Chicago to establish tourism office in SW China

The U.S. metropolis of Chicago is expected to set up a tourism office in Chengdu City in southwest China's Sichuan Province in 2014 to encourage more Chinese tourists to visit the largest city in the American Midwest, a visiting tourism official said Monday.

The Chengdu office will be the fourth of its kind in China, with offices already in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, said Don Welsh, head of the Chicago Convention and Tourism bureau.

It will also be the eleventh overseas office of the bureau, said Welsh, who was visiting Beijing on Monday.

The number of Chinese tourists to Chicago reached 120,000 in 2012. China was among the top three sources of overseas tourists for Chicago, he said.

The bureau is currently promoting a three to four night tour to Chicago with Chinese travel agencies.