As of August 1, Australia and New Zealand will be open to
Chinese tourists from all parts of China, according to sources from
China National Tourism Administration.
Previously only tourist groups organized by travel agencies in
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu,
Zhejiang and Chongqing were allowed to travel to New Zealand and
Australia.
The number of Chinese tourists to Australia increased 13 percent
in 2005, to reach 285,000. China has become the second largest
tourism market for Australia in Asia, after Japan.
(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2006)
