Simpler visa rules in Guangdong boost travel to US  

赴美签证手续简化带旺广州美国游

美国驻华使馆近日启用签证费用新系统，进一步简化中国公民赴美旅游签证程序。记者20日从广州旅游市场获悉，赴美签证新政进一步激发了广州市民赴美旅游的热情。

Guangzhou (CNS) -- Simplified visa procedures adopted by the Embassy of the United States have boosted Cantonese tourism to the country, travel agencies in south China's Guangdong province said Wednesday.

Travel packages to the U.S. in May and June have sold out because of the new visa rules, according to the GZTC International Tour Company, Guangdong's biggest travel agency.

The number of tourists traveling to the United States is expected to increase by 20 percent, said Jiang Nan, manager of the America travel center of the GZTC.

Tourists have been able to make appointments for interviews and payments online since March 16. The waiting period for an interview has also been cut to two to four days, down from five days before.

The embassy streamlined the visa procedures last February, causing tourists to America to jump by 90 percent last January and February, the GZTC said.