OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) – What do China, Clarion County, Venango County, and Meadville have in common? They are apparently all nice places to visit.

(PHOTO: Tracy Becker, Susan Williams, and Christa Landy)

Earlier this week, three area executive directors – Tracy Becker, from the Clarion Area Chamber of Business and Industry; Susan Williams, from the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce; and Christa Lundy, from the Meadville-Western Crawford County Chamber of Commerce – left for a nine-day tour of China.

“A company approached them that takes chamber directors on these trips to hopefully get them to gain interest and take people from their community on them,” said Tessa Byham of the Venango Area Chamber. “They take the directors, show them around, and their hope is that they will take chamber members on a trip.”

Tammy LaCross, of the Clarion Chamber, said she knew Tracy was headed for China, but that’s all she knew.

“It has something to do with trips that may be offered in the future.  All I know she is in China for nine days,” said LaCross. “She’s going to get to go to Shanghai, Hong Kong, and The Great Wall of China. It’s like a tourist trip – a sightseeing trip.”

In an April 1 post on Facebook, Lundy said: “We’re off!! No Facebook allowed while we’re there….just countless photos and stories when we return!”

Lundy described it as a networking opportunity of a lifetime with chamber professionals from all over the world embarking on a sightseeing tour.

The trip is being sponsored by Citslinc International Inc., one of many travel companies providing discovery trips to China.

According to the Citslinc website, it offers the “hottest” affinity program for chambers.

“More than 1,000 chambers of commerce in the U.S.A., Canada, and other countries are receiving a combined $6 million in non-dues revenue annually by participating in Citslinc’s China discovery trip, with combined interests of both business and tours.”

Once the trio returns home to digest all of the information, we are likely to hear much more about their trip and the possibility of them returning to China with some local residents.