Chinese tourism in the U.S., after over a decade of double-digit growth, is declining fast. In 2018, it dropped 10 percent. Chinese government officials, over trade tensions, dissuaded travel to the U.S, but China was still the third-largest source of visitors to the U.S. Looking at various statistics from 2015-2019, less than 5 percent of Page tourists come from China.
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By Bob Hembree
Lake Powell Chronicle
PAGE – Chinese tourism in the U.S., after over a decade of double-digit growth, is declining fast. In 2018, it dropped 10 percent.
Chinese government officials, over trade tensions, dissuaded travel to the U.S, but China was still the third-largest source of visitors to the U.S.
“Although travelers from China are physically on U.S. soil when they visit the United States, the goods and services they consume while in America are U.S. exports,” according to the U.S. Travel Association. “In 2018, U.S. travel exports to China totaled $34.6 billion (2.2 percent lower than in 2017), which included travel spending by Chinese visitors to the U.S. ($17 billion), education-related expenses by Chinese in the U.S. ($14.9 billion) and international passenger fares by Chinese flying on U.S. airlines ($2.5 billion).”
Chinese tourism contributed more to the U.S. economy than any other industry. It’s also interesting to note that while Chinese travel to the U.S. is declining, travel to Russia is increasing.
Chinese visitors typically spend more than other international travelers, an average of $6,524 per person. The average traveler spends 12 nights in the U.S. The USTA also finds the most important considerations for the Chinese when selecting a vacation location are, “natural experience, sightseeing tours, iconic attractions, and historical attractions.” It’s no wonder Page is a top choice.
To prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, China halted all overseas travel. The virus isn’t considered a serious threat to the U.S. at this time. There are only five confirmed cases, and all had recently arrived from China. In fact, health officials are more concerned with the current strain of flu making its rounds. Naturally, it’s best to stay on guard for potential illnesses, but that should always be a rule of thumb. Keep hands clean, don’t rub eyes, cover mouth when coughing, and stay home if sick.
Looking at various statistics from 2015-2019, less than 5 percent of Page tourists come from China. This will affect some local businesses more than others. It’s impossible to predict how long travel restrictions will last, or if other countries will follow suit. Zhong Nanshan, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and an expert in respiratory diseases, suggests the epidemic will reach its peak in a week or 10 days. If this is true, the economic impact on Page will be minimal. For many businesses, this year’s tourism season is expected to begin mid-February.
