Adelaide to be most ‘China friendly city’ with launch of smartphone app to help Chinese travellers find the best experiences

THE pink lake at Lochiel, Penfolds winery and attractions on the Eyre Peninsula are among the most popular searches by Chinese visitors to Adelaide using a nation-leading app.

• Huang Xiaoming appointed a global ambassador for SA
• Download the app for iOS here

LOCHIEL’S pink lake and the coastal attractions of the Eyre Peninsula are among the most popular searches by Chinese visitors to the state.

Early data from a nation-leading app, which launched in September, shows visitors are also travelling to locations as far afield as Ceduna, Arkaroola and Mt Gambier.

The UWAI app, developed by a Shanghai-based team, is the only one of its kind offered to Chinese tourists in Australia.

Funded by the SA Tourism Commission, it is intended to make Adelaide the most “China-friendly city” and help travellers find the best on the ground experiences.

Many are expected to use it to follow the exact itinerary of Chinese superstar Huang Xiaoming, who The Advertiser revealed yesterday has been appointed a global ambassador for SA.

Chinese actor Huang Xiaoming at Kangaroo Island. Picture: South Australian Tourism Commission

He spent a week in SA last month and visited attractions including Kangaroo Island, Coffin Bay, Port Lincoln and Adelaide Oval.

Since the launch of UWAI, Chinese visitors have viewed SA businesses and places profiled on the app more than 3650 times.

More than 1150 businesses are listed, including restaurants, bars, tour operators, hotels and stores.

“We’re directly trying to connect the consumer to the business ... to put dollars in the pockets of SA businesses,” SA Tourism Commission chairman Sean Keenihan told The Advertiser.

The app also collects data on where people use it, showing Chinese travellers are venturing to all corners of the state. and can be download on signage at Adelaide Airport.