What does being ‘China-ready’ mean for museums?

Dr Lynda Kelly Director LyndaKellyNetworks Deana Varga Assistant Director Commercial & Visitor Services Australian National Maritime Museum In April 2016, the Australian National Maritime Museum secured the Mega Incentive from Nu Skin (4,000 delegates from China, Macau, Taiwan and Hong Kong) across five days for their leisure program. This was the first time a museum was included in such a large incentive program. This resulted in a change in how museum staff thought about Chinese visitors, realising the opportunities this market presents to increase numbers and revenue, while offering an outstanding and memorable cultural experience based on their needs and interests. An unintended outcome was that staff and volunteers needed to be trained and to think differently in how they responded and interacted with Chinese audiences. This presentation will share what the Australian National Maritime Museum learnt from the experience and put you on the right track to become ‘China ready’.