A group of 12 Gold Coast tourism businesses is in China for a series of meetings and workshops with 80 of China’s best travel wholesalers and retailers throughout Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing.
Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter said the mission to China was one important part of the city’s strategy to develop a productive and sustainable relationship with the Chinese travel industry and tourists.
“This particular group of active Gold Coast tourism businesses are export ready but not yet connected to the Chinese market, so we are building that bridge with them,†he said.
China is the Gold Coast’s second largest source of international visitors. It is forecast to overtake New Zealand, the No1 international source market, by June 2012.
In the year ended March 2011, the Gold Coast attracted 121,000 Chinese visitors (14% increase on previous year) and they spent $111,000,000 in the city (37% increase on the previous year).
The Gold Coast tourism operators on the China mission are: Historic Rivermill, Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, Tropical Fruit World, Southern Cross 4WD, Gold Coast Airport, Paradise Jetboating, Tall Ships, Hotel Grand Chancellor, Harbour Town Outlet Shopping Centre, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, Mantra Group and Hot Air Gold Coast.
