| 01 Aug 2008 |
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| Zhang Jing |
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TWO themes dominated this year’s Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE): sustainable development and Australian aboriginals. It was the first time that aboriginal culture tours that focus on natural exploration and cultural experience were promoted as an exhibition product and it attracted the attention of both buyers and the media.
Over 1,700 suppliers and 600 buyers gathered in Perth in June to attend the seven day event.
In 2007, Australia received 5.6 million overseas travellers, an increase of two percent over 2007. Arrivals from Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, India and Malaysia remained at a double-digit growth.
For the year 2008, opportunities and challenges coexist. The movie, Australia, starring Nicole Kidman, will be shown in 70 countries worldwide in November. As the story unfolds, millions of audiences will get to enjoy the natural beauty, rich history and unique aboriginal culture of the country. Australian Tourist Commission will seize this opportunity by launching a special global promotion, said Tourism Australia managing director, Geoff Buckley.
China is the fifth largest tourist source nation to Australia. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who is able to speak fluent Chinese, serves as an ideal person to develop public relations and strengthen trade and cultural ties with China. As a result, Australia is becoming more attractive to Chinese outbound tourists. Despite such drawbacks as rising oil prices, reduced international flight capacities, a strong Australian currency and an unstable global economy, inbound travelers to Australia is expected to increase by one percent in 2008.
In the financial year of 2008, Australia will invest A$135 million (US$126 million) in global tourism promotion, about two- thirds of which will be spent in such leading markets as China, Japan, Korea, America, England, Germany and New Zealand. |
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