"We want Chinese travelers to know that the reason we are taking fingerprints is actually to secure their travel documents and to protect their identities," she said, "We don't want people to concern that this has something to do with making them feel not welcomed."

She also said that the department has deployed more Chinese interpreters at the U.S. airports to make sure those who can not speak English very well can be communicated in their own language.

According to the US Department of Commerce, Chinese visitation is forecast to reach 579,000 arrivals by 2011.

To take advantage of the growing market in China, the TIA began to mobilize attendees to the Pow Wow to take part in the Discovery American Pavilion at the China International Travel Mart 2008 that is set on November 20 to 23 in Shanghai, China.

(Xinhua News Agency June 6, 2008)