Western Australia pulls out 'big guns'in Aussie battle for Chinese visitor (2)

WA already attracts 24,000 Chinese tourists a year, but with word of mouth and dedicated planning, that number is looking to quadruple by 2020.

In the past, airline access was a serious barrier to growth for Western Austrlia with no non-stop air services operating between the State and Chinese mainland.

But with tightening business and person-to-person relations all that changed on Nov. 8, last year when China Southern Airlines commenced direct flights between Perth and Beijing (via Guangzhou), three times per week. There is also a daily service between Perth and Hong Kong.

With China Southern now committing to WA, there is a sense that China's adventurous middle class is on the cusp of discovering WA' s hidden marvels -- from fine dining in Perth, world-class wineries and breweries and the epic grandeur of the outback.

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