As of August 1, Australia and New Zealand will be open to Chinese tourists from all parts of China, according to sources from China National Tourism Administration.

Previously only tourist groups organized by travel agencies in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Chongqing were allowed to travel to New Zealand and Australia.

The number of Chinese tourists to Australia increased 13 percent in 2005, to reach 285,000. China has become the second largest tourism market for Australia in Asia, after Japan.

(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2006)