June 15 saw a large promotion activity of Chinese tourist market conducted in Washington of the United State. Chairman of China National Tourism Administration He Guangwei, Chinese ambassador to US Yang Jieci and a local official inaugurated the "Chinese caravan tours"

The US is one of the tourist resources markets of great importance for China as well as the largest faraway market with the fastest growth rate. Last year saw about 900,000 US people visiting China, a rise of 21.7 percent over the previous year. From January to April this year, there came to China some 300,000 travelers from the US, an increase of 17 percent.

The delegation, consisting of 88 persons from 25 local tourism bureaus and travel agencies of China with Chairman of National Tourism Administration at the head, will carry out a series of activities for tourism publicity and promotion to the mainstream society, media, tourism circle and the public in eight cities of east America including Washington, New York, Philadelphia and Miami.

As Chinese officials of tourism claim nearly 40 percent of American visitors come from the eastern area of the country. As reported the Chinese tourism promotion delegation will host three large promotion activities aiming at professionals and five for the public. Furthermore, He Guangwei will meet with people from the circle of business and tourism to discuss on strengthening cooperation and tapping for the Chinese tourist market.

He Guangwei said at the inaugurating ceremony that China and the US are two countries of great importance in the world, and their people have long-standing exchanges and friendship. Moreover, cooperation on tourism of the two countries has also achieved big progress in recent years along with the development of economic and trading cooperation.

Washington Mayor Williams announced on the same day to set June 15 as a "China Tour Day" of the city. Present at the inauguration was also the former US ambassador to China.

(People's Daily 06/19/2001)