PORT ANGELES — The executive director of the Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau will go to China in September.
Diane Schostak will travel with Gov. Chris Gregoire’s delegation of 70 people on an eight-day mission to meet those in the travel industry in the People’s Republic of China.
“China’s interest in international travel is growing, and having the Olympic Peninsula represented with Washington State is important,” Schostak said.
The mission will connect private and public sector travel industry organizations from Washington state with Chinese travel media and tour operators, as well as airlines and embassy officials in China.
Last year, 30,000 Chinese visited Washington state and that number is predicted to double by 2012, Schostak said.
China now holds the No. 12 slot for international, overseas visitors to the U.S. and is the fastest growing inbound tourism source.
“Traditionally, first-time international visitors to the U.S. go to Los Angeles, New York and Las Vegas,” Schostak said.
“This trade mission will reach Chinese travel professionals as they are just beginning to explore the U.S. travel product, and we intend to see that travel to Washington state is at the top of their list.”
The Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission and Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau are sponsoring Schostak to join the governor’s trade mission.