China, US to enhance tourism links

China and the United States are continuing to enhance their tourism connections and are working to overcome any travel obstacles.

The China National Tourist Office in New York partnered with the United States Tour Operators Association, or USTOA, during its Annual Conference and Marketplace event in Marco Island, Florida, on Thursday to share the latest information about travel to China with international tourism suppliers.

The USTOA serves as a tourism platform that connects North American travel agencies with global tourism suppliers and destinations.

More than 800 participants gathered for a sideline event hosted by the China National Tourist Office in partnership with the USTOA. The event provided a networking platform, bringing together tourism agencies from the US and around the world with Chinese tourism representatives and suppliers.

Popular destination

The luncheon discussion focused on exchanging ideas, building new partnerships and exploring strategies to enhance global tourism, as China is a popular destination for cultural exchange as well as being a big market for business opportunities.

"It's always good to be reminded that, although our governments may have differences, it doesn't change the people," Terry Dale, the president of the USTOA, told China Daily.

Dale visited China in May for the 14th China-US Tourism Leadership Summit and said he found the Chinese people to be "nice and generous" and that travel represents the "human connection".

The US and China remain the world's strongest travel and tourism markets, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. Both countries have actively implemented measures to revitalize and promote their travel industries.

China has enhanced its visa policy to attract international visitors. Travelers from 38 countries can now enter China visa-free and stay for up to 30 days for purposes such as business or tourism.

Citizens from 54 countries, including the United States, can take advantage of 72-hour or 144-hour visa-free transit options at select entry ports.

The US State Department has eased its travel advisory for China, lowering it from Level 3 ("Reconsider Travel") to Level 2 ("Exercise Increased Caution"), aligning China's advisory status with countries like the UK and Germany.

"This is amazing news and a huge signal. This is such a positive step forward," Dale said. "It signals that the travel industry is truly the bridge between our countries, and we are encouraging this exchange of cultures between the people who call the US home and people who call China home."

Dale said that travelers will feel confident traveling to a new place across the ocean with complete infrastructure and language support.

"China Travel" is among the 10 Chinese buzzwords for international communication of the year 2024, according to a report released on Tuesday at the third Yunnan International Communication Forum in Jinghong, Yunnan province.

"China is simplifying the visa-free transit policy for international travelers," Zhang Zheng, vice-minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, said in a speech. "To better accommodate the trips of our international travelers and consumers, we have identified a range of problems they might encounter during their journeys and developed solutions to make travel easier and more comfortable, including improvements in transportation, accommodation and more."

Zhang said that China has been working hard to simplify the visa process and provide information to foreign travelers. He expressed excitement about sharing travel information regarding China, not only through the 850 travel agencies but also with "friends" who have been actively promoting international travel.

Zhang, who traveled from Beijing to Shanghai, then to New York, and finally to Florida, said he wanted to collaborate with the USTOA to ensure smooth travel experiences.

Ma Yunfei, the director of the China National Tourist Office in New York, said that the USTOA plays an important role in connecting suppliers and travelers, facilitating better sharing of travel resources.

Sonia Neto, the commercial director of Montebelo Hotels & Resorts in Portugal, won a trip to China at the luncheon on Thursday.

"I'm very excited. I've never been to China before, and it's a big country I would like to visit," she said as she waved the tickets for an eightday trip to Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai.

"We have lots of connections between China and Portugal," Neto said, adding that she would recommend a trip to China to her clients in Portugal.