Dunedin tourism operators are focusing their attention on China, and how to better accommodate the growing number of Chinese visitors to the city.
A workshop dedicated to ''becoming China ready'' will be held in Dunedin on September 26, as part of a national programme.
Guest speaker Amy Adams, of Occam Consulting, helps professionals bridge the gap between China and the Western world.
She has spent 15 years working in China, and trained thousands of New Zealanders to better understand Chinese business through her association with Tourism New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
Ms Adams will explain how Dunedin tourism professionals can attract and accommodate Chinese visitors.
Tourism Dunedin is promoting the workshop as an opportunity for tourist business operators to learn more about the growing inbound market from China.
''The session will give attendees an understanding of the expectations of our Chinese visitors and provide tools to help them develop their business with this market in mind.''
The workshop is being organised in conjunction with Christchurch International Airport, which recently appointed a China trade representative to support the South Island tourism industry.
Swallow Wang, from Shanghai, has been employed to help tourism wholesalers and trade representatives develop South Island itineraries for Chinese visitors.
Tourism Dunedin is one of 13 South Island regional tourism organisations helping fund her appointment. At present only about 20% of Chinese visitors to New Zealand tour the South Island.
Prime Minister John Key wants the number of Chinese visitors to New Zealand to top one million annually within five years, with about 180,000 visiting the South.
Australia remains Dunedin's largest international tourism market, but more Chinese are including the city in their travels.
