International Leads Posted on Industry Website

Release Date: Jan 24, 2013

A number of international leads have recently been posted to the Explore Minnesota Tourism industry website. See below for event description. Click here for further background on the shows and markets, and to view the leads.

JATA 2012
Paul Sherburne of Explore Minnesota Tourism participated in the annual Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) show in Tokyo. Japan continues to be the second largest overseas source market for international visitors to Minnesota and, following nearly a decade of declining numbers, visitorship to the United States grew last year by 9%.

UK Sales Mission 2012
Paul Sherburne of Explore Minnesota Tourism, Beth Satrang of Meet Minneapolis, and Doug Killian of Mall of America conducted sales calls in October. The United Kingdom remains the largest overseas source market for international visitors to Minnesota. Much of the tour operator travel product that includes Minnesota is generated through Explore Minnesota’s membership in Great Lakes USA.

China-Taiwan Sales Mission 2012
Paul Sherburne of Explore Minnesota Tourism and Lauren Himle of Mall of America participated in the China International Tourism Mart (CITM) show in Shanghai and sales calls and mini-trade shows in Shanghai as well as Taipei, Taiwan. China, ranked ninth, is the fastest growing overseas source market for international visitors to the United States. Chinese tourists are now the highest ranking tourists in the United States in per capita spending with an average of $7,000. Taiwan was admitted into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program on November 1.