Wu will be Tourism Australia's Ambassador for the 2017 China-Australia Year of Tourism

Australia has appointed Chinese actor Wu Xiubo as Tourism Australia’s Ambassador for the 2017 China-Australia Year of Tourism.

According to China Daily, the appointment was announced by the Australian minister for trade, tourism and investment, Steven Ciobo, on 21 February. Li Jinzao, the Chairman of the China National Tourism Administration, was also present.

The China-Australia Year of Tourism will celebrate the close relationship between China and Australia. The importance of the Chinese market for Australia’s tourism industry will also be recognised.

“This year promises to bring Australia and China closer and provide more opportunities for further engagement, be it in tourism and travel or more broadly in trade, sport and culture or social and academic exchanges,” said Ciobo.

“China is Australia’s most valuable tourism market, with the potential to be worth more than $13 billion by 2020. Last year, 1.2 million Chinese visited Australia. We anticipate this will grow during the China-Australia Year of Tourism and will continue to grow afterward.”

The trial of the 10-year visitor visa was a recent initiative to support two-way tourism between Australia and China. Furthermore, the open aviation market services agreement removes restrictions for airlines in both countries. A Beijing to Sydney service was launched in January by Australia’s Qantas Airways.

Wu is known most for playing Xinjie Liu, the protagonist in the Chinese TV drama series Before the Dawn, for which he received several awards. The actor is also a musician and producer.

Last year, Wu starred in Finding Mr Right 2 – the sequel to the 2013 Chinese romantic comedy.