China overtakes Canada as LA's No 2 international market

Los Angeles saw record-breaking number of international visitors in 2015, led by tourists from China. For the first time, China surpassed Canada to become LA's No 2 international market.

In 2015, a record 6.7 million international travelers visited Los Angeles, a 3 percent growth over the previous year, driven by a 13.6 percent surge in Chinese visitors, according to the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board (LA Tourism). The city welcomed a record 779,000 visits from China last year, an increase of 93,000 visitors over 2014.

The growth of the Chinese visitors to the city has been by double digits for sixth years. Ernest Wooden Jr., president and CEO of the LA Tourism, said: "China is one of LA's most important source markets. The China market is forecasted to continue its double-digit growth for at least the next two years."

In 2014, LA became US' first city to roll out a "China-ready" certification project that evaluates tourist services in Los Angeles and trains Chinese-speaking tourist guides and local agencies. In October, the head of LA Tourism led a delegation to China for a tourism campaign called China Mission, touring from Guangzhou, to Shanghai and Beijing, pushing to increase tourism and investment in Los Angeles.

Now Los Angeles has an average of 17,000 seats aboard 54 non-stop weekly flights from China.

Wooden said in a previous interview with China Daily: "I am very positive about the market. With the increasing frequency and expanding airline networks between China and LA, more people from China's second-tier cities are expected to come to LA."

The increasing Chinese middle class also means the market is ripe for travel and more people can afford long-haul travels, he adds.