Travel Community Bids Farewell to Sen. Baucus; Welcomes Ambassador Baucus
WASHINGTON - February 7, 2014 - U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement on the confirmation of retiring Sen. Max Baucus to become U.S. ambassador to China:
"As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and throughout his career in Congress, Max Baucus has been a friend to travel—and if anything, his new role in Beijing could be even more pivotal to growing America's travel industry and the number of jobs it creates. The Chinese market holds huge potential for inbound travel to the U.S., which already creates the third-largest trade surplus of any industry. Chinese travelers spend $100 billion annually on tourism around the world, most of any country—and each Chinese visitor to the U.S. spends nearly $6,000 per trip, about a third more than the average overseas visitor. Yet the 2.3 million Chinese expected to take trips to the U.S. in 2014 represent only four percent of the Chinese who will travel abroad this year.
"We look forward to continuing our working relationship with the incoming ambassador as he departs the Senate he has served so well."
Contacts:
Cathy Keefe, (O) 202-408-2183, (C) 703-899-7031
Chris Kennedy, (O) 202-218-3603, (C) 202-465-6635
The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the travel industry that generates $2.0 trillion in economic output and supports 14.6 million jobs. U.S. Travel's mission is to increase travel to and within the United States. Visit www.ustravel.org.
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