China Outbound Travel Market to the U.S.
- The U.S. was the top destination for Chinese travelers outside of Asia in 2006.
- China is expected to contribute 100 million travelers to the international tourism market by 2020.
- 755,000 Chinese visitors to the U.S. expected by 2017; there were 405,000 Chinese visitors to the U.S. in 2005.
- San Francisco had a 35% market share of Chinese visitors to the U.S. in 2007.
- Chinese visitors to the United States stay over 20 days in the country and the majority enter through California.
- Chinese citizens spent over $6,000 per person on average in the U.S. in 2006.
- Since the U.S. and China signed an aviation agreement in 2004, the number of weekly flights between the two countries has grown by nearly 500%.
- A great deal of progress has been made in the visa and tourism policy over the past few years to decrease hindering policy and security obstacles for travel.
The United States and China recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate Chinese group leisure travel to the United States. This agreement fulfills the purpose of the Approved Destination Status (ADS) required of any country open to outbound Chinese tourism. Chinese travel agencies are now allowed to work with U.S. companies to organize and market packaged group leisure tours to the U.S. In addition, U.S. travel destinations will be able to market their brands in China.
For addition information on the market overview, market entry strategies, visa update and more: 2008 Webinar, prepared by the U.S. Commercial Service, China Business Information Center
China Inbound Program, National Tour Association (NTA):
NTA is the only U.S.-based trade association to have a tour operator qualification program approved by the China National Tourism Administration.
- For more information on the Inbound Program: Inbound Program
- For the list of Approved Chinese Travel Agents: Travel Agents
- For the list of Approved Tour Operators: Tour Operators
