Chinese to make up a quarter of Australia's tourists
Chinese visitor will account for 26% of Australian tourists by 2024/25, compared to 13% in 2014/15, according to Tourism Research Australia. However, that represents only 1% of the more than 200 million Chinese travellers heading overseas. China will overtake New Zealand as the country's largest source of visitors by 2017/18.

China is expected to overtake New Zealand as Australia’s largest visitor source market by 2017-18 – two years earlier than previously forecast.

Australia’s visitor economy is on track to generate A$127 billion (US$97bn) in overnight expenditure by 2020 backed by a surging Chinese visitor market, according to the latest tourism forecasts from Tourism Research Australia.

China is expected to overtake New Zealand as Australia’s largest visitor source market by 2017-18 – two years earlier than previously forecast.

Of Australia’s total international visitors, Chinese visitors are expected to increase from 13% in 2014-15 to 26% by 2024-25.

Tourism & Transport Forum Australia (TTF) CEO Margy Osmond said, “By 2024-25, one in every four international visitors travelling to Australia will likely be from China.

“But with more than 200 million Chinese travellers expected to be heading overseas by 2020, Australia will still be capturing less than 1% of this lucrative market.

“We shouldn’t be willing to settle for this result,” Osmond added. “We can do much better than this if the Federal Government is willing to back our successful industry with an economic strategy that allows the sector to reach its full potential.”