More Chinese travelers are coming to Australia and seeking unique, personalized experiences, according to an authority with Tourism Australia.
"Chinese travelers are more confident, more adventurous, and more experiential, and they are making more local Australian friends as they travel. To me, this is the true spirit of friendship between two countries, manifested through rapid development in tourism exchange," Andy Jiang, China Country Manager of Tourism Australia,said.
In a recent trip to South Australia, he met two young Chinese couples travelling through Port Lincoln, a beautiful spot on Eyre Peninsula.
They were young, full of passion for travel, and were telling me great experiences that they just had -- tasting fresh oysters from the ocean at Coffin Bay, swimming with sea lions at Baird Bay, gazing at beautiful stars at night in the Flinders Ranges,he said.
What we are seeing are more and more Chinese travelers are now going beyond the gateway cities of Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast, and they are travelling through some of the best regional locations in Australia and are having a fantastic time, he added.
China is by far Australia's fastest growing and highest spending international market, he said. It is also Australia's fourth-biggest market for international business events spending and third-biggest in terms of international business events arrivals, Jiang said.
In 2016, almost 1.2 million Chinese visited Australia and spent over 9 billion U.S. dollars, up 18 percent year on year. The China market has the potential to be worth 13 billion U.S. dollars by 2020.
Many of those driving the growth are affluent and independently-minded travelers who are young, inquisitive and have a sense of adventure.
They are interested in the stunning natural resources, art and culture programs in Australia, he noted, adding that these have also become the focus of Australia's marketing campaigns in China.
To attract the country's young tourists, Tourism Australia has taken targeted measures such as using Virtual Reality (VR) and 360 degree videos to provide an immersive experience showing off Australia's aquatic and coastal attractions.
The year 2017 marks the China-Australia Year of Tourism and the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which Jiang believes will be a boost for promoting Australia as an attractive destination.
He pointed out that tourism is an important industry for both countries, bringing jobs and business opportunities to cities and rural communities alike.
As part of initiatives to mark the China-Australia Year of Tourism, Tourism Australia is working to implement a pilot ten-year visa for Chinese travelers, enabling them to apply online in the Chinese language.
The milestone policy to open air space has significantly increased flights between China and Australia.
Many tourist attractions in Australia have increased their investment in the outbound Chinese market. For example, the Bridge Climb, a major attraction in Sydney, will launch tailored Mandarin guide services in April this year.
Following Premier Li Keqiang's official visit to Australia last week, the two countries agreed to build on the China-Australia Year of Tourism to organize promotional activities and encourage people-to-people exchanges.
The more Chinese people visit our nation and the more Australians come here to China, the better we understand each other and the more opportunities we have for further engagement and cooperation at every level, he said.
Tourism, Travel, Hospitality, Conservation: News,Stories And Experiences From Allover The World
Showing posts with label Tourism Australia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tourism Australia. Show all posts
Sunday, 25 June 2017
Wednesday, 4 May 2016
AUSTRALIA: Tourism Industry Affected By Higher Passport New Airport Fee
Australian passports will rise in price by $20 from January 1, 2017.
TOURISM will generate hundreds of millions of dollars for the Federal Government through a range of budget initiatives that have disappointed industry members.
Although there are some positives for the “supergrowth sector” such as tax cuts for small business operators, tourism officials lamented the lack of measures to foster growth.
In a series of blows for the industry:
— the cost of an Australian passport will jump $20 from January 1, 2017 to $274 raising $173 million over four years
— trial visa arrangements for certain countries including a user-pays fast track service will raise $1.5 million over four years
— backpackers will pay 32.5 cents on every dollar earned in Australia from July 1
— airport operators will be charged a commercial fee to provide “premium border clearance services” for international air passengers, initially at Sydney, Melbourne and Perth Airports
— Tourism Australia’s funding trimmed to $140 million from $144 million
Australian Tourism Export Council Managing Director Peter Shelley said they were very disappointed the planned backpacker tax had not been wound back.
“We’ve been working with government to try to reduce the percentage (from 32.5) and we’ve seen no response to that in this budget,” said Mr Shelley.
“It’s not competitive with other countries and makes a working holiday in Australia much less attractive.”
