Chinese Tourism in Tasmania

International tourist numbers to Tasmania have grown steadily in the past decades. Tasmania has experienced a surge of Chinese tourists following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s presidential visit to Hobart on 18 November 2014. Pure and pristine nature, lavender bears, gourmet seafood, the Port Arthur Historic Site, and the recently popularised aurora gazing and outdoor adventure activities have come to be regarded as unique Tasmanian experiences by many Chinese. The boom of Chinese inbound tourism has spurred the state’s economic growth, enriched cultural exchange and stimulated regional development. To document this fledgling development, this chapter documents the growth of Chinese tourist numbers in Tasmania, their cross-cultural tourist experiences and their perception of the island. Drawing from tourism theories and research data, this chapter offers three practical recommendations to the industry: understand the dynamism of Chinese culture; guide tourists into the experience; and deal with language barriers and social media.