Australian tourists are increasingly drawn to travel to China following their inclusion in China’s unilateral visa-free policy announced recently.
The announcement sparked immediate interest among Australians, with Trip.com, China’s largest online travel agency, reporting an over 80 percent surge in searches related to travel to China within half an hour of the policy’s unveiling.
This surge in interest comes amid a broader trend of growing travel connections between China and Australia. Flights and frequencies between the two countries have expanded significantly this year, reflecting a rising popularity in travel.
Australia currently ranks fifth among the largest sources of inbound tourists to China this year, with a notable 155 percent year-on-year increase in orders for tourism services from Australian visitors.
Flight connections have also seen substantial growth, with flights from Australia to China increasing by more than 220 percent compared to last year, according to data from Trip.com Group.
Additionally, the average price of flight tickets from Australia to China has dropped nearly 30 percent this summer compared to the previous year, making travel more accessible.
Popular destinations for Australian tourists in China include Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Hangzhou.
Qin Jing, vice-president of Trip.com Group, highlighted that the visa-free policy is expected to accelerate tourism exchanges and enhance economic and trade cooperation between China and Australia. The policy is also set to benefit the over one million Chinese residents in Australia, facilitating easier travel and family visits.
Moreover, the visa exemption for Australian tourists has spurred interest among Chinese tourists to explore travel options in Australia. Qunar, a Beijing-based online travel agency, noted a more than 40 percent increase in searches for flight tickets from China to Australia following the policy announcement.
Direct flights currently connect Sydney and Melbourne with major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing, and Xiamen. Brisbane is also connected directly with Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Chinese tourists planning trips to Australia are showing interest in iconic attractions such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Sydney Opera House, as well as unique experiences like whale watching and observing penguins, according to Xiao Peng from Qunar’s big data research institute.
The recent announcement by China to include New Zealand in its unilateral visa-free policy list is also expected to further boost inbound tourism to China.
This move underscores growing tourism ties between China, Australia, and New Zealand, reflecting their economic complementarity and potential for expanded cooperation, particularly in the tourism sector.