Chinese tourism doubles to Cairns

The number of travellers visiting the Great Barrier Reef and Cairns more than doubled last year, pushing the Chinese market up to the third biggest in the region.Up to 70,000 visitors from China flew into Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef last year, an increase of up to 85 percent compared to results from 2009.

North Queensland also welcomed a 26 percent growth in visitors from Japan last year compared to the year before which Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Rob Giason said is a strong comeback, “contrary to some predictions”.“This result shows the importance of Cairns & Great Barrier Reef to the Australian economy as a holiday destination for Japanese holiday visitors,” Mr Giason said.

“Local tourism operators have complemented the aviation capacity increases provided by Jetstar, by rebuilding the market.“The yen is strong and there is no better time for the Cairns Vision mission made up of senior tourism industry representatives, which is travelling to Japan this month.”

However, despite achieving growth from the Asia region, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef saw a decline in international visitors from the UK, a fall of up to 14 percent and a drop of nine percent from the USA.Overall the region reports a six percent increase in holiday visitors from the international market last year, this just ahead of the four percent national result.

Source = etravelblackboardasia