Chinese tourist numbers up almost 50 per cent in past 12 months, new Tasmanian visitor survey shows

THE world can’t get enough of Tasmania, with a surge in the number of Chinese tourists pushing visitor numbers to another record.

THE world can’t get enough of Tasmania, with a surge in the number of Chinese tourists pushing visitor numbers to another record and underlining tourism as the state’s economic powerhouse.

The number of Chinese vis­iting Tasmania almost doubled to 18,900 as the state welcomed a record 1.06 milllion visitors during the 12 months to March. And the tourism boom is now being shared by regional areas, which also enjoyed double-digit growth during the period.

The latest Tasmanian Visitor Survey figures show a 14 per cent jump in overall visitor numbers, which comes after the state first cracked the magic million mark last September.

The State Government says it wants to attract 1.5 million visitors a year by 2020.

While Premier and Tourism Minister Will Hodgman was yesterday talking up a doubling in the number of visitors from China, the tourism industry’s peak body said the big news was double-digit growth in regional areas.

Net spending by tourists had increased to $1.7 billion, up 17 per cent.

Mr Hodgman said the Asian market was key to the state’s future and planning had started on a Tourism Tasmania Greater China sales mission in September.

The mission would help “Asia-ready” tourism operators build relationships in the market.

“Tasmania is fast becoming a must-see destination for Chinese tourists, with more tourists travelling from China than any other country,” he said.

Victoria was the state’s biggest domestic tourist market by far, with 399,400 Victorians visiting, an increase of 8 per cent.

There were bigger jumps in numbers from NSW, up 24 per cent to 238,300, and Queensland, up 23 per cent to 142,600.

Airlines are offering more seats to Tasmania from key ­interstate markets.

Hobart has been filled with interstate visitors thanks to MONA’s Dark Mofo festival.

Up to 65 per cent of audience members for some acts were from interstate.

Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania chief Luke Martin said the snapshot showed the best figures in years.

While the jump in numbers from China was welcome, the big news was the growth in visitors to regional Tasmania.

Visits to the East Coast rose 20 per cent, were up 12 per cent in the North and 10 per cent to the Cradle Coast, he said.

While the overall figures were extremely positive, it was important that the numbers were sustained, especially in regional areas.

The target of 1.5 million visitors a year by 2020 was realistic and would generate a further $800 million of visitor spending and 8000 jobs.