NSW tourism operators suspended from ADS

Tourism operators Honey Trading Pty Ltd and Ai Hua International Travel Pty Ltd have been suspended from organising Chinese tour groups to visit Australia after breaching an agreement.

The Minister for Tourism Martin Ferguson said on Friday the two companies had breached the Approved Destination Status (ADS) Code of Business Standards and Ethics.

The ADS scheme is a bilateral agreement between Australia and the People's Republic of China which facilitates the travel of organised tour groups from China to Australia.

However, due to "tourism quality issues", both businesses have been suspended from the ADS scheme for a period of three months, effective 18 June.