Xi's visit set to give boost for regional tourism

President Xi Jinping's state visits to Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica and Mexico will help countries in the Caribbean region draw Chinese tourists, yet those countries still need to make more of an effort to tap the Chinese market, tourism insiders said.

"Each year, we receive fewer than 100 calls asking for itineraries to Caribbean countries, and less than 20 groups have taken trips to these nations in the past three years," said Cong Ling, manager of the American Department of China Travel Service's Beijing branch, adding that even the biggest groups have fewer than 20 members.

"Most Chinese people have limited knowledge about Caribbean countries. In addition, these countries didn't pay enough attention in the past to promoting their tourism in China. The cost for a trip to Caribbean countries is also comparatively higher than those for other routes," she said.