Chinese boost Sydney's lagging tourism sector

The number of Chinese entering Australia is at a record high, bucking a slow trend in international visitors and domestic tourism

6 April, 2011

Chinese tourists in Martin Place, Sydney

Australia has received more Chinese tourists than from any other country this year, reports yahoo7.
But Australian tourism is experiencing a downward trend and Australians are increasingly choosing overseas rather than domestic travel.
Latest Bureau of Statistics figures show 77,700 Chinese visitors arrived in Australia in February -- up 6.1 percent from the same month last year.
Combining January and February, arrivals from China rose 25.3 percent or 27,900 visitors, due to Chinese New Year and international student arrivals.

Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) chief executive, John Lee, said, "To meet the needs of growing numbers of Chinese visitors, we must ensure that tourism operators are prepared, with cultural awareness, language skills, cuisine and activities tailored to their needs."

In all, inbound tourism to Australia is lagging behind the rest of the world, with visitor numbers increasing just 2 percent compared with a global average of 6 percent growth last year.
Australian Tourism Export Council managing director Matthew Hingerty has said it would take massive innovation to drag the sector out of the doldrums.

Domestic travel is softening. Only 57 percent of Australian travelers plan on a domestic holiday next -- the lowest level since 2006, according to Roy Morgan research in the "Sydney Morning Herald."

A surging dollar has Australians' overseas travel intentions at a record high.