Trade escalations with China may slow down US tourism

Photo Courtesy: South China Morning Post

Tourism experts expect a setback in the booming US tourism industry due to the escalating trade tensions between the United States and China.

“There will be impacts on the tourism. The question is how long. We hope it’s temporary,” said Barry Lin, Vice General Manager of Destination Marketing Services at Chinese online travel agency, Tuniu to the media.

“The tourism industry is monitoring the situation closely, as the National Day Golden Week, a national seven-day holiday starting on Oct. 1 in China, is getting closer,” said Lin.

China is one of the major inbound travel markets to the United States. The US travel exports to China were valued at USD 33 billion during 2016 and Chinese residents made 3 million trips to the United States in that year, as per the US Travel Association’s report.

China is also the country with the highest average spending in the United States, according to the organization. Chines tourists spent an average of USD 6,900 during the year 2016, which is more than those of any other major inbound tourists.

Industry experts are worried that the rising tensions may slowdown the momentum as US President’s administration imposed extra tariffs on USD 34 billion worth of Chinese goods early last month and threatened to go further.

Last month, the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco issued a travel warning to Chinese tourists, alerting them to use caution while traveling in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Seattle and other popular tourist destinations across the United States.

America’s pursuit of a growing global travel market may be hampered by the trade tensions between the two nations, commented an official from U.S. Travel Association.