Tourism and Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond said she hoped successive budgets delivered an increase to Tourism Australia’s funding.
“We’re pretty disappointed there’s been no action on the Tourist Refund Scheme and the backpacker tax, and we will be pushing those arguments during the election campaign,” said Ms Osmond.
“Any increase in taxes on airports is not good news either but the concept of premium processing is a good one.”
On the upside, $26.2 million has been earmarked over four years to establish permanent border clearance services at Townsville and Sunshine Coast airports in Queensland.
The move should allow for regular international services out of the airports, that currently operate seasonal flights into either Bali or Auckland.
There is also $115.1 million over two years for works at the Western Sydney Airport site at Badgerys Creek.
The sum includes $26.2 million to “undertake concept design for the provision of rail services
through the site”.
Three states can also look forward to more money for projects that encourage tourists to visit a destination, such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground rooftop walk.
Almost a third of the $15.2 million “demand driver infrastructure fund” will go to New South Wales ($4.8 million), Queensland will score $2.9 million and Victoria $2.8 million.
Allocations for other states and territories will remain unchanged.
Although there are some positives for the “supergrowth sector” such as tax cuts for small business operators, tourism officials lamented the lack of measures to foster growth.
In a series of blows for the industry:
— the cost of an Australian passport will jump $20 from January 1, 2017 to $274 raising $173 million over four years
— trial visa arrangements for certain countries including a user-pays fast track service will raise $1.5 million over four years
— backpackers will pay 32.5 cents on every dollar earned in Australia from July 1
— airport operators will be charged a commercial fee to provide “premium border clearance services” for international air passengers, initially at Sydney, Melbourne and Perth Airports
— Tourism Australia’s funding trimmed to $140 million from $144 million
Australian Tourism Export Council Managing Director Peter Shelley said they were very disappointed the planned backpacker tax had not been wound back.
“We’ve been working with government to try to reduce the percentage (from 32.5) and we’ve seen no response to that in this budget,” said Mr Shelley.
“It’s not competitive with other countries and makes a working holiday in Australia much less attractive.”
Tourism and Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond said she hoped successive budgets delivered an increase to Tourism Australia’s funding.
“We’re pretty disappointed there’s been no action on the Tourist Refund Scheme and the backpacker tax, and we will be pushing those arguments during the election campaign,” said Ms Osmond.
“Any increase in taxes on airports is not good news either but the concept of premium processing is a good one.”
On the upside, $26.2 million has been earmarked over four years to establish permanent border clearance services at Townsville and Sunshine Coast airports in Queensland.
The move should allow for regular international services out of the airports, that currently operate seasonal flights into either Bali or Auckland.
There is also $115.1 million over two years for works at the Western Sydney Airport site at Badgerys Creek.
The sum includes $26.2 million to “undertake concept design for the provision of rail services
through the site”.
Three states can also look forward to more money for projects that encourage tourists to visit a destination, such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground rooftop walk.
Almost a third of the $15.2 million “demand driver infrastructure fund” will go to New South Wales ($4.8 million), Queensland will score $2.9 million and Victoria $2.8 million.
Allocations for other states and territories will remain unchanged.
Monday, 25 January 2016
AUSTRALIA: Indigenous Tourism Campaign Launched
Tourism Australia has launched a new promotion in Germany featuring Australia’s unique Indigenous tourism experiences.
The campaign, which runs until April 2016, will inspire travellers with the beautiful promotional film ‘Aboriginal Australia: our Country is waiting for you’ airing in premium cinemas in five major cities, through social media and in the German edition of Huffington Post.
A dedicated page on Australia.com has also been created to showcase Aboriginal tourism products that link to offers from distribution partners Boomerang Reisen and Dertour.
Specialist Australian travel agency Boomerang Reisen is supporting the campaign with consumer events, direct mailings as well as online advertising.
In addition, Tourism Australia is partnering with wholesaler Dertour, all Australian States and Territories with representation in Europe as well as Singapore Airlines on a self-drive campaign with a strong Indigenous focus.
Campaign elements include a supplement in one of Germany’s leading newspapers, billboard advertising, window displays in travel agencies as well as training to improve agents’ knowledge of Australia and bookable Indigenous product.
