The Chinese market is a “massive opportunity” for Australian tourism, according to Tourism Transport Forum (TTF) head John Lee after arrivals from the region shot up by 27.4 percent in January 2012 compared to the same month last year.
Australian Bureau of Statistic research found that for the entire month international arrivals shot up by 4.8 percent during the first month of this year, a figure driven by visitors from Asia visiting during the Chinese New Year.
Hong Kong arrivals also saw a steady growth of 22 percent, Taiwan increased by 19 percent while Indonesian visitors shot up by 13.7 percent.
Mr Lee said while Australia has enjoyed an 11 percent increase in Chinese visitation per annum since 2001, the challenge is now arising to keep them coming after competing destinations commence advertising and attracting the growing market.
He explained that annual figures demonstrated that the US has experienced a 36.2 percent increase in arrivals while the UK and Canada also saw increases of 32 percent and 24.4 percent over 2011 compared to 2010.
