Harvard University is one of the famous sites in Boston. (Photo : Getty Images)
The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau reported that there is a record number of Chinese visitors last year. The number of visitors has surpassed the number of tourists from the U.K., which sent the most number of visitors.
There were an estimated 230,000 Chinese tourists last year. The number doubled in the past four years.
The increase in the number of Chinese visitors was attributed to the increase of flights from Boston to China which encouraged more people to visit tourist sites in Boston.
The United States also eased up visa requirements that eased up travel from China to Boston. The city government will be sending an envoy to China to plan on joint tourism initiatives in March.
Patrick Moscaritolo, chief executive of the bureau, said, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our visitor industry to take advantage of the incredible growth in China in their interest in visiting America."
"If we are ever going to dive into this market and make a full court press, the time is now," he added.
The executive explained that Chinese tourists spend more when in the city. They spent a total of $273 million last year. Visitors from the U.K. have spent $88 million.
Chinese visitors also stay longer in Boston with an average duration of 16 nights.
The Boston government is pursuing to establish ties with China amid President Trump's anti-China sentiments. The board said that there was a decline of visitors since Trump's imposition of travel ban in several countries.
Evan Saunders, the CEO of Attract China, a Beijing marketing agency, said that tourists from the mainland come to Boston for its historical sites and the Celtics.
Saunders said that Chinese might find it hard to understand English.
He said, "If we're working with a local restaurant that offers a 'catch of the day'-well, the 'catch of the day' is unheard of in Beijing. You can't get seafood caught that day. You're better off saying 'extremely fresh fish.'"
