Forum ideal to assess tourism from China

Hedland could attract future Chinese tourists by building a 6-star hotel and promoting Aboriginal culture, a community progress association says.

However, Hedland tourism promoters should first travel to China to better understand the needs of Chinese tourists, Port Hedland Community Progress Association vice-president Jan Ford said.

Ms Ford said she was joining next month’s Pilbara trade and investment delegation travelling to the EASTxWEST Forum in Shenzhen, China, to begin to posing such questions.

“If we want Chinese tourists, we need to know if they are looking for 6-star hotels, are they looking for room service with a desert experience or are they looking for a drive-camping holiday,” she said.

“Will we need to have Chinese interpreters, will we need to have Chinese language on our signs and what do we know about the Chinese (culture)?”

“Also another question is how connected can Chinese and our Aboriginal cultures be because I suspect their tourists will be very interested in our Aboriginal culture.”

Tourism, agriculture and the development of spin-off industries from the Pilbara’s mining sector will be among topics discussed at the three-day forum being organised by lobby group the Pilbara Regional Council, which represents the Pilbara’s four local governments.