Home topics news pexels News News Longest Chinese New Year in history set to deliver bumper spending for businesses Yajush Gupta February 13, 2026 Australian businesses should brace for a busy period as Chinese tourists arrive in record numbers during the longest Chinese New Year holiday ever recorded, experts say. What’s happening: Australia is preparing for the longest Chinese New Year holiday in history, running nine full days from 15 to 23 February 2026, with extended travel from 13 February to 3 March. Why this matters: Chinese visitors are Australia’s highest-spending international tourists, contributing over $9 billion annually. Australia’s tourism industry is bracing for an unprecedented surge in Chinese visitors as the country celebrates the longest Chinese New Year holiday in its history. The 2026 Chinese New Year holiday period will last nine full days, from 15 to 23 February, with additional travel expected from 13 February through to 3 March. This extended break is driving record demand for Australian destinations, with leading Chinese travel agencies reporting that long-haul packages to Australia and New Zealand are essentially sold out. Nine days of travel Beijing Business Today reported on 13 January 2026 that Chinese travel agents’ long-haul packages to Australia and New Zealand are “basically sold out” Travel Weekly, signalling unprecedented demand for the peak holiday period. Tongcheng Travel, a leading Chinese online travel agency, reported that summer experiences in Australia and New Zealand rank among the top four travel trends for the 2026 New Year holiday. The Shanghai to Sydney