Australia updating visa process to encourage China tourism

Speaking as part of Australia’s major recent trade visit to China, Prime Minister Turnbull said the trial would involve a new system which will allow visa applications to be made in Chinese and for travellers from China to make applications online.

“China is Australia’s most valuable tourism market​,” Turnbull said, the South China Morning Post reports​. “More than a million Chinese visited Australia last year [and] contributed A$8.3 billion (US$6.38 billion or HK$49.6 billion) to our ­economy.​”

The prime minister was speaking as part of last week’s ‘Australia Week in China’ (AWIC) trade visit, which saw 1,000 business leaders from Australia join delegates for trade talks and site visits.

Side-stepping regulatory differences​

Some popular Australian beauty brands which, due to regulatory differences between the two countries, have been thus far unable to set up shop in China itself are likely to benefit from increasing levels of tourism from China.

China’s animal testing laws stipulate that any cosmetics product sold within mainland China from retail outlets must be tested on animals, which restricts those international beauty brands whose ethical credentials make it impossible for their products to comply.

The Australian government's intention to facilitate Chinese tourism in Australia further looks set to allow these brands greater penetration and brand awareness among Chinese consumers.

Largest partner​

Speaking ahead of the trade visit, Steven Ciobo, Australia’s minister for trade and investment, confirmed the economic significance his country places on trade with China.

“China will remain our largest export market for the foreseeable future, and the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement will form the basis of a broader, more diverse commercial relationship for many years to come​,” the minister wrote in a piece for News Corp.

The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement came into effect last December and has already seen a surge in trade and tariffs across industries, including beauty.