By Emma Simkin Updated July 16, 2015 18:32:54 The first episode of a Chinese television series has started filming on the Central Coast of New South Wales. Called, 'Deep Breathing in Australia', the six-part series is being filmed at select tourism destinations around the country. "This tourism initiative will give the Central Coast the largest amount of international visibility it has had to date and is costing our community zip," said Wyong mayor Doug Eaton. The series is being financially backed by Harman Media, a related company to Harman Global, which recently bought Kooindah Waters resort in Wyong. Chinese tourism is big business in Australia, with growth of almost 18 per cent in the past year. "What they're doing is when they come here they spend money through shopping, through visitation, through economic activity and that's good for all of us in Australia, "That helps people become employed and on the Central Coast we need more employment," said Jonathon O'Dea, NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism. The documentary series will be shown on Chinese television to a potential audience of 400 million people. "The Central Coast is an important, in fact an integral part of the offer that NSW provides to Chinese tourists," said Mr O'Dea. "Our natural environment is a key driver for international visitation and this series will create more awareness of our region in China," said Robyne Abernethy, CEO of Central Coast Tourism. If the calibre of the stars is anything to go by plenty of potential Chinese tourists could be catching a glimpse of Treetops Park, the pelicans feeding at The Entrance and the historic Long Jetty - which will feature in the first episode. "One is I understand the equivalent of Meryl Streep in China, and the other is a former world badminton player who is now an actor and has a very high profile in China," said Mr O'Dea of the actors featuring in the documentary. Liu Xiaoqing is regarded as the most influential actress in China, and is famous for her youthful appearance. The filming on the Central Coast is underway and will finish up over the coming days, weather permitting. Topics: tourism, wyong-2259 First posted July 16, 2015 17:35:18
In response to the booming Chinese tourism in Australia, with a growth of almost 18% in the past year, the country has started filming its first Chinese television series on the Central Coast of New South Wales called 'Deep Breathing in Australia". The six part series will be filmed at select tourist destinations around Australia and the documentary will be shown on Chinese television to a potential audience of 400 million people.