China and Asia boost Australia's tourism

Australia’s influx of Chinese wealthy middle class visitors has assisted in keeping the country’s tourism afloat as many Australian’s are spending their strong Aussie dollar overseas.

Tourism research suggests that by 2020, China’s economic input towards Australia’s tourism could top AUD6 billion which is almost double Australia’s second biggest market, the UK, the SMH reported.

As traditional markets including US, Britain and Europe are stuck in a financial bind, statistics show the growth from the Chinese market is keeping the Australian tourism industry booming.

Tourism Australia Chairman Geoff Dixon said that in a similar way that China had assisted in stimulating the Australian mining industry they are boosting tourism.

''China and Asia are coming to Australia's rescue when it comes to tourism,” Mr Dixon said.

According to Mr Dixon China is the leader with countries such as Indonesia, Singapore Malaysia and India following close behind.

''It's accelerating at a rate I don't think anybody really expected,'' Mr Dixon said.

According to Tourism Research Australia Chinese tourists are now the second largest source of tourists by numbers and are also the biggest spender’s contributing AUD3.1 billion to the tourism industry in 2010.

Despite a record 5.9 million overseas visitors coming to Australia (one in four coming from Asia) in the year ending 30 June 2011 Australians took 7.4 million overseas trips, up ten percent from the previous year.

The Australian Bureau of statistics showed that Australian’s spend more overseas with consumption on outbound trips jumping 11 percent compared to consumption by international visitors in Australia up 4.4 percent.

Source - etravelblackboard