New York City is looking to attract more inbound Chinese nationals, and the city has just opened offices in mainland China.

NYC & Company, the marketing and tourism organization for the City of New York, has announced its first office openings in Asia, with outposts in Tokyo, Shanghai, and Seoul. The move comes as residents in all three countries have shown increased interest in business and leisure travel abroad. The new offices will help promote New York and increase tourism from the three countries, which will be critical to achieving New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's goal of welcoming 50 million visitors annually by 2015.

"This is an important moment for our travel and tourism industry," said NYC & Company chief executive officer George Fertitta. "New York City is experiencing a period of unprecedented growth, embracing its history and character even as exciting changes continue to place throughout the five boroughs. Now is unquestionably the time to be on the ground in these countries, personally encouraging new travelers and welcoming those who are ready to come again."

In China, the main draw for bringing residents to New York City, also known as the Big Apple, remains business travel. Although the United States still does not have approved destinations status for Chinese outbound travelers, travelers from China may come with work visas that include allowances to bring family members. These visits generally last 10 to 15 days and include stays in multiple cities.

Travel from China to New York City in particular has been on the rise in recent years, jumping sharply from 59,000 visitors in 2002 to 133,000 in 2005. Estimates call for the growth to continue, with an estimated 165,000 visitors forecast for 2007.

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