Travel and Tourism U.S. China Compare and Contrast USA & China -- Implications of Political Change

Statistics indicate that now more than ever tourism is booming among the Chinese, with Chinese tourists numbering just under 41 billion in 2007, a number that was up 18.6% from the previous year (Xola, 2008, p.2). Roughly 90% of those tourists traveled within other Asian countries, with just 3% traveling to U.S. destinations (Xola, 2008; Roy, 2011). The government has good reason to be involved in travel and tourism, as it is an important source of revenue in both the U.S. And in China, especially during tough economic times (Butler & Suntikul, 2010; Roy, 2011). In fact travel and tourism is one of the few industry sources of revenue that continues to generate revenue even when times are tough, as the affluent continue to require leisure time, and business travelers will always require travel, whether for business or for political purposes (Roy, 2011).

Studies suggest that international tourists are more interested now than ever than traveling to China out of curiosity than anything else, with 41% of the travel industry flocking to China and other Asian destinations. Approximately...

(Xola, 2008). Visits to the U.S. By Chinese tourists are likely to increase "with the signing of the "memorandum of understanding in June of 2008 to allow Chinese leisure travelers to travel to the U.S. In group tours" (Xola, 2008, p. 5). This also allowed U.S. tourists destinations to market their products and services directly to China. The countries also agreed to U.S. tour standards for tour operations so that U.S. materials were translated appropriately into Chinese and those translators that were competent were provided to U.S. tourists on all tours. The Dept. Of Transportation also agreed to an Open Skies treaty with the Chinese government; this occurred in mid-2007, which allowed China and the U.S. To "double the number of flights allowed for tourism during the next five years" (Xola, 2008, p. 7).
As a result of this, there are much more liberal political policies in place between China and the U.S. with regard to the travel and tourism industry. The hope is that both countries will benefit from greater travel and tourism revenues and adventure travel countries can develop new products and services that will attract new tourists. The U.S.…