TOURISM operators have been told to put their best foot forward when the first of 15 Chinese charter flights arrives in Cairns this week.
The charter flights are timed to coincide with the lunar new year, a significant holiday period for China.
Travel consultant Trevor Lee said the tourism industry could build on this year’s tours by providing good service.
Mr Lee said the Chinese tourism market had changed rapidly in just the past three to five years.
"Chinese travellers have changed a lot and have become a lot more educated," he told Business Week.
Mr Lee said tourism bosses had to be culturally astute.
That meant knowing how to say sorry in Chinese, offering a warm welcome and accepting a few cultural differences.
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"You don’t want to run the risk of confusing the Japanese and Chinese markets. The Japanese don’t complain but the Chinese can be loud," Mr Lee said.
"That’s not because they want to be rude, but because they are used to being around lots of people in cramped places."
Tourism Tropical North Queensland has estimated about 14,000 Chinese will come to Cairns for the lunar new year.
"About 4600 will come on the charter flights and the rest will be via Sydney or Melbourne on existing regular services," TTNQ chief executive Rob Giason said.
"Officially Chinese New Year runs from February 12-20, but we know some groups have already started to arrive."
Mr Giason said tourism bosses were prepared for the arrivals.
"There are a lot of logistics but we are a very accommodating industry," he said. "China is a growing market and if there is sufficient demand, there’s potential for a direct flights to this region in the future.
"Plus there is the potential of study tourism and links with the university and TAFE."
