Chinese tourism expert suggests Adelaide should market itself as a health tourism hotspot
VISITORS from China could be attracted to South Australia as a ‘health and wellbeing’ hotspot, a leading tourism investment boss says.
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ADELAIDE could be a huge drawcard for international tourists seeking a “health and wellbeing” experience, a leading Chinese tourism expert says.
Anthony Coles, founder of the Sinosphere Australia consultancy serving Australian and Chinese clients on trade and investment, says Adelaide could be promoted to the world, and especially Asia, as a wellness destination.
He pointed to the planned proton therapy centre at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute as an example of a potential drawcard.
The centre, which will be the first of its type in the southern hemisphere, enables doctors to specifically target tumours in sensitive places in the body, with less risk of damaging surrounding organs.
Mr Coles’ call come as State Government figures show South Australia’s tourism sector is booming — yet at a rate much slower than the national average.
The tourism investment expert, who also chairs the Australia China Business Council — SA Tourism Working Group, said building two of the therapy units could double South Australia’s inbound flights from China.
He said visitors could take advantage of a world class health system and then recover by the beach, Murray, or in the state’s wineries.
“South Australia and the Northern Territory should create a special economic zone around health,” Mr Coles said.
“As a marketing tool you will have everyone from Indonesia to Japan seeking treatment in Adelaide for everything from cancer to asthma. If we had a strategy, we could be known as the health centre of Australia.”
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