Chinese New Year celebrations at Sydney Airport

[Kurt A]

• Sydney Airport sponsors City of Sydney Chinese New Year Festival 2014
• Celebrations at the airport include performances and prizes
• Sydney Airport continues to cater to its growing number of Chinese passengers

Sydney Airport will again sponsor the City of Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival and host celebrations at the airport from today to mark the Lunar New Year.

“Sydney Airport is proud to again partner with the City of Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival to support this important occasion for our largest growing inbound tourism market,” Sydney Airport Chief Executive Officer, Kerrie Mather, said.

“We will also host a range of activities at the airport’s International terminal – including events, giveaways and decorations.

“Sydney Airport is Australia’s international gateway and the premier tourist destination for Chinese visitors, with Chinese New Year a peak travel time for our Chinese passengers.

“With our second largest international visitor market coming from China, Sydney Airport currently has 99 weekly flights to all the major Chinese cities and greater China during the peak Chinese New Year period.

“We’re catering to our Chinese passengers throughout our Chinese New Year celebrations with additional Mandarin-speaking Red Ambassadors and special signage.

“The airport also offers Chinese language digital apps, tailored retail offerings and most of our retailers accept Union Pay, the preferred credit card of our Chinese customers.”

Sydney Airport expects to facilitate up to 135,000 Chinese nationals through its International terminal during the Chinese New Year period.

“The City of Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival is the largest celebration outside mainland China. We are proud to work with Sydney Airport to present this exciting event to all visitors to Australia,” the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, said.

Sydney Airport’s program of Chinese New Year events commences today and includes:

• Dragon dance performance by the Australian Youth Kung Mun Dragon and Lion Dancing Group, 8am-12pm today, T1 Arrivals forecourt and airside retail outlets;
• NSW Police Band concert, 8am-12pm, Tuesday, 28 January, T1 Arrivals forecourt; and
• Lion dancing and entertainment, 8am-12pm, Friday, 31 January, T1 Arrivals hall.

Echoing Chinese tradition, Sydney Airport will gift red envelopes to travellers symbolising good fortune, wealth and happiness. Two hundred lucky recipients will receive an AUD$88 gift voucher to spend at SYD Airport Tax and Duty Free, while the remainder will receive gold chocolate coins.

Free Lunar New Year postcards will also be available throughout T1, which will feature decorations celebrating the Year of the Horse until Sunday, 16 February.

For more information visit www.sydneyairport.com.au