Chinese visitor spending surges past $150m

Chinese visitors spent more than $150 million in Western Australia over the last 12 months, after visitor numbers surged by 43.3 per cent over the previous year.

Data released today by Tourism Research Australia showed there were nearly 28,000 Chinese visitors to WA over the last year, while their annual spending was up 60.4 per cent to $154 million.

The surge in Chinese visitors, however, failed to stem a 5.6 per cent drop in international leisure tourists.

Overall international visitors were up 2.5 per cent, with business visits rising by 8.2 per cent, the research said.

Tourism council chief executive Evan Hall said the growth in Chinese tourists was spectacular, but Perth needed to do more to cater to Chinese visitors.

Mr Hall urged state and local governments to get ‘China Ready’ and pushed initiatives such as Chinese signage in key tourism precincts, cultural awareness training for taxi drivers, Mandarin speaking tour guides and ‘China Ready’ training.

“We must show our Chinese guests a great time, so they will promote WA to their family and friends when they get back home,” Mr Hall said.