Chinese
Officials to Address Tourism Conference
When nearly 1,000 people gather
for Nevada's largest tourism conference next
week, they'll be addressed by two men whom most
people have never heard of, but who could play
a key role in the state's economic fortunes.
Xiquin
Zhang and Changjiang Yu are scheduled to speak
at the Governor's Conference on Tourism at Wynn
Las Vegas, which runs Monday through Wednesday.
It's the first time that Chinese officials have
been featured so prominently in the state's
tourism conference.
"These
are really top-notch people," said Bruce
Bommarito, director of the Nevada Commission
on Tourism. "Mr. Yu is the head of tourism
in Beijing, which has a population of 40 million
people, a tremendous market for us. It's a landmark
to have somebody of his caliber speak at our
conference."
California
gets the most visitors from China, but Bommarito
said Nevada -- specifically Las Vegas -- is
the best-known U.S. destination. He said California
gets more visitors only because most flights
from China land at California airports. State
and local officials are continuing their efforts
to attract nonstop air service between China
and Las Vegas and Reno.
Nevada
continues to enjoy the status of being the only
U.S. entity to have a license to advertise and
promote outbound travel in China. State officials
secured the license after making several visits
to China, bolstering cultural bonds and friendship
agreements with several Chinese provinces.
If
you're among those asking, "Yu who?"
you're not alone.
Yu
is director general of the Beijing Municipal
Bureau of Tourism while Zhang is vice chairman
of the China National Tourism Administration.
The two are among the highest ranking tourism
officials of the nation Nevada officials expect
will someday become the state's largest international
market.
Yu
also is bringing, at his office's expense, a
troupe of 30 entertainers to the conference.
Bommarito
said globalization is the key to expanding the
state's tourism market. In addition to playing
host to the Chinese, the conference will enable
face-to-face meetings with global representatives
of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
from Japan, Korea, Great Britain, Germany and
Australia.
The
Commission on Tourism also plans meetings for
tourism representatives from across the state
and will get updates on the state's "Nevada
Passage" television program. Roger Dow,
president and chief executive of the Travel
Industry Association of America, and Walton
Chalmers, vice president of the American Gaming
Association, also are scheduled as speakers.
|