In March 2016, Tourism Australia will tour Germany and Paris with up to 12 Indigenous Tourism Champions to train Aussie Specialists and key distribution partners on Australia’s Aboriginal tourism offering.
The campaign, which runs until April 2016, will inspire travellers with the beautiful promotional film ‘Aboriginal Australia: our Country is waiting for you’ airing in premium cinemas in five major cities, through social media and in the German edition of Huffington Post.
A dedicated page on Australia.com has also been created to showcase Aboriginal tourism products that link to offers from distribution partners Boomerang Reisen and Dertour.
Specialist Australian travel agency Boomerang Reisen is supporting the campaign with consumer events, direct mailings as well as online advertising.
In addition, Tourism Australia is partnering with wholesaler Dertour, all Australian States and Territories with representation in Europe as well as Singapore Airlines on a self-drive campaign with a strong Indigenous focus.
Campaign elements include a supplement in one of Germany’s leading newspapers, billboard advertising, window displays in travel agencies as well as training to improve agents’ knowledge of Australia and bookable Indigenous product.
In March 2016, Tourism Australia will tour Germany and Paris with up to 12 Indigenous Tourism Champions to train Aussie Specialists and key distribution partners on Australia’s Aboriginal tourism offering.
AUSTRALIA: One Million Visitors From China Enter Australia
International visitor arrivals data for the year ending November 2015 released yesterday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that China continues to be our fastest growing major source market, with growth of 21.6 per cent for the same period.
The latest figures were welcomed by the Federal Minister for Tourism and International Education, Senator the Hon. Richard Colbeck, who said recently implemented Government measures, such as opening a new Australian Visa Application Centre in Chengdu, China and streamlining visa application processes, were making it easier for Chinese tourists to come to Australia and will support continued growth into the future.
Tourism Australia Managing Director, John O’Sullivan, added that key to building a market now worth $7.7 billion annually to the Australian economy had been moving away from traditional group tours and aggressively targeting China’s rapidly emerging middle class.
“Our marketing, distribution and partnership strategies are all now geared towards targeting this new breed of young, independent traveller with the desire and the financial means to explore our country. That’s where we are focusing our resources and I’m delighted to say that is what is driving these impressive results,” he said.
Tourism Australia has undertaken several recent initiatives to boost Chinese tourism such as building an elite network of travel agents in China who are specially trained to sell tour packages to high-yielding clients. In recent years, Tourism Australia has also signed major strategic marketing agreements with China's largest carriers, including China Southern, China Eastern and Air China.
Mr O’Sullivan said those Australian tourism businesses which understood and were willing to adapt to the needs of Chinese visitors would derive the biggest benefits.
“We’ve gone to significant lengths to research and improve our understanding of our target consumer – their travel preferences and behaviour and the type of tourism experiences they are most looking for. The good news is that the industry is really starting to embrace this incredible opportunity by developing experiences which better meet the needs of the many Chinese visitors now flocking to our country,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
Fast facts
Chinese visitor arrivals to Australia:
Chinese visitor arrivals have increased from 100,000 in the year 2000 to one million in January 2016, with an average annual growth rate of 18 per cent since 2010.
Chinese arrivals grew two-to-three times faster in most months in 2015 than total overall arrivals to Australia.
Arrivals breakdown – holiday (53 per cent), visiting friends and relatives (20 per cent) and education (13 per cent).
Chinese visitor spend:
China is Australia’s most valuable market, with Chinese visitors spending more than $7.7 billion annually. Spend has increased by more than 400 per cent in the past 10 years, from $1.5 billion in 2005 to $7.7 billion in 2015.
Year-on-year spending grew 43 per cent in 2015 – double the previous 12 month’s growth rate.
Under Australia’s long-term tourism strategy, the value of the China market was originally estimated to be between $7.4 billion and $9 billion a year by 2020. Annual spending has already exceeded the lower end of that original range, and more recent forecasts indicate the market could be worth up to $13 billion.
Find out more about the latest visitor arrivals figures for the year ending November 2015.
