WA Works with Ctrip to Lure Chinese Visitors

(Source: Travel Weekly China)

Travel service provider Ctrip recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Tourism Western Australia to connect Chinese travellers with Western Australia's numerous tourism offerings.

Western Australia has plenty to see from natural wonders to important historical sites, and by utilising the new partnership, the state aims to draw more travellers from China, a country which is observing a 6.9% growth year on year and a three-year average growth rate of 11.2% for outbound tourism. Ctrip's data also confirms that spending power is also on the rise, with Chinese tourists having spent 7.9% more than last year with a three-year average growth rate of 13.3%.

Tourism Western Australia is hoping that Chinese visitors will reach the 100,000 mark by 2020, which would bring an estimated 500 million AUD (US$379 million) to the state. Since Ctrip's founding in 1999, the company has experienced substantial growth and has become one of the best-known travel brands in China, which makes the new partnership a critical bilateral cooperation agreement for Tourism Western Australia.

"Compared with more popular destinations, Western Australia is gradually becoming a new hot spot for Chinese tourists. Travel products and destination information are especially popular among young Ctrip users,” said Jenna Qian, Ctrip's destination marketing general manager.