Why Chinese tourists are snubbing Australia

Michael Smith and Fiona Carruthers

May 19, 2023 – 9.35am

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Tokyo | Sydney A lingering ban on tour groups visiting Australia, visa difficulties and too few flights are among the factors being blamed for subdued Chinese visitor numbers.

Travel industry leaders have urged China to reinstate Australia as an approved destination for Chinese tourists travelling on guided tours, which would remove restrictions that have been in place since 2020.

Michael Smith is the health editor for The Australian Financial Review. He is based in Sydney.

Fiona Carruthers has written and edited travel for the Financial Review for almost a decade. She has held senior roles with ABC Radio National, Deutsche Welle Radio, TIME and The Australian, and was deputy editor of Traveller.