Visa Signs on as Strategic Partner of the 2016 U.S.-China Tourism Year


SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESSWIRE)– Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) today signed a Cooperation Plan with the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), establishing Visa as a strategic partner of the U.S.-China Tourism Year. The landmark collaboration between the CNTA, the U.S. Department of Commerce and Visa will provide for a year-long series of events designed to enhance tourism, trade cooperation, and cultural understanding between China and the United States.

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U.S. Olympic gold medalist and Team Visa athletes Meryl Davis and Charlie White, led a delegation of 1,000 U.S. visitors in a climb of the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall, on March 25, 2016. Davis and White are working with Visa, a sponsor of the 2016 U.S.-China Tourism Year, in an effort to boost tourism, business and understanding between China and the U.S. (Photo:Business Wire)

Visa celebrated the news at an event at the Great Wall of China, where nearly 1,000 U.S. visitors were invited to climb the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall alongside decorated U.S. Olympians and Team Visa athletes Meryl Davis and Charlie White. Two-time World champions, Davis and White were the first Americans to win the gold medal for ice dancing, which they won at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

“Visa is honored to be part of the U.S.-China Tourism Year,” said Ellen Richey, vice chairman, Risk and Public Policy at Visa Inc., who was in Beijing this week to take part in the signing ceremony. “Tourism is a key driver of economic growth, development, and cultural understanding. By fostering cultural and economic exchange between the U.S. and China, the Tourism Year will bring substantial opportunity to both countries.”

Visa’s participation in the Tourism Year is part of the company’s broader long-term commitment to China, one of the world’s largest and most dynamic payments markets. Visa established its presence in China in 1993, and earlier this year announced a partnership with the China Foundation for Development of Financial Education (CFDFE) and the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) to support the Chinese government’s efforts to reduce poverty and promote inclusive finance.

As part of its commitment to the U.S.-China Tourism Year, Visa will support a number of campaigns throughout the year, including:

A consumer campaign featuring authentic travel experiences from local Chinese photographers, inspiring American travelers to #SeeChinaFromTheInside.
A collaborative effort between Visa and financial institutions in China to promote cross-border travel between China and the U.S. throughout the Tourism Year.
A marketing campaign in partnership with financial institutions in the U.S. to promote “Beautiful China” and the Tourism Year within the U.S. through cardholder and travel programs.
Visa outreach and collaboration with local merchants to build up payment acceptance infrastructure in smaller destination cities in China. By encouraging electronic commerce, the initiative aims to make traveling and transacting easier for international travelers visiting China during the Tourism Year and beyond.
A study on the economic impact of cross-border commerce between China and the United States in the Tourism Year.
“Visa’s support for the U.S.-China Tourism Year is a meaningful commitment that will have significant impact in both China and the United States.” said vice chairman Li Shihong of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA). “We believe, with the support from Visa and other parties involved in the initiative, the cooperation between China and the U.S. tourism industry will achieve fruitful accomplishments.”

Throughout the year, Visa will be working with Brand USA, a public private partnership that promotes the U.S. as a premier travel destination, helping to bolster two-way tourism between China and the U.S. “We are pleased Visa has joined us in support of the U.S.-China Tourism Year,” said Chris Thompson, president and CEO of Brand USA. “Visa provides a range of options to support the Chinese traveler’s decision to visit the United States and has a demonstrated commitment to the market.”

About Visa Inc.: Visa Inc. (NYSE:V - News) is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable electronic payments. We operate one of the world’s most advanced processing networks — VisaNet — that is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second, with fraud protection for consumers and assured payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa’s innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: pay now with debit, pay ahead of time with prepaid or pay later with credit products. For more information, visit usa.visa.com/about-visa, visacorporate.tumblr.com and @VisaNews.


View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160325005095/en/

Hi Sisters! ​So sorry April that you have to spend the Easter weekend in hospital.  But you and your extended family will manage to make it  special regardless.  (((hugs))) Glad you found a food that your Bella wants to eat, CEK.  Wouldn't mind some organic chicken myself.   Luv, I might change my Monday guess with Mischa to go home.  The package edited so it could suggest she doesn't try her hardest...  that's never helped.   

KeepOnSinging wrote:

View, unobstructed wrote:

This ....   

I've always enjoyed Diane Bish's series.   I know some of you will like this offering of the Seven Last Words.



 

Thank you, View.

What a flood of memories listening to "The Seven Last Words" brings back.  My last two years of high school I sang under a conductor who could have done anything, but above all he loved to teach---high schoolers no less at Woodward High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.  His name was Robert McSpadden and his name is legendary in Cincinnatil  Not so very long ago my youngest sister and her husband were at a concert at symphony hall.  Her husband called to tell me that there was Robert McSpadden's photo hanging on the wall.  I didn't know until then that he often subbed at symphony hall.  He also had a magnificent tenor voice and he was demanding.   The top group was an acapella ensemble whose president was also the football captain of this very large high school.  We gave lots of concerts throughout the Cincinnati area and were even the group that got time off from school to sing twice a day as we led in the circus to "76 Trombones."  His original variety shows were also legendary.  My parents rarely missed a concert because his musicianship was matched by his showmanship.   The opportunities we had to sing, were due, in no small part, to Mr. McSpadden's reputation.  I was one of the recipients of a free ticket on Friday afternoons to get off from school and go hear the Cincinnati Symphony, providing I kept up my grades.  And it was as a 17 year old that I first heard the entire Messiah and got to experience the moment when the entire audience stood as "The Hallelujah"  chorus began.   And then there was the experience of being chosen to record  and perform "The Seven Last Words" because our acapella ensemble was invited to join a well known adult chorus in performing and recording in the spring of 1959.

Thank you for posting "The Seven Last Words".  This performance is beautiful.

 Thanks for sharing your special memories, KOS.  I took my then four year old to Messiah.  He sat through around four hours, including intervals and it did not even strike me as special at the time.  Now I know it was, given I would not even get my youngest through the door without earphones and people would start to give us dirty looks after the first few minutes.  Sometimes I wonder how my two boys could possibly both be related to me.  *lol*.   
 

Wishing everyone an enjoyable long Easter weekend.  xox