Melbourne Airport has again celebrated Chinese New Year by welcoming Chinese tourists with lion dancing performances, celebratory banners, lanterns, public address announcements and promotional retail offers.
The airport began implementing an international visitor strategy several years ago focusing on making international visitors feel welcomed and respected when arriving at Melbourne Airport.
“As part of the strategy, we recognise the diverse cultures of those people who travel to Melbourne by celebrating culturally significant days such as Chinese New Year,” said Melbourne Airport CEO, Chris Woodruff.
“Chinese New Year is one of the most celebrated dates in the Chinese culture and 2012 is the Year of the Dragon, one of the most revered and significant Chinese zodiacs.”
Chinese visitors continue to make a significant contribution to tourism in Victoria. In 2011, Chinese passport holders increased by 23.2 percent or an additional 80,604 on 2010 to total 427,679 visitors.
“Our three Chinese airlines, Air China, China Eastern and China Southern, have all recognised the strength of the Melbourne market as well as our key operational and cost advantages, with all three increasing to daily direct services late last year, providing more capacity between Melbourne and China than ever before.”
Cathay Pacific also services the China market from Melbourne with triple‐daily services via Hong Kong.
