New tourism campaign by Australia targets China
SYDNEY - Agence France-Presse
A surfer is seen during a competition at Bells Beach in Torquay, Australia. The country is promoting its attractions to China. AP photo
Australia launched a multi-million dollar global tourism campaign in Shanghai yesterday, targeting China’s growing affluent classes who are venturing overseas in greater numbers.Australia said it will spend Aus$170 million ($164 million) over the next three years to boost tourism with officials choosing the Chinese city to kick-off the “Nothing Like Australia” campaign.
China is already Australia’s fastest growing and most valuable international tourism market, worth more than Aus$3.8 billion in 2011, but officials have said it could be worth up to Aus$9 billion a year by the end of the decade.
“Using fresh imagery of some of Australia’s most appealing attractions is an integral part of a long term strategy to grow our $73.3 billion tourism industry,” Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson said.
Attractions in Australia
“Attracting visitors to Australia ... we have to constantly remind international visitors that Australia possesses tourism attractions, products and experiences that are amongst the best in the world.” The campaign was launched in China as part of Australia’s plan to tap the country’s fast-growing second tier cities to boost revenue and will also be taken to Britain and the United States.
Currently their focus is the big three centers of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
But growing middle and upper classes outside these places is seeing Australia turn its attention to cities such as Chongqing, Hangzhou, and Nanjing.
Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy said China could deliver around 900,000 annual visitors to Australia worth up to Aus$9 billion a year by the end of the decade.
As well as television commercials and print advertising, the campaign boasts a strong digital and social media focus, and will leverage Tourism Australia’s three million Facebook fans.
Other elements include a new, interactive tablet app.
