Business class: China an evolving travel destination

China’s insatiable appetite for Western Australia’s commodities has brought unprecedented economic prosperity to this state, but it has also shone the spotlight on a nation undergoing a massive transformation.

And, as China looms ever larger in the public consciousness, increasing numbers of Western Australians are deciding to go and take a look for themselves.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures reveal that the number of people who left WA for a holiday to China has surged more than 160 per cent in the five years to December 31 2006.

The ABS statistics show that 6,232 people went to China for a holiday during 2006 compared with 2,362 in 2002.

And hose numbers are set to rise, according to several travel agents spoken to this week by Business Class.

Globetrotter Corporate Travel senior leisure consultant Toni Rossi said the number of people choosing China as a holiday destination had been on the increase since late last year.

“It’s just started to grow,” Ms Rossi said.

“Since October last year it really has blossomed as a destination for people.”

Ms Rossi added that increasing conferences in China in the lead up to the Beijing Olympics was also creating more demand for leisure products as attendees look to see the sights either before or after the conference.

According to the ABS, the number of people leaving WA bound for China to attend conferences jumped nearly 700 per cent in the five years to December 31 2006.

The statistics show just 98 people flew out of WA to attend a conference in China back in 2002, while last year 755 people left the state bound for a Chinese-based conference.

The amount of WA business people bound to China remained fairly stable between 2002 and 2004 but surged in the following two years.

Between 2005 and 2006 the number of people leaving WA to do business in China climbed 68 per cent.

More than 6,000 people left WA for a business trip to China during 2006 compared with about 3,700 in 2004.

Ms Rossi said tourists had traditionally shied away from China because of poor accommodation facilities and perceptions of a language barrier.

“The standard of accommodation used to put people off because there were three-star properties being sold as five star, but now its much better,” Ms Rossi said.

Ms Rossi estimates that her bookings to China are up about 20 per cent to 30 per cent on the same period in 2006.

Another travel agent, who declined to be named, said holiday bookings to China were up about 20 per cent on the same time last year.

“There has been so much publicity about China and all the new building that is going on there,” Ms Rossi said.

“People are much better informed about China and they are looking to go there for between seven and 14 days and they’re doing all the key areas, not just Beijing.”