SOUTH Australia has hit its 2020 target for Chinese visitors three years early, according to the latest International Visitor Survey results.
Rising to a record high of 61,000, visits are up 58pc and accelerating past the State Government’s 2020 target of 57,000.
Chinese expenditure is also up a huge 54pc to a record $371m for the year ending September 2017, also surpassing the low-range 2020 target of $370m.
These results are welcome news for the state’s growing $6.3b visitor economy, showing the additional $70m investment by the State Government to market South Australia interstate and overseas is paying dividends.
Tourism Minister Leon Bignell said achieving the 2020 Chinese visitation target early is a massive win for South Australia.
“Not only did we provide an additional $70m to market South Australia interstate and overseas, we also secured direct flights into Adelaide with China Southern, who are now providing five flights per week, up from three when they launched one year ago,” he said.
“China is our most lucrative travel market as well as being one of our largest trading partners.”
