With the agreement between the Chinese and the US governments to allow increased tourism marketing (see Cash Flows through China and Into the US) comes the market research. The Travel Industry Association (TIA), The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Travel and Tourism Center at the University of South Carolina and the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries/U.S. Department of Commerce, are to conduct the one of the largest studies on Chinese travelers. The purpose is to gain a better understanding of how the Chinese travel with an end goal of catering to their travel needs.

“China is a critically important travel market to the United States,” according to Roger Dow, President and Chief Executive Officer of the TIA, “We know that improvements to America’s visa and entry experience and better communication of our travel policies are at the top of the Chinese travelers’ agenda, but there is much more we need to learn about the travel preferences of these important visitors.”

Chinese Tourists spend the highest amount of money while visiting the US, approximately $6,000 per visit each, when compared to travelers from other countries. This research will be a large effort in understanding preferences, attitudes, spending habits and behaviors and factors which contribute to where they decide to visit within the US.

This study is a testament of how much impact tourism now has in the world economy. With currencies moving in favor of Europe and Asia, the US can look to travelers for cash influx to help the current state of the US economy.