Remarks at Tourism Award Ceremony, Shanghai, China
Commerce Secretary John Bryson
Monday, May 7, 2012
在中国上海旅游业颁奖仪式上的讲话
美国商务部长 约翰·布赖森
2012年5月7日
This is a very special occasion. We are here to recognize the top five tour operators in the Shanghai region who arrange group travel to the U.S. Travel and tourism between our countries is crucial to building stronger cultural and economic ties. This generates greater understanding and friendship between our people. And it also generates greater prosperity.
这是一个很特殊的场合，我们在这里表彰上海地区积极组团赴美国旅游的5家顶尖的旅行社。我们两国之间的旅游业对于建设更为牢固的文化与经济纽带十分重要，它能增进两国人民之间的了解与友谊，并能促进经济繁荣。
As you all know, the U.S.-China Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Travel and Tourism was signed in 2007. It opened the door for packaged leisure travel to our country by Chinese groups. Since then, the number of Chinese people traveling to the U.S. has grown significantly. So far this year, travelers from China have increased 40 percent over the same period in 2011! We are very happy to welcome these visitors, and we look forward to welcoming many more.
正如我们大家所知，美中旅游合作谅解备忘录签订于2007年，它为中国组团去我们国家进行休闲旅游打开了大门。从那以后，中国公民前往美国旅行的人数大大增加。今年到目前为止，来自中国的旅游者比2011年同期增加了40%!我们非常高兴地欢迎这些来访者，我们还期待着欢迎更多的来访者。
And under the leadership of the Department of Commerce, the United States government is taking a number of steps to ensure continued growth in travel and tourism from China to America. As you no doubt know, at the direction of President Obama, our State Department has increased our capacity to process visa applications here in China. Also, we are working with America’s travel and tourism leaders to make sure that our travel hubs–such as airports–are easier to navigate. In addition, we are working to educate our hotel owners and service providers about the needs and wants of Chinese travelers. And we are doing more to share information about all of the diverse cultural, recreational and entertainment opportunities that America offers.
由商务部牵头，美国政府正在采取一系列步骤来保证从中国到美国的旅游活动持续不断地发展。你们肯定都知道，根据欧巴马总统的指示，我们的国务院已经提高了在中国处理赴美签证申请的能力。我们也正在与美国旅游业的负责人共同努力以保证我们的机场等交通枢纽更为通畅。此外，我们还在向旅馆业主和服务业人员大力介绍中国游客的需要和要求。而且，我们也在更努力地宣传有关美国提供的多种多样的文化、休闲与娱乐机会的信息。
These are important steps, because over the next five years, the number of international visitors traveling to the U.S. from all over the world is expected to grow significantly. We expect over 65 million visitors in 2012 alone. This reflects the fact that travel and tourism is America’s number-one services export–and it continues to get stronger each day. We project that China will–by far–have the largest percentage growth in tourism to the U.S. over the next five years, at nearly 200 percent. Our message to China and people across the globe is clear: “the United States welcomes you.”
这些都是重要的步骤，因为在今后5年中，从全世界各地来美国的国际来访者的人数将显著增加。预期仅仅在2012年我们就将接待6500万名访客。这反映了这样一个事实：旅行与旅游业是美国的头号出口服务业，而且还在日益发展壮大。在今后5年中，我们预期中国公民赴美旅游人数的百分比增幅将高居首位——接近200%。我们向中国人民和全球人民发出的信息十分清楚：“美国欢迎你”。
