Sacramento, Calif. (November 12, 2014) – Visit California President and CEO Caroline Beteta issued this statement today in response to President Barack Obama’s announcement of a reciprocal visa validity agreement with the People’s Republic of China, which will increase the validity of tourist visas issued to citizens of each nation from one year to 10 years. 

“Today’s announcement by President Obama is great news for California’s economy. California is the top destination for Chinese tourists to the United States. In 2013, 819,000 visitors from China spent an average of $2,377 in California, injecting $1.95 billion into our economy. We expect visitation from China to nearly double in the next several years, and this agreement will only improve those numbers. 

Longer visas will pave the way for Chinese visitors to return again and again to our state, experiencing the California dream in destinations across the state. Smart policies such as this support Visit California’s work to attract international visitors, particularly those from China, and deliver significant economic benefits for local communities in all parts of the state.” 

After a change in visa policies for Taiwanese visitors was implemented in November 2012, visitation from Taiwan to California increased 35 percent in 2013, compared with overall overseas visitation growth of 7 percent. Visitation from South Korea has increased by 34 percent since that nation was added to the visa waiver program in 2008. 

For more information on Visit California’s efforts to increase tourism from China to California and grow the economic benefits the tourism industry provides Californians, please visit http://industry.visitcalifornia.com/ChinaReady.