LOS ANGELES, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Tourism officials from across Southern California will gather next month here to discuss how to create local jobs by promoting the region to Chinese tourists, organizers said Friday.
The one-day seminar, scheduled for March 11, will address issues like the region's past experiences with Chinese tourist groups, marketing strategy to attract the affluent Chinese, and the assistance in visa processing, according to John Lu, president of Best of USA Marketing, which organizes the event.
Lu's company works closely with major convention and visitors bureaus throughout the United States to market the country to Asia and Russia as both a commercial and leisure destination.
Lu, who has worked in the tourism sector for the past 25 years, said that as a Chinese-American businessman he has a selfish reason to uplift the image of Chinese travelers.
"China has arrived, and the world is taking notice," said Lu at a press conference, referring to the fact that more and more Chinese tourists have been traveling overseas these days.
According to him, local tourism officials, Chinese diplomats and representatives of major tourist attractions in Southern California, including Disney Parks, Universal Studios Hollywood and San Diego's Sea World, are expected to participate in the event.