堪培拉时报报道：2011堪培拉花展吸引了包括中国游客在内的7300海外游客

中国留学生Michelle Yao （Australia National University finance student） 在堪培拉花展中. Photo: Gary Schafer

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/visitors-caught-up-in-floriades-net-effect/2313464.aspx

 

Visitors caught up in Floriade's net effect

BY LAUREN HAYWARD

05 Oct, 2011 04:00 AM

For Michelle Yao, getting up close to the blooms at Floriade yesterday completed an ambition that began with her reading a blog about the spring festival back home in China.

The festival has long been an obligatory stop for overseas visitors, especially those whose lives are largely spent in high-rise buildings and highly congested cities.

And the rise of social media and travel websites in Asia and the sub-continent is ensuring Floriade's popularity continues to grow.

Haidy Huang, of Shanghai, was struck by the colour and the bright spring feel of the festival when she visited seven years ago. She vowed to return.

This year Mrs Huang got the chance and brought along her hu*****and, John Zhu. The couple planned their 20-day Australian holiday around Floriade.

Although Mr Zhu had been to Australia several times, he was very impressed by the beauty of the capital and region and its stark difference to his Chinese home.

''Shanghai is very modern and efficient, with lots of high-rises. But in Canberra it is very natural and beautiful,'' Mr Zhu said.

The combination of a desire to escape highly populated cities and the common ability to realise this desire through economic prosperity in Asia and the subcontinent has seen tourism in Canberra grow.

According to Floriade organisers, about 7300 international tourists visited Floriade last year, or about 2per cent of the estimated 470,000 people who made it the best-attended festival yet.

Unfortunately, the weather has not been kind this year and may have an impact on the total number of visitors.

However, Australian Capital Tourism consumer insights manager Justin Lalor said that almost half of the international visitors last year came to Canberra specifically for Floriade and poor weather was unlikely to affect those who made such a trip.

While residents may be inclined to stay indoors during the recent inclement weather, international visitors have been more than willing to brave the elements.