First Chinese leisure travelers to U.S. greeted by music, hospitality

According to Shao, Chinese in nine provinces and three municipalities are allowed to take part in leisure travel groups to America during first six months of memorandum implementation before the program is expanded to other parts of China.

William G. Sutton, assistant secretary of U.S. Department of Commerce (L) greets China National Tourism Administration Director Shao Qiwei (R), who leads the first United  States-bound Chinese leisure tour group, at the Dallas  International Airport in Dallas of Virginia State, the United States, June 17, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

"It is important to conduct the tour in an orderly way, which is vital to protect Chinese citizen's legal rights and regulate the Chinese tourism market," he said.

Currently, China is one of the fastest growing tourism markets in the world and analysts predict it will become the world's fourth largest tourist source by 2020.

Chinese citizens traveling to the U.S. spent more than 6,000 U.S. dollars on average in 2006 according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Charlie Shao, President of the Los Angeles-based Galaxy Tour agency who host the first six Chinese leisure groups, told Xinhua that he was very excited that Chinese leisure travelers can visit America, besides business and official groups. He believed it would greatly benefit the U.S. tourism industry.

"I hope Chinese tourism market will be more open to us and all Chinese people have opportunities to visit this country," he said.

In preparation for a sharp increase of Chinese visitors, the Galaxy Tour have recruited and trained more than 130 Chinese-speaking tourist guides.

According to Shao, the U.S. Department of Commerce has arranged special activities for the first six Chinese leisure groups, including a planned meeting with Secretary Carlos Gutierrez at the White House, a tour to the Capitol Hill and a grand reception ceremony at a boat sailing along the Potomac River.