The National Tour Association has announced enrollment in NTA’s China Inbound Program has surpassed 200 tour operators, reflecting the growing importance of the China inbound market.
China is set to become the third largest inbound market to the US by 2019, according to the US National Travel and Tourism Office but awareness of the market has been gradual for US travel companies, says NTA’s director of international development Haybina Hao.
"It took time for American travel professionals to learn about the Chinese market and become confident working with it," Hao said.
"It’s been eight years since we opened the market up, but it’s a scary market for some because it’s so complex—culturally, politically and the way the Chinese do business."
The China Inbound Program organized familiarization trips to Arizona; Houston and Galveston Beach, Texas, Park City, Utah in 2014 and this year in New Orleans.
Next week a NTA board delegation will head to China to meet with government officials and key travel trade leaders.
NTA will also attend the China Outbound Travel & Tourism Market and the World Travel Market Vision Conference.
"We have small companies, but we also have one with a fleet of 47 planes to fly its travelers. Our operators also vary in the services and products they offer, including online capabilities and outbound tours to China," Hao said, describing the diversity of the China Inbound Program membership.
