Chinese tourists on the rise

The trend of Chinese tourists coming to Rockingham to enjoy nature-based activities continues to underpin the region’s tourism market, with Premier Mark McGowan saying the growing number of Asian visitors provides a significant opportunity.

The Telegraph reported earlier this year Rockingham tourism operators had witnessed an increase in the number of Chinese tourists.

International visitor survey statistics released by Tourism Research Australia last week show that for the first time, Chinese tourists are spending more in WA than visitors from any other country.

Tourists from China spent $272 million in WA in the year to September, an increase of 9 per cent.

The number of Chinese people visiting WA also jumped 17.3 per cent, from 48,600 to 57,000.

Mr McGowan spent five days in China last month promoting WA as a tourism destination. He told the Telegraph Rockingham was ideally placed to cash in on the influx of visitors from the Asian nation.

The State’s main role is to get tourists to come to Western Australia — once they are here, we need good product to sell,

Mr McGowan said the State Government was working on establishing direct flights to Perth from Shanghai. He also conceded WA was receiving proportionally fewer visitors from China compared to other Australian States.

The survey results show WA’s share of the national Chinese market was less than 5 per cent.

Rockingham Visitor Centre manager Scott Hewitt said he and his staff had noticed an increase in the number of Chinese tourists using the centre.

“With Rockingham having so many nature-based tourism attractions, we are an ideal day-trip destination for Asian tourists coming to Perth,” he said.

“The feedback that I am receiving from our members is that this is an important and growing market for local tourism operators — and a real opportunity for Rockingham to capitalise upon.”