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中文Chinese love Australia!
06 Mar 2015 - 4C Realty
Seeing the sights ... Chinese tourists Zhuang Zi Zang, Chiu Chia-Yzn, Cindy Xiurong Li and Zhang Min in Brisbane. Picture: Annette Dew Source: News Limited
CASHED-UP Chinese tourists are flocking to Australia in droves with a 21 per cent increase in visitor visa applications on last year.
Australia continues to be a hotspot for Chinese tourists, with Immigration Department figures showing close to 600,000 visitor visa applications from China were lodged in 2014, up 21 per cent on the previous year.
Chinese tourist Joanne Cheung, 21, in Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall. Picture: Annette Dew Source: News Limited
In 2015, Lunar New Year visitor visa volumes are up 23 per cent, compared to 2014, with over 120,000 visitor visas finalised to date this calendar year.
The drop in the Australian dollar seems to have also spurred a return of visitors from the United States with a 7.4 increase in visa applications in the December quarter compared to 2013.
As the Bali Nine ringleaders prepare to face the firing squad it can also be revealed that visitors from Indonesia have dropped by 7.7 per cent.
Visitors from the UK have also slumped by 3.6 per cent.
Main attraction ... a group of tourists climb Sydney Harbour Bridge. Picture: News Corp Australia Source: News Corp Australia
However, despite several areas of the economy flopping, tourism remains strong with the total visitor visa applications up 6 per cent on this time last year.
Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Michaelia Cash yesterday said Australia was “highly competitive” when it came to Chinese tourism.
“Making it possible for Asian markets to grow has been a key priority for the Abbott Government,” Senator Cash told News Corp Australia.
Smile ... tourists take photos of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. Picture: Brett Costello Source:DailyTelegraph
“China is our most valuable tourism export market and we recognise the significance of emerging markets, in particular the Chinese holiday maker market.”
Trade Minister Andrew Robb said the government was committed to keeping the tourism industry strong.
“Australia is a diverse and unique destination for international travellers and the Coalition Government is committed to ensuring we capitalise on our tourism opportunities,” Mr Robb said.
Tourism Australia yesterday told News Corp Australia that recent forecasts indicate the Chinese market could be worth up to $13 billion to the Australian economy.
The latest figures also follow a recent decision in January by the government to open new direct airline routes between China and Australia and lift the cap on the number of flights and passengers between China and Australia.
Strike a pose ... Chinese tourists at Mrs Macquaries Chair in Sydney. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Limited
Tourism Australia Managing Director John O’Sullivan said that Australian tourism was performing well, with international arrivals at record levels and growth spread across most of the key target markets.
“While the numbers out of China are still very strong, we’re also seeing a strong bounce-back in travel from our traditionally high volume markets, such as the US.”
Yingjie Guo, professor of Chinese studies at the University of Technology in Sydney said China was a land of growing opportunities and many households of varying different classes had a larger disposable income, leading to more holidays abroad.
“People have a lot of cash to spend,” Professor Guo told News Corp Australia.
“Salaries are increasing in China, wealth is growing and there are just a lot of money making opportunities in China right now.
“The number of people who are well off is huge.”
Professor Guo said Australia was seen as the “fashionable” destination but it was also a popular destination because it was “friendly and Chinese people feel at ease here”.
The above is an extract from http://www.news.com.au/travel/world-travel/cashed-up-chinese-head-australian-tourism-boom/story-e6frfqai-1227250005186
4C Realty
Caroline He