Approved Destination Status (ADS) is a bilateral tourism arrangement between the Chinese Government and a destination whereby Chinese tourists are permitted to undertake leisure travel in groups to that destination. The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (RET) manages the Australian scheme.
The ADS scheme is an important part of Australia's inbound tourism growth. Australia was one of the first western countries (along with New Zealand) to be granted ADS status in 1999 and since then, has hosted over 610 000 Chinese tourists undertaking leisure travel in over 44,000 groups.
Currently Australia is one of over 100 countries with ADS status. China is Australia's fastest-growing inbound tourism market and is forecast to grow at more than 8.5 per cent per annum over the next decade, resulting in 897,000 Chinese visitors per year by 2020.
ADS permits the Australian Government, through Tourism Australia, to promote Australia as a leisure travel destination in China. Approved travel agents in China must be trained by Tourism Australia as 'Aussie Specialists' and must have received training and approval from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) before being allowed to handle ADS travel to Australia.
The Australian Government streamlined the administrative arrangements for the ADS scheme in 2010 with a range of reforms to ensure Chinese tourists receive a quality Australian tourism experience. At that time, all existing ADS operators were required to re-apply for approval, with applications also invited from appropriately qualified Australian businesses wishing to enter the scheme. Applications were rigorously assessed, and approved operators are now required to comply with the ADS Code of Business Standards and Ethics (Version 1). [
PDF, 1.5MB]
The Australian Government is investing a further $4.1 million in Australia's international tourism trade between China and Australia over the next four years from 2010/11.
The objectives of the ADS arrangements are to:
- Restore integrity, competition and fair trading to the operation of ADS inbound market, especially in relations between operators and shops, and operators and tourists
- Empower Chinese inbound tourists with knowledge and choice to exercise effective consumer power in the inbound market.
Key requirements of the ADS arrangements are:
- Applicants are assessed as to whether they are a 'fit and proper' person to be an ADS approved in bound tour operator
- Applicants must consent to being vetted for their 'good standing'
- Applicants must also meet 'industry fitness' and immigration compliance tests
- Applicants are listed in the media and comment from the public will be invited
- Applicants must sign a Deed agreeing to abide by the ADS Code of Business Standards and Ethics.
The ADS Code of Business Standards and Ethics is backed by a compliance monitoring regime which includes various checks such as financial and random checks. Penalties for breaches of the Code may include suspension or revocation of an operator's ADS approval.
For more information on the place of ADS in the Australia-China tourism relationship, refer to "A Tourism Success Story" [PDF, 28KB]
Approved Operators
The China Approved Destination Status (ADS) scheme currently has 45 approved [PDF, 24KB | 
XLS, 28KB] Inbound Tour Operators as at 5 December 2011.
A copy of approved Outbound Tour Operators can be obtained from the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments
(FRLI)
Applying to be an approved Inbound Tour Operator in the ADS scheme
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MoU)
Australia and China's commitment to fostering the growth of sustainable and quality tourism was reinforced through the signing, in August 2006, of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Australian Government and the China National Tourism Administration on the ADS scheme.
This commitment was reaffirmed through the signing, in Beijing on 26 April 2011, of a broader MoU between the two countries on Strengthening Tourism Cooperation. The MoU is aimed at helping increase tourism flows and strengthening people-to-people links between the two countries. The MoU continues the ADS scheme whilst promoting cooperation in emerging travel segments such as individual, education and company paid incentive travel. The MoU also acknowledges other areas of cooperation including, industry supply-side development and supporting the safety of Chinese tourists in Australia.
Under the MoU, an annual Australia–China Tourism Dialogue will be held reporting on the status of activities under the MoU and determining future areas of cooperation in the tourism sectors. This will integrate the existing annual meeting between Australian and Chinese officials on the Approved Destination Status (ADS) scheme.
EVALUATION of ADS SCHEME
In 2009/10 the ADS scheme was evaluated by KPMG to assess its effectiveness, appropriateness and efficiency. KPMG found a need for the scheme to continue.
The executive summary for the evaluation [ PDF, 456KB]
ADS NEWS ITEMS
ADS E Newsletters
ADS Ministerial Media Releases