The head of the Travel Industry Association today applauded Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez's effort to secure an agreement with Chinese officials to bring more group leisure travel from China to the U.S. in spring 2008. The agreement, announced at the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, formally sanctions group travel to the U.S. and also permits America's destinations to market in China. According to the Department of Commerce, Chinese visitation to the U.S. is forecast to reach 579,000 by 2011. TIA said that on average, Chinese citizens spend more during their visitors than tourists from other countries. Seven weeks ago, TIA and the China National Tourism Authority hosted the first-ever summit between Chinese provincial tourism directors and U.S state tourism directors. Visit www.tia.org or www.tbr.org. (DB)