Approved Destination U.S.A.

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ApprovedDestination U.S.A.
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U.S.-CHINA GROUPLEISURE TRAVEL MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING (MOU)Signed December 11, 2007
Todays agreement will open a large and growing
market for the U.S. travel and tourism industry.
This creates positive economic benefits for the
United States and strengthens the relationship
between our nations. Now more Chinese visitors
have an opportunity to experience Americas
hospitality, cultural diversity and natural
beauty. Commerce Secretary Carlos M.
Gutierrez
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The Emergence of Chinese Tourism

• 1983 - first trips to Hong Kong permitted
• 1990 - first bilateral tourism agreements with
  Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand were signed.
• 1996 - declared the Year of Leisure and
  Vacation
• 1997 - Chinese are allowed to travel outside of
  Asia and the Chinese Government announces that
  outbound travel had evolved from a trial to an
  official basis.

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Key Provisions of the MOU

• Chinese regulations restrict companies from
  organizing and marketing package tours for
  leisure purposes to countries that do not have
  agreements in place. This MOU fulfills this
  purpose without changing existing laws or
  policies of the United States, including the
  issuance of visas.
• Chinese travel agencies will be allowed to work
  with U.S. companies to organize and market
  packaged group leisure tours to the United
  States. In addition, U.S. travel destinations
  will be able to market their brands in China.
• This agreement is in the implementation process
  that will provide for an orderly market
  transition.

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Visas for Group Leisure Travelers

• This MOU will facilitate some procedural aspects
  of tourist visa applications for individuals
  traveling in groups, and we hope it will allow
  the travel industry in China to more actively
  promote trips to the United States.
• This MOU does not change the criteria required of
  each individual to qualify for a U.S. visa. All
  applicants are considered on their individual
  merits, and travelers receive individual visas.
• Procedures under this MOU facilitate application
  for a visa, but do not guarantee issuance. All
  applicants must still appear for an interview and
  be fingerprinted and must qualify individually.

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What has NOT changed under the Agreement

• In contrast to many other countries with ADS
  agreements, the U.S. does not offer a special
  "group" visa. Tourists will still apply for and
  be granted our standard B1/B2 business/tourism
  visa on an individual basis.
• We will still require all applicants to complete
  a finger scan and appear for an individual
  interview.
• As always, the visa officer will make the visa
  approval decision based on whether or not the
  applicant has demonstrated that he does not
  intend to immigrate to the United States, violate
  U.S. law, or pose a security risk.
• Successful applicants generally receive a
  multiple-entry visa that is valid for one full
  year, so they are welcome to visit the United
  States several times during the visas validity
  not just for a group tour they have signed up
  for.

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U.S.-CHINA GROUPLEISURE TRAVEL MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING (MOU)Implemented May 15, 2008
The launch of business for Chinese group leisure
travel to the United States will continuously
expand promotion of China-U.S. tourism
interaction and push the broadening of exchange
and cooperation between the two countries in
economic, cultural, and air services arenas,
among others, CNTA Chairman Shao Qiwei
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Implementation

• 2 Phase visa roll out plan
• Exchange of approved tour operator lists between
  CNTA and NTA.
• Advertising of destinations is now
• permitted.
• Travel agencies now can package
• group tours for the China market.

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Inaugural Visit
Group leisure travel to the United States
officially begins with CNTA Chairman Shaos visit
on June 17th.
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Thank you !!Caroline Katzin
Beijing Darrel Ching Gao Yan Shanghai Kevin
Chambers Lynn Jiao Chengdu Eric
Wolff Misha Cao (Xiao Cao) firstname.lastname_at_m
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