2015年CRI More Chinese Travel to US with Increasing People-to-People Exchanges

More Chinese Travel to US with Increasing People-to-People Exchanges

The number of Chinese travelers to the United States increased by 21-percent last year to more than 2-million.

The U.S. Commerce Department is predicting a 17.5-percent annual increase in Chinese visitors on an annual basis, with some 6-million Chinese travelers entering the United States per year by 2020.

In the Washington D.C. area, the largest number tourists already come from China.

Stats show Chinese travelers to Washington are also spending more, on average, than any other nationality.

Matt Gaffney is the CEO of Capital Region USA, which is the official group which markets international travel to Washington, as well as neighboring Maryland and Virginia.

He says the new visa rules implemented¹ earlier this year are having a big impact.

"Partly, this is due to a longer length of stay. It's about almost two weeks that they are visiting us. The average is nine nights. Chinese travelers are at almost 14 nights. So that by its nature means a longer spend because you're staying more nights, but on a per-night basis, their spend is higher than the average as well."

Under the new policy, tourists and business travelers are now able to apply for visas for up to 10-years.

The changes don't affect the length of stay on each trip, but mean the visa-holders don't have to re-apply each time, making the travel process much more convenient.

Matt Gaffney with Capital Region USA says this is likely to encourage more people from China to explore different parts of the United States.

"They're able to travel for a longer stay perhaps, they are traveling independently or with very small groups, so there's much more flexibility² in where they are going; they are really getting in to see the heart of America, as opposed to just the major American cities."

The U.S. tourism industry is targeting international travelers with new advertising³ campaigns, even recruiting⁴ celebrities⁵ such as movie producer Spike⁶ Lee to make the pitch.

Sean Zhu is facilitator⁷ who helps Chinese students and tourists learn more about the life and culture in the U.S. capital.

"They are not only for, you know, to see the sites. They are here to see whether there are opportunities for if you are a businessman, they also want to seek opportunities here. If you ask students, you want to see what it's like here, you want to see how the schools look like, and if it's possible that they will study here. And also there are people who want to just want to enjoy the different culture right here."

Chinese visitors to the United States spent about 21 billion U.S. dollars last year.

Some estimates suggest that figure could go as high as 80-billion U.S. dollars a year over the next 5-years.

1 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

2 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

3 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

4 recruiting   

招聘( recruit的现在分词 )； 吸收某人为新成员； 动员…（提供帮助）； 雇用

参考例句：

• We are recruiting a sales manager with responsibility for the European market. 我们正在招聘负责欧洲市场的销售经理。
• "Hoist the recruiting flag and hungry men will come. “插起招军旗，就有吃粮人。”

5 celebrities   

n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉

参考例句：

• He only invited A-list celebrities to his parties. 他只邀请头等名流参加他的聚会。
• a TV chat show full of B-list celebrities 由众多二流人物参加的电视访谈节目

6 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

7 facilitator   

n.帮助者

参考例句：

• The teacher acts as a facilitator of learning. 教师是学习的诱导者。
• The facilitator asks the brainstorming group for their ideas. 主持人向脑力激荡专家小组征求意见。