The increase in the number of Chinese tourists in New York City is happening "overnight," said Lalia Rach, Divisional Dean of the Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management at New York University. But without research as to what Chinese tour groups want, New York tourism providers will find it difficult to grab a bigger share of the growing market, she said.

"Tourists tend to go where it is easy, and it is easier to go to Europe right now," Rach said.

Despite the attraction to foreign travelers of a declining U.S. dollar, two major obstacles-marketing restrictions and visas-continue to block the potential flood of Chinese tourists traveling to New York and other American destinations. Neither obstacle is expected to change anytime soon, Rach said.

"There have not been any practical moves on listing the United States as an approved destination" by the Chinese Government, she said, adding that the U.S. Government could do more to encourage more tourism from China.

Mayors of some of the largest cities in the United States say overseas arrivals have been down at least 20 percent since 2000, due to stricter entry and visa requirements. In a survey of 25 mayors published by the Travel Business Roundtable, an organization of travel and tourism industry leaders based in Washington, 96 percent of those surveyed said non-refundable visa fees, tough interviews and excessive wait times for visas have contributed to a decline in foreign tourism revenues. Only 18 percent of visitors to New York City were from outside the country, although they accounted for more than 45 percent of tourism revenues, according to NYC & Company.

U.S. Homeland Security Department officials are working with travel and tourism officials to research changes to the U.S. visa processes that could increase the number of foreign visitors, while continuing to meet security requirements.

"If we can structure a program that helps to promote travel into the United States, provides additional resources to Homeland Security and to the State Department to do their job of making us more secure, the benefits are threefold: enhanced security, public diplomacy and clearly economic [benefits]," said Tom Ridge, former Secretary of the Homeland Security Department, in a speech at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

If the number of inbound tourist increased by 1.6 million visitors per year, it would bring an additional $8 billion in tourism revenue into the United States, Ridge said.

Lawmakers in the United States also want to make it easier for foreigners to visit the country to boost tourism revenue. A bill introduced by the U.S. Senate on June 20 would create a new independent, non-profit organization to encourage inbound travel to the United States. The United States is the only developed country without a government-sponsored tourism campaign, according to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

"Although the travel and tourism industry is a driving force for our nation's economy, our government has relegated travel and tourism to a second-tier status," said Daniel Inouye, the Republican Senator from Alaska who is the committee's vice chairman. "In order to strengthen our competitiveness and recover lost international market share, we must improve and better explain the process for travelers coming to America. The world needs to know that the United States welcomes business and leisure travelers."

If approved, the bill would create a $100 million fund through the collection of a $10 fee paid by foreign visitors from the 27 countries that participate in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, such as the United Kingdom and Australia. China is not included in the Visa Waiver Program.

(Reporting from New York)