New figures show Australia’s tourism sector is flying, with passenger movements to and from China driving the boom, with experts saying this presents further opportunities for Australian brands.
Data compiled by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) shows the number of foreign tourists flying to and from China on Qantas rising 260%, from 123,800 to 445,000 between 2007 and 2016.
There was also a similar jump in the number of passengers flying on Chinese airlines between Australia and China. The number of passengers travelling this route on Chinese carriers between 2007 and 2016 jumped from 590,000 to 2.2 million, with 659,000 Australian citizens travelling between Australia and China in 2016, according to DFAT.
St George senior economist Janu Chan says the numbers are indicative of the growing Chinese middle class, which continues to present an opportunity to Australia’s tourism sector.
“We expect the trend to continue because China’s middle class continues to grow. And tourism is a big beneficiary of that growing middle class,” she says.
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