Chinese citizens will be allowed to organize tour groups to the United States from June 17, the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and the U.S. Department of Commerce said on Thursday.

Within six months, travel agencies in major cities of Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai, and in provinces of Hebei, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Guangdong would be able to organize Chinese tour groups to the United States.

"We are happy to see the expansion of exchanges between China and the United States," said CNTA director Shao Qiwei.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and Shao signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to facilitate tourist group travel from China to the United States in December last year during the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT). The MOU will be implemented according to a plan jointly confirmed by CNTA and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

According to the World Tourism Organization, China is the fastest growing travel market in the world. By 2020, China is expected to become the world's fourth largest source of tourists.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2008)