For Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt and State Treasurer Brian Krolicki, last week's trip to Beijing sponsored by the Nevada Commission on Tourism resulted in several meetings with high-level executives in government and business that could someday pay dividends to the state's tourism industry.

Among the stops were visits with Gu Zhaoxi, vice chairman of the National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China, and Xiong Yumei, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Tourism.

"I couldn't get an appointment with them," said Bruce Bommarito, executive director of the Nevada Commission on Tourism. "But by having Lt. Gov. Hunt here, they were more receptive. And having the state treasurer as part of the delegation was icing on the cake. For the Chinese, having a meeting with the money guy is important."

Chinese culture is steeped in tradition and protocol. Hunt's meeting with Zhaoxi was considered a big success, even though he was the No. 2 man in the agency. But the Chinese officials felt that was all that was warranted, since Hunt is the No. 2 executive from the state.

In a meeting at the Chinese National Tourism Association headquarters in the center of Beijing, Hunt and Zhaoxi exchanged information on tourism. Hunt took the opportunity to point out how important nonstop flights between China and Las Vegas would be for the development of the market; Zhaoxi wanted to know more about how room tax revenue is used to market the Nevada destination and how university programs at UNLV help produce the hotel management executives of the future.

Hunt also renewed contact with Craig Allen, minister-counselor of commercial affairs at the U.S. Embassy, who hosted a reception at his home for the Nevada delegation and about 60 journalists and tourism VIPs.

Allen is responsible for helping any state develop economic opportunities with the Chinese, but he clearly enjoyed seeing the Nevada tourism contingent.

While at Allen's residence, Hunt was interviewed by Wei Ning, one of the top television journalists from the China Beijing TV Station. Hunt turned up her Nevada charm a notch, knowing that the interview would likely be seen by more than 250 million people.

Hunt also participated in some ceremonial events, signing friendship agreements with the Shanghai Tourism Commission and representatives from China's Qinghai province.

For Hunt and Krolicki, nurturing relationships in China is an important aspect of the job of tourism development. But they both know that critics await them when they return to Nevada.

Hunt and Krolicki are coming to the end of their terms in public office and can't run again because of term limits. For Hunt, the goal is to succeed outgoing Gov. Kenny Guinn. She'll face stiff opposition in her own party against Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., considered by many to be the favorite for the Republican nomination for governor.

Krolicki hopes to succeed Hunt as lieutenant governor. Since that office is responsible for the Commission on Tourism as well as the Commission on Economic Development, Krolicki decided to invest the time -- and his own personal expenses -- to make the trip to Shanghai and Beijing with the Nevada delegation.

Krolicki's likely challenger in the lieutenant governor's race will be Las Vegas attorney John Moran, a former Nevada Gaming Commission member.

Krolicki knows that there are bound to be critics who don't think frequent visits to China are worth the money. He's blunted some of the criticism by paying his own way on his trips -- a cost of about $2,500.

"There's always going to be criticism of government when you pay for something outside of paper and pencils," Krolicki said. "But I think when private industry invests billions of dollars developing hotel rooms that we have a role in helping get people here to fill them so that we can generate room tax revenue."

Krolicki said Nevada would be "shortsighted to ignore a market like this."

China has about 1.4 billion people, with tens of millions of them capable of spending for international travel.

"I know that there are those who are going to criticize," Hunt said. "But I know I'm doing the right thing. In five or 10 years, we may look back on these trips and recognize how historic they were."

"When you consider that nine out of 10 travelers from China will visit Nevada, it's extraordinary," added Krolicki. "We'd be nuts if we didn't see the opportunity."

Richard N. Velotta covers gaming and tourism for the Sun and its sister publication, In Business Las Vegas. He can be reached at (702) 259-4061 or by e-mail at velotta@lasvegassun.com.