Australia has hosted over 100,000 Chinese visitors since it gained Approved Destination Status (ADS) from the Chinese government in 1999.

Joe Hockey, Australian minister for Small Business and Tourism revealed the figures on Monday at the Australia-China Tourism Industry Forum.

Tourists from Guangdong, Beijing and Shanghai respectively reached 53000, 29000, and 19000.

Australia was the first western nation to be granted ADS, which confined the agreement to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong.

Hockey signed a new agreement with China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) Monday, to allow inhabitants from Chongqing, Hebei, Jiangsu, Shandong, Tianjin and Zhejiang to travel to Australia.

"We welcome tourists from all over China, and will try innovative ways to improve visa processing, such as electronic application lodgment," he said.

In recent years, Chinese visitors to Australia have risen 30 percent annually. The number of visitors is expected to reach 500,000 in 2010.

Hockey said China has become the fastest growing outbound market for the Australian tourism industry. "Australia will bring specialized tourism experience and is devoted to delivering an enjoyable experience to Chinese visitors."

(Xinhua News Agency October 28, 2003)