Washington, D.C. promotes its touristic attractions in China

The US capital city of Washington, D.C., recently promoted its tourism resources in China with an aim to attract more Chinese tourists to discover its charms.

Elliott L. Ferguson II, president of Washington, D.C. Convention & Tourism Corp., said that Washington, D.C., is welcoming increasingly more Chinese tourists. In 2013, a total of 164,000 Chinese tourists visited Washington, D.C., making China become Washington D.C.’s largest international tourism source. Chinese tourists contributed 67 million dollars to the US capital city’s economy.

Washington, D.C., has been making efforts to provide more convenience to the Chinese tourists. It cooperates with Brand USA, an organization to market the United States, to help Chinese tourists to get US visa. Hotels in Washington, D.C., regularly launch special offers. Tourist spots in Washington, D.C., are expected to provide Chinese language services to Chinese tourists, added Elliott L. Ferguson II.

The Brand USA said that the number of Chinese people traveling to the US is expected to soar by 198 percent by 2016 from its level in 2011, making the United States the number three popular tourist destination for Chinese tourists.

Tourism highlights in Washington, D.C.

The Washington, D. C., will organize various touristic packages for Chinese tourists in 2015. The National Cherry Blossom Festival held from March to April every year holds various performances and parent-child interactive activities such as the kite-flying in the National Square, southeastern coast firework festival, grand pageants and egg-playing on the lawn in front of the White House on Easter day. In May every year, more than 60 embassies in Washington, D.C., will be open to public and hold a series of cultural events.

A multi-functional building located in downtown Washington, D.C., features various luxury fashion brands. Luxury hotel chain Conrad Hotels & Resorts will also open a branch with 1,200 rooms in the building in 2018.

Washington, D.C., has also initiated renovations in many hotels in the city. The Sofitel Hotel and Washington Embassy hotel have been renovated. Renovation in the Watergate Hotel cost about 125 million dollars. Trump Old Post Office Pavilion Hotel is also scheduled to open in summer.

Washington, D.C., boasts a large number of museums. The 90-year-old Textile Museum of Washington has relocated to the George Washington University. The National Museum of American History will allocate a space of 42 thousand square feet (3,900 square meters) for activities with the theme of American spirit in July for the Independence Day. The firework celebrations will also take place in the same place.

Exhibitions in Washington, D.C.

Visitors to Washington, D.C., have wide-ranging choices when it comes to art and culture. Some special exhibitions will be held in May to mark the 50th anniversary of Vietnam War and the 150th anniversary of President Lincoln’s death in April. The U.S. News Museum, which stands between the Capitol Hill and White House, will hold exhibitions with the themes of the 50th Anniversary of Civil Rights Act, Facebook and paparazzis’ job during the course of one year from 2015 to 2016.

2014 marked the 30th anniversary of the sister-city relation between Beijing and Washington. Year 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in the United States. The National Museum of African American History and Culture will open to public in the National Square in 2016. The National Gallery will hold its first exhibition in Corcoran Gallery of Art in 2017. The Washington D.C., is expected to become a top destination for foreign investors, business people and tourists.

Washington, D.C., has recently been recommended by travel guide book publisher Lonely Planet as one of the top tourist destinations worth visiting and named by the Forbes as the coolest destination. It was selected by China’s leading online travel agency Ctrip as the best luxury tourist destination in 2014.

Brand USA is a public-private entity with the mission of promoting the United States as a premier travel destination.

Air China opened an air route from Beijing to Washington-Dulles in June 2014, with four flights every week. The air route brings more than 16,000 Chinese tourists to Washington, D.C., in 2013, generating 14 million dollars to the Washington, D.C., economy.