Published on Monday, 10 September 2018 at 3:43:16 PM
City of Greater Geraldton representatives will visit China next week to attend the Tourism Development Conference of Shanxi Province.
Officially invited by the Mayor of Linfen City, Geraldton will attend the conference as Linfen City’s Strategic Partner.
City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn will be in attendance and said the delegation would create big opportunities for the Midwest.
“We’ve already had some very exciting outcomes from previous delegations to China and we are definitely seeing the flow on effects in the community,” he said.
“As a result of the City’s delegation to China in 2017, the City is working together with Linfen on the ‘China Connect’ project.
“A collaboration proposal is also currently being considered by Linfen City Government proposing we reach a Memorandum of Understanding between the City, which is set to be executed during the Conference.”
In addition to ‘China Connect’, the City has been working on a number of projects with Linfen and also Zhanjiang - Geraldton’s Sister City in Guangdong Province.
This includes new opportunities for freight trade with a new airport for Linfen, an upgrade to Zhanjiang’s airport in 2020 as well as the City’s upcoming Airport upgrade.
Following the successful student exchange program between Geraldton Grammar School and Zhoushan Putuo No2 School – the City is currently pursuing opportunities for Chinese teachers to teach Mandarin in Geraldton. Chinese investors have acquired land and are actively investigating development of a residential school in Geraldton.
“We are also seeing promising opportunities in mining with a Linfen based investor actively investigating development of an iron ore pelleting plant in Geraldton, with recent visits inspecting land sites suitable for such industrial development in Narngulu,” Mayor Van Styn added.
“Not to mention the breakthroughs we are having with Chinese tourism here in the Midwest.
“City staff remain busy working with wholesale and retail travel agents based in Hong Kong and mainland China, and Chinese travel agents based in Perth, facilitating and guiding familiarisation tours.”
The City has also worked closely with Tourism WA to facilitate local product development that is tailored for the Chinese market including experiences such as wildflowers, the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Pink Lake, crayfish industry, farm stays, star gazing and photography opportunities.
Last week a group of professional Chinese photographers were in Geraldton for a photography tour which is off the back of more than 100 Chinese visitors here recently for a family bonding tourism program.
Local businesses are seeing the flow on effects including Geraldton Air Charter who have already had 2,800 Chinese passenger numbers this year alone, a huge increase from 500 passengers in 2015.
Dongara’s Illegal Tender Rum will also be attending the trade delegation after the City released an Expression of Interest for local businesses/organisations to join. This will give the Midwest business a chance to showcase local product to the Chinese market.
The 11-day trip commencing Tuesday 11 September will include Mayor Van Styn visiting Zhanjiang after being invited by their newly elected Mayor.
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