Friday, 4 December 2015
International Tourism Spending At $35b
Tourism spending rose in all states except for Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Tourism Australia's strategy of targeting high-yielding international visitors is paying off, with spending by international travellers reaching a record high of $34.8 billion in the year to September 30.
The 13 per cent rise in spending was nearly double the 7 per cent increase in arrivals to 6.68 million during the period, which was also a record, and represented the strongest growth since 2001. The September quarter figures were even stronger, with spending up by 19 per cent after having picked up pace throughout the year.
Tourism and International Education Minister Richard Colbeck said the government's efforts to boost flight capacity, its visa reforms and focused international marketing was increasing Australia's appeal in the growing global tourism market.
The number of Chinese visitors rose by 22 per cent to 896,000 over the last 12 months, with spending up 43 per cent to $7.7 billion for Australia's most lucrative market. There was also record spending by visitors from New Zealand, the US, India, Singapore, Malaysia and other key markets.
Tourism Australia managing director John O'Sullivan said the figures showed Australia's strategy of luring high-spending visitors, with a focus on marketing its food and wine, was paying off.
"The tyranny of time, distance and cost mean that Australia will never be a high volume destination, which is why our Tourism 2020 strategy is unashamedly focused upon yield: encouraging international visitors to stay longer, disperse further and ultimately do more and spend more while in our country," he said.
"Looking at these latest figures, we're clearly making solid progress, with international spending for the 12 month period growing nearly twice as fast as our already strong international arrivals numbers."
Spending by international visitors rose in all states and territories except for Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Queensland's Sunshine Coast, which had a 4.5 per cent rise in visitors during the period, said it expected further benefits in the coming months from Bindi Irwin's appearance on the US version of Dancing with the Stars.
"She did a brilliant job promoting Queensland and her Sunshine Coast home-base, and with the American dollar maintaining its high value against the Australian dollar, we believe we can really translate the 'Bindi factor' into substantial US increases," Visit Sunshine Coast chief executive Simon Ambrose said.
Mr Colbeck said the education market had also been a strong contributor to tourism over the last year, with education visitor numbers up 19 per cent and spending up 27 per cent to $8.2 billion.
"With approximately 600,000 international students currently enrolled onshore, and growing, that adds up to a significant contribution," he said.
Tourism Australia's strategy of targeting high-yielding international visitors is paying off, with spending by international travellers reaching a record high of $34.8 billion in the year to September 30.
The 13 per cent rise in spending was nearly double the 7 per cent increase in arrivals to 6.68 million during the period, which was also a record, and represented the strongest growth since 2001. The September quarter figures were even stronger, with spending up by 19 per cent after having picked up pace throughout the year.
Tourism and International Education Minister Richard Colbeck said the government's efforts to boost flight capacity, its visa reforms and focused international marketing was increasing Australia's appeal in the growing global tourism market.
The number of Chinese visitors rose by 22 per cent to 896,000 over the last 12 months, with spending up 43 per cent to $7.7 billion for Australia's most lucrative market. There was also record spending by visitors from New Zealand, the US, India, Singapore, Malaysia and other key markets.
Tourism Australia managing director John O'Sullivan said the figures showed Australia's strategy of luring high-spending visitors, with a focus on marketing its food and wine, was paying off.
"The tyranny of time, distance and cost mean that Australia will never be a high volume destination, which is why our Tourism 2020 strategy is unashamedly focused upon yield: encouraging international visitors to stay longer, disperse further and ultimately do more and spend more while in our country," he said.
"Looking at these latest figures, we're clearly making solid progress, with international spending for the 12 month period growing nearly twice as fast as our already strong international arrivals numbers."
Spending by international visitors rose in all states and territories except for Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Queensland's Sunshine Coast, which had a 4.5 per cent rise in visitors during the period, said it expected further benefits in the coming months from Bindi Irwin's appearance on the US version of Dancing with the Stars.
"She did a brilliant job promoting Queensland and her Sunshine Coast home-base, and with the American dollar maintaining its high value against the Australian dollar, we believe we can really translate the 'Bindi factor' into substantial US increases," Visit Sunshine Coast chief executive Simon Ambrose said.
