A public opinion poll from the Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) reflects widespread support for Chinese tourism to the country, especially in the post-pandemic age.
According to Inside Asian Gaming, the 2021 survey was completed in conducted with the Centre for Business Intelligence & Data Analytics at the University of Technology Sydney.
Relations between the two countries have been strained following criticism of China by the Australian government. China responded with a range of trade sanctions.
In spite of ongoing tensions, the poll released last week found that 74 percent of Australians agree that tourists from China provide a major economic benefit to Australia, and 63 percent believe Australia should continue to court Chinese visitors.
Fifty-one percent of those surveyed believe encouraging Chinese tourism should be a priority for Australia, with 25 percent expressing neutrality. Another 63 percent agreed with the statement, “Without close engagement with China, Australia would not be as prosperous as it currently is.”
A 2020 study found that Australia ranked second behind Japan as the most desirable overseas destination for Chinese travelers and first as a place to study abroad.
“The Chinese market was our biggest for inbound tourism pre-Covid,” said Margy Osmond, CEO of the Tourism and Transport Forum. “It will be critical that we get it back post-pandemic if we are to facilitate a full recovery of the visitor economy—one of the nation’s four super-growth industries.
“Chinese students in particular, apart from their importance to our education sector, provide a vital workforce for the hospitality and tourism and sectors and make a significant contribution to the visiting family and friends market that is of great importance to the visitor economy.”
Matt Bekier, CEO of Star Entertainment Group, said, “There is an incredible window of opportunity if we move safely and quickly to open the international borders. The pre-pandemic forecasts were undeniable. Australia was recording record levels of visitation and growth in tourism numbers was continuing to accelerate. Given the events of the past 18 months we will no doubt be an even more compelling destination once international travel returns.”
