Alaska trade mission to China arouses 'crazy' interest from Chinese travelers

SAN FRANCISCO - A trade mission to China from the US state of Alaska last month has led to "crazy" interest from Chinese travelers and other opportunities, an official with Alaska's largest ski resort said Wednesday.

"We've been getting so much interest from China - the email correspondence has been crazy," Eric Fullerton, marketing director of Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, a resort town in southern Anchorage, told Alaskan newspaper Anchorage Daily News.

Fullerton said he has received five confirmed group bookings from China in barely a week after he returned from the Alaska trade mission to China, led by Alaska Governor Bill Walker during the May 19-30 trip called Opportunity Alaska.

The trade delegation comprised of 26 entities representing multiple industries in Alaska met representatives from dozens of Chinese businesses, including some of the largest in the world.

Fullerton said he and other members of the Alaska tourism sector held talks with more than 200 Chinese travel agency executives and tour operators, and the interest from China "now could just be the beginning."

The trade mission was trying to seek a direct flight to Anchorage from Chinese cities, which would yield a massive tourism boost as it could save many hours in travel time, he said.

Fullerton said that a Chinese sports delegation is expected to come to Girdwood later this month to explore opportunities for training Chinese athletes for the 2022 Winter Olympics, to be held in Beijing.