Australia has received a windfall as the Approved Destination Status (ADS) scheme has been expanded…
Australia has received a windfall as the Approved Destination Status (ADS) scheme has been expanded to allow tourists from all provinces of China to go Down Under.
The announcement follows a meeting between Australian Minister for Immigration, senator Amanda Vanstone, and the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) chairman, Mr Shao Qiwei, in Beijing this week.
Prior to the agreement, the Australian ADS scheme covers only nine Chinese regions including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangdong, Hebei, Shandong and Chongqing. The new arrangement will allow Australia to reach an additional 855 million Chinese citizens.
China is Australia`s fastest growing inbound tourist market. Tourism Australia managing director, Mr Scott Morrison, said: The China market represents an enormous long-term opportunity for Australian tourism forecast to grow at more than 16 per cent annually, to reach about 1.2 million visitors per year by 2014.
Tourism Australia is focusing on targeting Chinese visitors who will spend more and disperse widely when in Australia, spreading the economic benefits of tourism throughout the country, Mr Morrison added.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
