Chinese and Australian officials are meeting in Sydney tonight to officially kick off a effort that both countries hope will increase cross border tourism. The China-Australia Year of Tourism is designed to highlight the importance of the link between the two countries - and to capitalise on a growing market.
In conjunction with the Chinese New Year Festival, the gala event was celebrated by officials from both
Chinese and Australian governments, highlighted by world-class Chinese concert - Treasures of A Nation,
performed by the prestigious Chinese Orchestra of China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater
along with well-known Chinese singer Li Yugang.
The event featuring officials from both countries was held here at Sydney’s iconic Opera House - a huge tourist draws in its own right.
The goal of this year-long, cross border effort is to focus a spotlight on tourism, which at the moment here in Australia is enjoying a steady increase - thanks to the rising numbers of Chinese tourists.
The high profile event was designed to be a celebration - which included what was billed as a world class Chinese concert.
It also served to highlight the nearly 2 decade-old tourism partnership between the two countries - and officially launch an effort to take that partnership to the next level.
That includes an increased focus on travel specialists, exhibitions, and youth programs.
Last year - more than 1 million Chinese visitors spent nearly $9 billion
AUD in Australia, and more than 6-hundred-thousand Aussies picked China as their tourist destination.
And officials from both countries expect those numbers to continue to rise.
The opening ceremony of the highly-anticipated China-Australia Year of Tourism
was held at Sydney’s iconic Opera House on February 5, 2017.
"For China, Australia is an equally important tourist partner, it is China's 3rd largest long distance tourism market," Luo Weijian, director of China National Tourist Office in Sydeny, said.
"The more Chinese people visit our nation, and the more Australians that go to China, the better we will understand each other and the more opportunities we will have for further engagement and cooperation at every level," Steven Ciobo, Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, said.
To give you an idea of the potential that people here believe lies ahead - Australian tourism officials expect the amount Chinese tourists spend here in year 2020 to reach $14 billion AUD.
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