Mr Colbeck said the education market had also been a strong contributor to tourism over the last year, with education visitor numbers up 19 per cent and spending up 27 per cent to $8.2 billion.
"With approximately 600,000 international students currently enrolled onshore, and growing, that adds up to a significant contribution," he said.
Monday, 2 November 2015
AUSTRALIA: China To Keep Australia's Tourism Industry Strong
A group of Chinese tourists take in the sights around Federation Square, Melbourne.
Chinese tourists are poised to overtake New Zealanders as Australia's most common visitors within five years, according to the government's tourism researcher.
Tourism Research Australia's Tourism Forecasts 2015 says the number of foreign tourists is expected to increase by 5.9 per cent to 7.5 million this financial year, including a 15.5 per cent rise in the number of Chinese visitors.
Although China's economy has slowed down, growth in tourists from China, India and Malaysia is expected to outpace the global average rate of growth, the body's assistant general manager, Janice Wykes, said.
"Similarly, the economic growth of Australia's leading Western tourism markets such as the United States, the United Kingdom and New Zealand is expected to exceed the average rate of growth forecast for advanced economies as well," she said. "Inbound tourism demand is likely to remain strong for the next few years."
The total growth rate is forecast to fall to an average annual rate of 4.1 per cent over the next decade, resulting in 10.6 million tourists arriving in 2024-25. By 2019-2020, the number of mainland Chinese visitors is expected to reach 1.4 million, up from 927,700 in 2014-15, overtaking New Zealand for the first time.
Jie Chen, a tourist from Beijing who visited the Wild Life Sydney Zoo with her husband Weibin Lee on Monday, said they were "loving it" in Australia so far. She said the couple planned to spend three days in Sydney followed by two days in Melbourne and three days travelling along the Great Ocean Road.
Jianchao Zhan, a tourist from Guangzhou, said he had come to Australia with his family for a two-week holiday because his cousin had studied here and enjoyed it. But Mr Zhan said his own experience in Australia was proving "so-so" and he had preferred a previous holiday in the United States.
In Australia spending from the domestic and international tourism sectors is expected to reach $145.1 billion by 2024-25, up from $107.8 billion in the 2014-15 financial year. Overnight visitor spending, the key part of the industry's ambitious Tourism 2020 target, is expected to reach the bottom end of the goal range of $115 billion to $140 million by the end of this decade.
Strategy change
Minister for Tourism and International Education Richard Colbeck said tourism was already a major pillar of the economy, but the growth forecasts were encouraging.
"This government remains focused on embracing opportunities and continuing to grow our tourism sector," he said after the report was released on Monday.
Margy Osmond, chief executive of industry body Tourism and Transport Forum, said a renewed economic and investment strategy was needed to ensure tourism remained one of the big waves of the future for the Australian economy.
"More tourists, staying more nights, and spending more money, means more jobs for Australians and a wealthier nation," she said. "It's an absolute no-brainer for government and industry to work together to put tourism into overdrive to take up the slack in the economy following the end of the mining boom."
Tourism Accommodation Association chief executive Carol Guiseppi said the industry could be assisted by positive measures to cut red tape, improved service standards through greater access to skilled staff and by curbing unregulated accommodation.
"There's no better time to make the most of the fall in the Australian dollar," she said.
Tourism Research Australia expects the Australian dollar will average around US70¢ to US72¢ over the next two years, with domestic tourism expected to pick up momentum as a result of the lower currency and lower fuel prices.
But overall, international tourism is expected to lead the growth for the industry, supported by a lower currency and improved economic conditions in key source markets. As a result, the inbound share of total tourism spending is expected to rise to 34 per cent by 2024-25 from 31 per cent in the last financial year.
Outbound travel stable
Tourism Australia managing director John O'Sullivan said that while the industry was performing strongly, the challenge was to maintain this momentum into the future.
"I think we've seen Australian tourism come of age as an industry in recent years and demonstrate itself to be a key pillar of economic growth for our country," he said.
"Whilst this is only a forecast, the outlook for our industry over the next few years certainly looks positive, particularly if the strengthening of economic conditions we've been seeing across key international markets continues and foreign exchange remains favourable."
