"Australia has been marketing its tourism experiences to Chinese travelers for close to two decades, after becoming one of the first countries to be granted Approved Destination Status back in 1999. But this year has been exceptional, with an unprecedented program of activities to celebrate the strength of our tourism partnership with China," Tourism Australia's managing director John O'Sullivan said at a ceremony in Guangdong province's Guangzhou in mid-December to mark the end of the Year of Tourism.

"During the year, we have hosted a range of initiatives-from trade missions and events to the first-ever AFL premiership match in China-while also announcing actor Wu Xiubo as a Friend of Australia to help share the tourism experiences of our country with his huge following of fans, and supporting broadcasts of visits to Australia by popular shows, such as We are in Love."

Australia's accessible world-class natural beauty, coupled with its sophisticated cities and exceptional food and wine, remain key attractions for Chinese travelers.