U.S. Olympians and Team Visa athletes Meryl Davis and Charlie White welcomed nearly 1,000 American tourists to the Great Wall in China. The gold medal winners in ice dancing swapped their skates for hiking shoes to join visitors on a climb up the Jinshanling section of the Wall. The event was part of an exciting collaboration between Visa, the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and the U.S. Department of Commerce in support of the 2016 U.S.-China Tourism Year.
Throughout the year, Visa will help encourage two-way travel, trade and cultural understanding between the U.S. and China. Visa’s contribution will include social campaigns featuring some of the best China has to offer as depicted by local photographers(#See China From The Inside is the campaign hashtag); promotion with U.S. financial institutions to promote CNTA’s “Beautiful China” tourism initiative within cardholder and travel programs; outreach to merchants in smaller Chinese cities to build up payment acceptance; and more.
Visa data shows that Chinese travelers visiting the U.S. spent an estimated $23.8 billion on tourism in 2014. Ellen Richey, vice chairman, Risk and Public Policy at Visa joined the CNTA in Beijing for the official signing of a Cooperation Plan. “Tourism is a key driver of economic growth, development and cultural understanding. By fostering cultural and economic exchange between Chinese and U.S. travelers, the Tourism Year will bring substantial opportunity to both countries.“
Visa’s commitment to China, one of the world’s largest and most dynamic markets, spans decades, from the launch of the Visa card there in 1993 to a recent partnership to reduce poverty and promote inclusive finance.
For comprehensive information about traveling to China’s ancient cities, from Beijing to Yinshuan along the Silk Road, you can visit the CNTA website.