Aussie rules football to help lure more Chinese tourists to Australia

Tourism Australia will onceagain partner with the Australian Football League (AFL) when Shanghai playshost to a 2019 Toyota AFL premiership game.

Minister for Trade, Tourismand Investment Simon Birmingham who is in Shanghai announced Tourism Australiaas the official tourism sponsor of the game, which will see South Australia'sPort Adelaide take on Victorian team St Kilda in June 2019.

"As a passionate Australian rules football fan, I'mdelighted that more people around the world will get a taste of the thrills andspills of Aussie rules football," Minister Birmingham said.

"This will not only be a great opportunity to help promote the game in China,but also presents a platform to promote Australia as a world-class tourismdestination.

"Whilst we are seeing Chinese tourists flock to our shores in record numbers,there is still huge potential for growth given China's population, itscontinued economic growth, proximity to Australia and the continuing growth ofdirect flights between Australia and China.

"Aussie rules football demonstrates many of the fun loving, outdoors focused,athletic and competitive attributes that help to make Australia a diverse andattractive tourism destination. The game is also a promotional opportunityleveraged by many Australian businesses working in China.

"I congratulate TourismAustralia and the AFL for the work they're doing to not only grow our greatgame but to promote Australia to the rest of the world as a must visit touristdestination."

The match will bebroadcast on Guangzhou TV and Shanghai TV and will coincide with variousmarketing and promotional activities to help entice more Chinese travellers toAustralia.

This will be the third AFLpremiership game to be played in China with the previous matches in 2017 and2018 smashing viewership records.

The China market is animportant tourism market for Australia with new figures released last weekrevealing 1.3 million Chinese visitors travelled to Australia in 2017-18,spending over $11 billion in our restaurants, hotels and shops.

The Liberal-NationalGovernment continues to deliver record funding to Tourism Australia to helpattract more international travellers to our shores as a booming tourist sectorhelps contribute to a stronger economy and more Australian jobs.