DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Texas,
Dec. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- DFW
International Airport is hailing a new memorandum of understanding signed in
Beijing that will increase Chinese tourist travel to the
United States and
allow U.S. travel destinations to market freely in
China. The agreement is a
key outcome of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT)
meeting this week. U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez and U.S. Trade
Representative Susan C. Schwab, together with Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi,
convened the meeting to address market access issues and provide a forum to
discuss trade and investment.
The agreement will take effect in the spring of 2008. The U.S. Commerce
Department believes the agreement will result in more than 570,000 Chinese
visitors by 2011, a dramatic 78% increase from today.
"This is incredible news for North Texas and it will open the door for
Chinese citizens to come to DFW and to Dallas and Fort Worth and receive a
truly Texas experience of culture and hospitality," said Jeff Fegan, CEO of
DFW. "China is already one of our most important markets for trade at DFW and
for all of North Texas. We look forward to welcoming more business people and
tourists from China to Texas and building closer relationships with the people
of China as well with our many colleagues in the aviation and airline business
in the world's most populous country."
The news is extremely timely as DFW kicks off an international marketing
campaign called "Visit DFW." Led by the Airport and supported by the
Convention and Visitors Bureaus from Dallas and Fort Worth, the campaign
rolled out successfully in Argentina, Chile and Mexico in the past two months
and travels to Seoul, South Korea in early 2008. The mission of "Visit DFW"
is to inform and educate travelers about DFW's role as a premiere
international gateway to the U.S. and a fast and easy place to connect to
other destinations across the country.
"DFW is becoming well-known in China as a great airport and Dallas-Fort
Worth is a great destination. We believe this announcement will further
enhance the opportunities for non-stop international service from China to
Texas," said Joe Lopano, DFW's executive vice president of marketing and
terminal management. The market between DFW and China is one of our fastest
growing. This agreement will certainly stimulate new passenger demand from
China."
DFW and China By the Numbers
50,000: Number of passengers traveling between DFW and China in the past
12 months (ending June 2007). This represents a 20% increase
over the prior year period, despite no non-stop service.
1: China is the number one air cargo trade partner with DFW.
5: The DFW area is China's fifth largest trading partner within the
U.S.
61,959: Total trade in metric tonnes between DFW and China, from January
to September 2007. That figure is up 15.3% over the prior year,
for the same time period.
28.8%: The compound annual growth rate of air cargo between DFW and
China from 2002 through 2006.
6: Number of weekly cargo flights to China from DFW (Shanghai,
Beijing).
About DFW International Airport
Located halfway between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW
International Airport is the world's third busiest, offering nearly 1,900
flights per day and serving 60 million passengers a year. Ranked "Highest in
Customer Satisfaction for Large Airports" in North America by J.D. Power and
Associates, and named as 2006's "Best Airport for Customer Service in the
Americas" by an Airports Council International survey of passengers, DFW
International Airport provides non-stop service to 135 domestic and 39
international destinations worldwide. For the latest news, real-time flight
information, parking availability or further details regarding the many
services provided at DFW International Airport, log on to
http://www.dfwairport.com. For J.D. Power and Associates Award information,
visit http://www.jdpower.com.
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