The China-Australia Year of Tourism celebrates the close relationship between our two countries and recognises the importance of the China market for Australia’s tourism industry. This year promises to bring Australia and China closer together, not only from a tourism perspective, but across the board, economically, socially and academically.
Australia and China have planned a number of significant events to be held during the Year of Tourism. Australia’s events include Ministerial trade missions to China; marketing and airline partnerships; a Business Events Showcase; and, sporting, cultural and educational exchanges. The activities to be organized by the Chinese side include the arrival ceremony at the ancient city gate of Xi’an for 1,000 Australian tourists and the panda caravan tour in Australia.
Events calendar
| Date | Event |
|
5 February |
Opening Ceremony in Sydney |
| 20 February | Acitivation event in Beijing |
| April | Tourism Australia Business Events Showcase |
| May | Australian Football Rules match in Shanghai |
Key facts about China Australia tourism
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The Australia-China tourism partnership began two decades ago, when Australia became one of the first western countries to receive organised tour groups from China under the Approved Destination Status agreement.
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China is by far Australia’s most valuable tourism market – in the year ended November 2016, almost 1.2 million Chinese visitors to Australia spent over $9 billion, up 18 per cent on the previous year. The China market has the potential to be worth $13 billion by 2020.
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Australian governments support the growth and success of tourism from China through world-class marketing, research, policy and industry collaboration.