Texas courts growth in Asian visitors

Houston among cities stepping up efforts to lure Chinese tourists

HOUSTON, Texas - He may have retired in 2011, but Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming is still proving an influential figure. This time, though, it's not on the court but in the competitive field of tourism.

The former Houston Rockets center has played a huge role in attracting Asian tourists to the city. In fact, more Chinese tourists have visited Texas this year than ever before and are soon expected to become the largest group of overseas visitors (not including Mexico and Canada) to the United States.