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Meghan Risch for CCTB
312-567-8540
Kara Cook for IBOT
312-240-2813
CHICAGO AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS GROW COMMITMENT TO INTERNATIONAL TOURISM WITH EXPANDED SALES AND MARKETING EFFORTS IN CHINA MARKET
CHICAGO (April 22, 2009) – With a new hometown president, and the possibility of hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Chicago and Illinois are well-positioned to stake a stronger presence in the global travel market, specifically China.
Further strengthening the commitment to Chinese tourism, representatives for Chicago and the State of Illinois, along with tour operators representing Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shanghai today signed a symbolic Memo of Understanding in Beijing to jointly promote outbound travel from China to Chicago beginning June 2009.
“Tourism is a powerful economic engine that brings millions of dollars into Illinois’ economy each year,” said Illinois Governor Quinn. “In these unprecedented economic times, it is more important than ever to market Illinois’ offerings on a global stage. This program strengthens our already strong economic development and trade relationship with China.”
As a result of this commitment to the Chinese travel market, United Airlines has declared June “Chicago Month.” Together with the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau (CCTB), the Illinois Bureau of Tourism, and the Chicago Office of Tourism, United Airlines is promoting discounted airfare and hotel packages for travel from China to Chicago during the month of June. The airlines currently offers three daily flights from mainland China to Chicago.
“We are proud of the City of Chicago’s strong ties to China, strengthened by the Sister Cities relationships established with Shenyang and Shanghai in 1985,” said Mayor Richard M. Daley. “Tourism has always been a key component to these relationships, attributing to our ability to foster meaningful exchange. Through expansion of our tourism programs, including Chicago month, we stand to further our mutual understanding and interactions between Chicago and its Chinese counterparts.”
China’s outbound travelers climbed 18.6 percent from 2006 to 2007 with a 24 percent increase to the United States during that same period. Chinese visitors to the United States spent a record $2.69 billion during their trips, with an average of over $6,000 per person.*
“Over the past five years, Illinois has enjoyed a steady increase of international visitors, and China has become an important factor in that,” said Jan Kostner, deputy director, Illinois Bureau of Tourism. “Tourism is so important to the economic health of our state, and our expanded commitment to the Chinese market will help us maintain this upward momentum.”
The CCTB has partnered with AVIAREPS, a tourism management company with offices in Beijing and Shanghai to further enhance the exposure of Chicago and the State of Illinois as a travel destination for Chinese tourists.
“Our partnership with AVIAREPS will help Chicago and the State of Illinois strengthen its relationship with Chinese consumers through outreach to tour operators, airlines and key travel agents,” said Cathy Domanico, tourism director, CCTB. “The number of Chinese visitors to our global destination has already increased, in part, due to enhanced travel and visa access.”
AVIAREPS’ in-market expertise will help the CCTB enhance trade programming and build on the visitor website – www.gochicago.cn - which launched in November 2008 at the China International Travel Mart.
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Editor’s Note: A photo from the announcement in China is available upon request
*Source: According to the U.S. Department of Commerce