Great Barrier Reef calling: Chinese tourists make Australia a Lunar New Year hotspot

China’s travel industry is expecting a sharp increase in visitors to Australia during this month’s extended Lunar New Year holiday, as millions of tourists fan out across the world for a nine-day break.Industry insiders said the lure of wine, seafood, nature and flexible small-group itineraries was driving interest in the island country.Australia is projected to attract “the most travellers from China” during the break, with bookings likely to more than double over last year’s total, according to Trip.com’s 2026 Lunar New Year travel forecast.The report highlighted natural wonders such as the Great Barrier Reef and the outback’s landscapes as among the most appealing attractions.Beijing has announced one of its longest holidays in years to boost spending, running from February 15 to 23, compared to the eight-day holiday last year. Interest in Australia may have received a boost after Beijing issued a travel warning for Japan – a traditional destination for Chinese travellers – amid a protracted diplomatic row.Total trip spending from China, Australia’s top market, reached A$12.3 billion (US$8.7 billion) for the year ending in September 2025, according to Australia" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="30521" data-entity-type="organization">Tourism Australia, a government promotional agency.Nick Henderson, Australia" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="30521" data-entity-type="organization">Tourism Australia’s regional general manager for Greater China, pointed to wine tours, Melbourne’s cafe culture and the Sydney Fish Market as top attractions.