of 32 million people in southwest China. The Road Show, which targets the Chinese travel trade, is organized in conjunction with U.S. Commercial Services.

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