Following the lead of several other US tourism agencies, Philadelphia is opening a tourism marketing office in China.
The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau has selected local agency East West Marketing Corp. to manage in-country marketing activities for Philadelphia.
East West Marketing will work with tour operators to boost business and leisure travel to Philadelphia and raise the city’s profile.
In China East West Marketing also represents the U.S. Travel Association, and other US tourism offices such as Houston, San Francisco, Chicago and San Diego.
Philadelphia City Controller Alan Butkovitz said a presence in one of the most important overseas markets is essential as the city has struggled to grow international visitation.
Philadelphia is the only major east coast city that has failed to attract at least one million overseas visitors a year, he said.
Last year about 40,000 Chinese visitors visited Philadelphia, spending $122 million which makes them the highest-spending international market per visitor and the fourth-largest international feeder market overall.
Aside from China, Philadelphia has representative offices overseas in the UK, India, Italy, France, and Germany covering 10 markets.
