Embrace Tourism Bonanza.docVIP

Embrace Tourism Bonanza 　　Chinese outbound tourism enjoyed an explosive growth in recent years. The country has overtaken both USA and Germany to become the largest outbound market in the world with Chinese tourists now the top source of tourism cash， according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization（UNWTO）. 　　In the year ended June 30， China consolidated its position world’s biggest source of tourists in terms of both number of trips and money spent on travel. 　　Latest data from the China National Tourism Administration show that Chinese outbound tourists grew by 13% year on year to 61.9 million. The growth rate in Chinese outbound tourists is higher than rate inbound tourists to China. About 65.1 million tourists visited China in the first half of 2015， up 4.5% compared with the same period last year. 　　According to the tourism authority， Chinese tourists spent 260 billion dollars in traveling， up 14.5% from the same period a year earlier. 　　In the full year of 2015， the total number of Chinese tourists traveling outside the country is expected to exceed 110 million， according to a prediction from a Russia-based tourism council called World Without Borders. 　　China’s ever-expanding middle class is enjoying rising incomes， improved living standards， a strengthening currency， improved aviation connections and more open visa policies. These factors have lead to a boom in outbound tourism. 　　Many countries want to get a slice of the explosive growth in Chinese outbound tourism， including Australia. In 2014， Australia became the most preferred overseas travel destination for wealthy Chinese. 　　According to Jonathan O’Dea， Liberal Member for Davidson and Parliamentary Secretary for Major Events and Tourism， the number of Chinese tourists visiting Australia grew by 17.8% last year， with growing economies and increasing mutual understanding and exchange between peoples. 　　Among international tourists to Australia， the Chinese were the second largest