LA sees influx of Chinese visitors

"We experienced double-digit growth over the last year, so that's an indication to us that it hasn't really affected the groups that are traveling," she said. "The middle class and affluent Chinese families may spend less on shopping, but it sounds like, from everything we hear, that there are still big groups that will be traveling.

"We are opening the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood on April 7, and we believe it will be an additional attraction for Chinese families since so many children in China grew up with Harry Potter."

Last year, 780,000 Chinese people visited Los Angeles, spending more than $1.1 billion there as China surpassed Canada for the first time as the second-largest source of international tourists. Ten years ago, China was not even in the top 10 of international visitors to Los Angeles.

"Chinese visitors are spending more money than others, and they are staying longer," Wooden said. "They are one of our best visitors, and that's why we have such a focus on our marketing efforts in China."

These aggressive outreach efforts include offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, as well as two programs called "China Ready" and "NiHao (Hello) China", aimed at helping the tourism industry in Southern California better serve Chinese tourists.

"We think there are many Chinese who aspire to come to Los Angeles, a bucket-list kind of destination," Wooden said. "Thousands and thousands, and maybe millions of people, are yet to come here."