CANBERRA -- The importance of Asia for Australian tourism is growing and key to the change is the focus on China in this Asian century, Australian Minister for Tourism Martin Ferguson said at the first annual general meeting of the Victoria Tourism Industry Council in Melbourne on Friday.

China is now Australia's most valuable tourism market, adding more than A$3.5 billion ($3.6 billion) to Australian economy each year. By 2020, China has the potential to contribute up to A$9 billion to the Australian economy.

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According to his speech, more than half of Australia's projected tourism growth this decade are expected to come from Asia, with 42 percent of that growth expected to come from China alone. And China is Victoria's biggest international market.

For further promoting the market, a plan named Tourism 2020 will be implemented.

Additionally, $48.5 million over four years will be devoted to the Asian Marketing Fund to help ensure Australia is the destination of choice.

Key to ensuring Australia can encourage repeat visitation and recommendations from Chinese visitors to family and friends in China is the quality of the tourism experience in Australia.