Chinese New Year a tourist drawcard

An extra 81,000 Chinese tourists are expected to fly in to Australia to ring in the Year of the Rooster over the next couple of weeks.

The Tourism and Transport Forum estimates that Lunar New Year festivities will present a $671 million boon for the Australian economy with Chinese visitors spending $8328 each on average.

The biggest celebration will be in Sydney where the Chinese New Year Festival kicks off on Friday with fireworks.

The Opera House and Harbour Bridge will be lit up in an auspicious red.

Colourful lanterns up to 10-metres high will also line the foreshore from the Opera House to Dawes Point over the course of the 17-day festival.

Other event highlights will include a two-day dragon boat racing regatta, a dumpling eating competition, a night market curated by celebrity chef Kylie Kwong and a performance by Oscar-winning composer Tan Dun with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.