The number of Chinese visitors to New York has increased exponentially in recent years. It is predicted that China could surpass the UK as the largest source of overseas visitors by the year 2022. [Photo/IC]

Nearly 1 million Chinese tourists visited New York this year, making China the second largest source of overseas visitors to the city that never sleeps.

Statistics released by New York City's official tourism body, show that 60.3 million tourists will have visited the Big Apple by the end of the year, including 12.7 million overseas visitors.

Both figures are record highs and it is noteworthy that among all the overseas tourists, the numbers of Chinese visitors is expected to hit 958,000, seven times the number in 2007.

The number of Chinese making the journey to New York has increased exponentially in recent years.

Britt Hijkoop, the international public relations manager at NYC & Company, predicted that China could surpass the United Kingdom as the largest source of overseas visitors by the year 2022.

This year has been named the China-United States Tourism Year and exchanges between the two countries in the tourism sector have expanded.

New direct flights and favorable visa polices in recent years have all contributed to the growth of visits between China and the US.

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