China-Australia Year of Tourism

Today marks the end of the successful China Australia Year of Tourism.

It comes as Australia welcomes record numbers of Chinese visitors who are setting new spending records.

Australia welcomed a record 1.33 million Chinese visitors, just shy of our largest arrivals market of New Zealand with 1.35 million, in the year ending September 2017. During the same period spending by Chinese tourists grew by 13 per cent to a record $10.3 billion.

This phenomenal growth is evidence that the Turnbull Coalition Government's investment in China - through targeted marketing, aviation liberalisation and visa reform - is paying rich dividends.

The China Australia Year of Tourism has not only provided a platform for further diplomatic engagement with one of our most important trade partners, it has also been a key part of the larger push to promote Australia in China. Now, as a result, we are seeing significantly increased visitation and record spend from Chinese visitors.

The Turnbull Coalition Government seized the opportunity to designate 2017 as the China Australia Year of Tourism and we have worked to strengthen ties between our two countries on every front – economically, socially and culturally.

We created opportunities for Australian businesses to engage directly with Chinese businesses through a trade delegation and a Business Events Showcase.

We celebrated Chinese and Australian culture at the opening ceremony at the Sydney Opera House and showed off Australia's unique nature and wildlife offering to senior Chinese officials.

We showcased our most iconic sport, Australian Rules Football, in a historic league match between Port Adelaide and Gold Coast Suns held in Shanghai and broadcast to millions across China.

We promoted Australia through ongoing marketing and broadcast projects and now we are finishing the year with a bang with the China Australia Year of Tourism closing ceremony in Guangzhou, China.

The closing ceremony forms part of the Greater China Travel Mission also being held in Guangzhou this week, which provides a forum for a delegation of Australian tourism businesses to engage with key Chinese buyers and establish business links through a scheduled appointment program.

The event provides opportunities for Australian suppliers to learn more about travel trends in the Greater China region and enhances Chinese speaking markets knowledge of Australian product experiences.

Whilst the China Australia Year of Tourism is drawing to a close, the relationship between Australia and China will continue to flourish and we are certain that the positive impact of this year long event will be felt long into the future.