Brand USA Focused on Attracting Chinese Travelers at a Travel Mart and MegaFam Tour
Brand USA recently encouraged travelers from China to choose the United States as a travel destination through a pavilion at an international travel mart in that country and hosting a mega familiarization (MegaFam) tour for Chinese travel representatives.
Over a dozen U.S. exhibitors joined Brand USA at the 2018 China International Travel Mart (CITM) in Shanghai on November 16-18 to promote the United States as a premier travel destination for Chinese travelers.
Jointly hosted by Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and Shanghai Municipal Government, the CITM brought together Brand USA’s travel partners, including destinations, receptive tour operators, and travel industry associations, to showcase their products at the Brand USA pavilion.
China is one of the 16 key target markets for Brand USA. Since the destination marketing organization’s China office was established in March 2013, Brand USA has been actively promoting the endless U.S. travel opportunities for Chinese travelers.
Because of Brand USA’s efforts, China is now the fifth-largest source market for inbound tourism to the USA and the top source of spending. In 2017, 3.17 million Chinese visitors came to the United States.
In addition, Brand USA hosted its second China MegaFam, in partnership with United Airlines, from October 24-November 2. Nearly 50 tour operators and travel agents from China experienced exciting tourism destinations and the USA’s diverse culture as well as engaged with the welcoming people in the United States.
The tour’s participants - from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Nanjing, and Chongqing - were assigned to one of five multi-state itineraries showcasing unique U.S. travel possibilities. The five itineraries included California and Arizona, California and Nevada, Illinois and Michigan, New York and Virginia, and Texas and Louisiana.
After exploring the continental USA, participants traveled to Washington, DC, the nation’s capital and Brand USA’s global headquarters, for the MegaFam finale event. Chris Thompson, Brand USA’s president and CEO, offered closing remarks and participants shared highlights and stories about their individual destinations.