After a patchy post-pandemic recovery, Australia is once again high on Chinese travellers’ wish-lists. Fresh data released on 8 October by online-travel giant Trip.com shows flight bookings from Mainland China to Australia during the National Day ‘Golden Week’ holiday were 19 per cent higher than a year ago, out-pacing long-haul rivals in Europe and North America. The surge signals a structural shift in how Chinese visitors engage with Australia. Agents report fewer 40-seater coach tours and a marked increase in small premium groups, self-drive itineraries and extended road trips that combine icons such as the Sydney Opera House with nature-based experiences in the Whitsundays or along the Great Ocean Road. Average hotel stays of seven nights or more were up 123 per cent year-on-year, according to Trip.com, suggesting higher per-capita spending. Airlines are taking notice. Shanghai–Perth ranked as Trip.com’s fastest-growing long-haul route, up almost 280 per cent, while Shanghai–Sydney retained second spot overall. Tourism Australia says China is already Australia’s largest source of visitor expenditure (A$12.3 billion in the year to September 2025) and rising seat capacity could push arrivals past the pre-COVID peak of 1.4 million by 2028. For hotel owners, tour operators and retail landlords, the shift toward independent travel means investing in Mandarin-language digital channels, flexible payment options and bespoke experiences rather than mass-market discounting. Business events planners are also watching closely, as corporate incentive groups from China begin exploring long-haul destinations again and may favour boutique lodges and wildlife encounters over city-centre banquets. The rebound comes despite Australia’s recent tightening of onshore visa extensions for students and visitors—a reminder that policy aimed at curbing “visa-hopping” can coexist with strong inbound leisure demand if airlift and product keep pace.
Source: NEXT News