Growth in outbound travel by Australians is expected to remain at a stable rate of around 3.3 per cent a year to 2024-25, reaching 12.8 million departures. That means Australia will still have a larger number of its citizens heading overseas than international visitors reaching our shores.
Chinese tourists are poised to overtake New Zealanders as Australia's most common visitors within five years, according to the government's tourism researcher.
Tourism Research Australia's Tourism Forecasts 2015 says the number of foreign tourists is expected to increase by 5.9 per cent to 7.5 million this financial year, including a 15.5 per cent rise in the number of Chinese visitors.
Although China's economy has slowed down, growth in tourists from China, India and Malaysia is expected to outpace the global average rate of growth, the body's assistant general manager, Janice Wykes, said.
"Similarly, the economic growth of Australia's leading Western tourism markets such as the United States, the United Kingdom and New Zealand is expected to exceed the average rate of growth forecast for advanced economies as well," she said. "Inbound tourism demand is likely to remain strong for the next few years."
The total growth rate is forecast to fall to an average annual rate of 4.1 per cent over the next decade, resulting in 10.6 million tourists arriving in 2024-25. By 2019-2020, the number of mainland Chinese visitors is expected to reach 1.4 million, up from 927,700 in 2014-15, overtaking New Zealand for the first time.
Jie Chen, a tourist from Beijing who visited the Wild Life Sydney Zoo with her husband Weibin Lee on Monday, said they were "loving it" in Australia so far. She said the couple planned to spend three days in Sydney followed by two days in Melbourne and three days travelling along the Great Ocean Road.
Jianchao Zhan, a tourist from Guangzhou, said he had come to Australia with his family for a two-week holiday because his cousin had studied here and enjoyed it. But Mr Zhan said his own experience in Australia was proving "so-so" and he had preferred a previous holiday in the United States.
In Australia spending from the domestic and international tourism sectors is expected to reach $145.1 billion by 2024-25, up from $107.8 billion in the 2014-15 financial year. Overnight visitor spending, the key part of the industry's ambitious Tourism 2020 target, is expected to reach the bottom end of the goal range of $115 billion to $140 million by the end of this decade.
Strategy change
Minister for Tourism and International Education Richard Colbeck said tourism was already a major pillar of the economy, but the growth forecasts were encouraging.
"This government remains focused on embracing opportunities and continuing to grow our tourism sector," he said after the report was released on Monday.
Margy Osmond, chief executive of industry body Tourism and Transport Forum, said a renewed economic and investment strategy was needed to ensure tourism remained one of the big waves of the future for the Australian economy.
"More tourists, staying more nights, and spending more money, means more jobs for Australians and a wealthier nation," she said. "It's an absolute no-brainer for government and industry to work together to put tourism into overdrive to take up the slack in the economy following the end of the mining boom."
Tourism Accommodation Association chief executive Carol Guiseppi said the industry could be assisted by positive measures to cut red tape, improved service standards through greater access to skilled staff and by curbing unregulated accommodation.
"There's no better time to make the most of the fall in the Australian dollar," she said.
Tourism Research Australia expects the Australian dollar will average around US70¢ to US72¢ over the next two years, with domestic tourism expected to pick up momentum as a result of the lower currency and lower fuel prices.
But overall, international tourism is expected to lead the growth for the industry, supported by a lower currency and improved economic conditions in key source markets. As a result, the inbound share of total tourism spending is expected to rise to 34 per cent by 2024-25 from 31 per cent in the last financial year.
Outbound travel stable
Tourism Australia managing director John O'Sullivan said that while the industry was performing strongly, the challenge was to maintain this momentum into the future.
"I think we've seen Australian tourism come of age as an industry in recent years and demonstrate itself to be a key pillar of economic growth for our country," he said.
"Whilst this is only a forecast, the outlook for our industry over the next few years certainly looks positive, particularly if the strengthening of economic conditions we've been seeing across key international markets continues and foreign exchange remains favourable."
Growth in outbound travel by Australians is expected to remain at a stable rate of around 3.3 per cent a year to 2024-25, reaching 12.8 million departures. That means Australia will still have a larger number of its citizens heading overseas than international visitors reaching our shores.
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