SYDNEY, Australia – Australia’s tourism industry is set for a $20 billion investment surge as major Chinese companies eye a raft of projects across the nation ahead of an expected doubling in Chinese tourism numbers over the next six years.

Major Chinese developer Greenland Group told an investment forum in Sydney earlier this month that it was eyeing $3bn to $4bn in additional projects in tourism, infrastructure and agriculture on top of its existing $1.5bn in projects in Sydney and Melbourne.

Greenland’s interest comes as Hong Kong billionaire Tony Fung is proposing an investment of up to $8.2bn at Yorkey’s Knob near Cairns which would include a first stage of five hotels with 4000 rooms and a casino, a shopping centre and golf course