New York gets OK to promote tourism, city to Chinese citizens
suntimes.com
New York City tourism officials have reached a deal with the Chinese government to join a select group of American destinations with permission to promote themselves in the Communist nation.
San Francisco, Los Angeles, Nevada and Hawaii have already opened offices or hired representatives in China.
New York is hoping to capitalize on increased interest in tourism among the Chinese as travel restrictions there have lessened and income has soared. The city is a popular destination: Of the roughly 400,000 travelers who visited the United States from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong in 2005, one-third made a stop in New York.
Under the agreement, the city will not be able to advertise directly to Chinese citizens, but will hire representatives to work with local travel agencies and other providers, George Fertitta, CEO of the city's tourism office, said.
Such arrangements are necessary because China has not awarded the United States ''approved destination status,'' a designation that would facilitate group travel to the United States and allow tourism advertising there.
