LA sees influx of Chinese visitors

Tourism insiders in Los Angeles are optimistic that the Chinese market will continue to grow in the next few years despite recent economic challenges, such as the strength of the dollar against the yuan and the volatile stock market in China.

"That market is so deep that it will survive these challenges," Ernest Wooden Jr, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, told China Daily.

"We believe the Chinese market is very elastic, and of course, very, very big - 1.37 billion citizens. So our estimates are that demand for visiting Los Angeles will continue at least, as far as we can see, into the next couple of years," Wooden said, adding that he expects double-digit increases in the future.

According to Visit California, a nonprofit organization tasked with marketing California tourism, the top three "motivating California features" for Chinese are all in Los Angeles: Disneyland, Hollywood and Universal Studios Hollywood.

"We are very lucky to have the reputation of being a must-see destination to the Chinese market," said Lisa Pisaturo, director of international and domestic tourism sales at Universal Studios Hollywood. "Most of the Chinese tourists come mainly for the studio tour - to see the Hollywood aspect of moviemaking - and many of them also enjoy our shows and the rides."

She said there wasn't much of a slowdown this year for Chinese New Year, and the trend is toward continual growth in the Chinese market.