Extragreen, Australia’s largest travel agent for Asian visitors, started its first weekly day tour to the region on Monday.

It comes fresh off the back of Grandcity Tours, another major Chinese operator, starting a day tour in December.

A group of 50 tourists and consultants poured off a bus on Monday and went straight onto the PS Canberra for a one-hour cruise, before enjoying lunch at Wistaria Tea Rooms.

 

Murray River Paddlesteamers director Craig Burgess, who pitched the tour, said Extragreen’s involvement was a major boon for the region.

‘‘This now means the two largest Chinese travel agents in Australia have weekly day tours into central Victoria and Echuca, ’’ he said. ‘‘This is a great result from our investment into the international market to attract big players back to Echuca.’’

It comes as Chinese tourism to Australia continues to skyrocket. More than 1.2million Chinese travellers landed in Australia last year, second only to New Zealand and a 284 per cent increase from 10 years ago.

Mr Burgess said until now most Chinese visitors to Victoria were travelling to Phillip Island, Sovereign Hill and the Twelve Apostles.