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Saturday, February 13, 2016

Chasing the Chinese RMB in Australia: Soft Approach Touching the heart of Mainland Chinese 澳洲追逐中国人民币:柔性策略打动大陆游客

During Chinese New Year, I was with my wife in Melbourne for few days. What amazed me was the overwhelming numbers of tourists from Mainland China.  I was told this was a normal year-round business, not just the Chinese New Year phenomenon.  I must congratulate the Australian Government, as well as its private sector, whom had done the right approach touching the heart of Mainland Chinese.

Sitting on the free city circle tram, tourists were greeted with songs and greetings of Chinese New Year in mandarin.  Most of the shopping centers welcomed visitors with lion dances and God of Fortune.  The local tourism board provided Chinese language signage at all lookouts along the scenic Great Ocean Road.  There were even free Mandarin speaking guides at the 12 Apostles every 45 minutes daily.  Apart from the free services offered by the government, there was no shortage of private Mandarin speaking tours at a cost.

We spent a night in a small motel in Apollo Bay.  95% of the guests were from Mainland China.  The receptionist told me that she observed an increasing number of Mainland Chinese tourists.  She carefully advised her Chinese guests where to fine Chinese food or to enjoy local fare.  There was even a traditional red banner (chun lian ) with Chinese New Year greetings of prosperity and good fortune at the local eateries.

When I asked some of the Chinese tourists why they chose Australia as a tourist destination, the usual answers were its beautiful blue sea, pristine white sandy beaches, varieties of shopping, safety and the vibrant multicultural environment.  In short, they felt that it was value for money travelling in Australia.  It was also helpful with the mandarin signage as hey didn't feel lost in a foreign land.  The Australian government had even designed its business visa for Mainland Chinese as "88 visa" or "888 visa" since EIGHT was a prosperous number in Chinese culture.  These simple measures had touched the heart of Mainland Chinese and made them feel welcome in Australia.  There were no expensive gimmicks, high profile promotions, nor hosting of extravagant festivals.  The tourists may have enjoyed the sights and the spectacles but they were often unable to be connected with the events unfolding before them.

Malaysia hopes to reach the target of 10 million Mainland Chinese tourists. Currently, we are receiving about 1.5 million.  The Mainland Chinese are known to be high spenders.  If not mistaken, every Chinese tourist spends average RM3,500 per trip.  If we have 10 million of Mainland Chinese tourists, we are boosting our economy with RM35 billion.  The Ministry of Tourism should seriously look into these simple measures that makes Mainland Chinese tourists feel at home. 


"Malaysia, truly Asia" is a beautiful slogan but it has no relevance to the Mainland Chinese.  What Australia has to offer, Malaysia could offer in abundance and more especially in Sabah.  It is HOW we market our tourism products to the targeted Mainland Chinese tourists.

农历猴年期,我和太太前往住了四天我吃惊的是里涌了大批的中国大游客。我得知种情况不只是生在农历新年,实际上澳洲各地都可看到大量的大游客。我必澳洲政府和当地的私人界致于敬意,因只是采取的方法,可是却已足以得大陆游客芳心

坐在费环城电车里,耳来的是中文的农历新年祝贺语和新年歌。大多数的物中心安排来迎接客人。当地的旅游光局不在旅游景区大洋路每个景点中文告示牌,还特别在“十二门徒提石灰岩”景区,提供免中文游每45钟讲解服。除了有关当局的免费导游服 景区里也不乏懂得需付中文游,向游客解和介澳洲的土人情。

们沿途在阿波湾的一旅舍一个晚上。旅舍95%住客是大的游客。柜台接待我,到访的中国大游客是与日增。接待会主告知每个住客何有中餐和当地美食。即使在小小的餐,也都上充喜气春意的春联同庆新年

当我游客什么到澳洲旅游,他的回答不外是澳洲有美的海景沙物中心、安全及多姿多彩的多元文化境。言之他们认为到澳洲旅游不但物有所,况且目可的中文告示牌,在异国不会迷路及感到无助澳洲政府甚至投其所好,将陆来澳的签证标“88” “888”签证,因“8”中文音是,是好兆。就只的措施,已客倍感切,至如啊!其不需要昂的促手法,也无需高格的旅游促,更不必霍的典。游客可能对这些感到心悦目,但往往目是无法有内心的触

来西希望能吸引1千万大游客到访,唯目前只有150马马观。大游客都是高消的群体,如果我没记错,每名中国游客每趟旅程的消平均是3500令吉。想如果我国接待1千万中国游客,那是等同在经济域注入350亿令吉。旅游部或许应该,但却能真正触游客内心深的措施。来西-洲魅力所在的口号很漂亮,但和大游客扯不上关系以引起共。澳洲能提供的,其能做的更多更好,只在于我如何去推旅游品,以开拓大的中国大游客市

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