1、

       With the US as a new destination for Chinese group tours, American tourism companies are   41   “cautious optimism” （谨慎的乐观） on their future prospects.  While most in the tourist industry look forward to growth in the number of Chinese tourists, they are also   42  about the high cost of holidays.  Compared with visits to Europe, travel to the US   43   a longer trip and results in higher costs---   44  with oil prices continuing to rise rapidly.  Many tourism insiders believe different tours should be  45  for different types of Chinese tourists.

       On June17 more than 200 Chinese tourists took off from airports in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong in the first group tour of the US.  Yang Wei, a Beijing girl  46  from college, said she expects to see famous landmarks such as the US Capitol, the White House, the Pentagon and the Statue of Liberty.  “The group tour to the US has brought much convenience to the  47  Chinese people,” she said. “Otherwise I cannot imagine a young girl like me can get a visa to America so easily.”  The US  48  only student and business visas to Chinese in the past.  Shao Qiwei, director of China’s National Tourism Administration, said tourism promotes friendship and mutual understanding between the Chinese and American people.  “Not many Chinese people have been to the United States and vice versa,” he said. “Group tours connect the two nations to bring about mutual benefits,” Shao said.

       China’s first group received a warm welcome from the US government and tourism industry.  The Capitol in Washington, D.C．opened a special  49  for Chinese guests.  The US Department of Commerce invited them to visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which prints US currency.  Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez gave a dinner in their honor on a passenger ship.