Chinese Leisure Tourists: Perceptions and Satisfaction with Australia

Abstract

Since the mid-1990s there has been a dramatic increase in the number of Chinese visitors to Australia, making China a significant inbound market. This study sought to ascertain how Chinese visitors' perception of Australia changed as a result of their visit. It also examined Chinese visitors' satisfaction across a range of tourism experiences. Research data was collected from 380 Chinese visitors and it was found that "food," "shopping," and "tour itinerary" were areas where Australia underperformed on satisfaction. A gap between pre- and posttrip perceptions was detected and it was found that meeting visitors expectation of quality, variety, and accessibility-related aspects was particularly important in achieving greater satisfaction. The research findings offer Australian tourism operators and marketers an insight into the Chinese visitor's trip experience and satisfaction.