Xi Jinping Tasmania visit: State's biggest security operation underway
The visit of Chinese president Xi Jinping to Tasmania may only be a matter of hours away, but it has sparked the state's biggest security operation.
On Tuesday, Hobart will welcome the political leader to the state.
The Chinese government has vetted hundreds of Chinese Tasmanians who are hoping to catch a glimpse of the president.
Federal and state police have been out laying the groundwork for the whirlwind tour.
It is predicted millions of Chinese will watch his movements around the southern-most capital and Mr Xi's visit will potentially stimulate millions of dollars in investment.
China is already Tasmania's largest trading partner with exports worth $610 million a year.
The growing tourism market will also now be given exposure money cannot buy.
While other world leaders have chosen to leave Australia after the G20 Leaders' Summit in Brisbane, others have stayed on and headed to other cities.
Exactly why the Chinese leader is coming further south can be traced to a links forged decades ago.
Genesis of visit began 30 years ago
The visit is the culmination of a 30-year sister-state relationship with Mr Xi's Fujian province.
It is a connection that has seen numerous spin-offs for industry, education and tourism.
Two Labor premiers, Doug Lowe and Jim Bacon, were instrumental in forging and maintaining the link.
In 2001, Mr Bacon was honoured with an honorary citizenship of Fujian province when Mr Xi was governor.
Then last year, former Labor premier Lara Giddings used her visit to China to deliver a formal invitation to his office.
But it will be Liberal Premier Will Hodgman who will have the task of hosting one of the world's most powerful leaders.
Biggest logistical exercise since Royal visit
It has been a bigger logistical and security exercise that the Royal tour two years ago by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.
Since winning Government in March, Liberal staffers are said to have been working around-the-clock to prepare for a possible visit.
It is a massive logistical and security exercise for a small state and it it one that has not been without hurdles.
"Our airport is not big enough for his plane to land, so he need to get two smaller plane to come here," said Peter Chung from the Chinese Community Association.
Groups of schoolchildren and hundreds of Chinese Tasmanians have been organised to be out to greet the president.
The Chinese government vetted about 400 locals who will crowd onto Hobart's Cenotaph to try to catch a glimpse.
"We need to have their name and address and their phone number and how long they've been here and their status, so we hand all the list over to the Chinese consulate," Mr Chung said.
Police are warning of traffic disruptions in the city because of road closures.
Visit details kept secret
The exact itinerary for the visit is being kept under wraps.
A trip to the summit of Mount Wellington could be on the agenda and Government House is being spruced up for an official luncheon.
In a bipartisan spirit, Ms Giddings, now an Opposition MP, has secured a seat at the table.
"Having been the person to have invited him, I am very grateful in that sense that the Government have seen fit to include me in the itinerary," she said.
It is not known if there will be any official announcements following up on the deal signed by the Premier in Canberra.
A contingent of Chinese official media is expected to follow the president whose visit is second only in complexity to that of an American president.
It is a visit it is hoped will encourage more Chinese tourists to travel the extra distance when they reach Australia.
The Tasmanian tourism sector is already setting records in terms of visitor numbers and earnings.
Among visitors to the 12 months to June was a record 24,000 Chinese.
It is a figure that local tourism operators hope will skyrocket after the president's whirlwind tour.
Gift list to include scented teddy bear
During the visit, the president will receive a range of official gifts but the details are largely under wraps with the exception of one item.
Bridestowe Lavender Farm has been asked to provide one of its lavender-filled teddy bears.
Most of the 70,000 bears sold by the farm in recent years have been to Chinese customers after they were bought by Chinese celebrities.
The company's Robert Ravens hopes it is a hit.
"We are still bemused by the whole thing, but of course it's an honour," he said.
"I think it's such an innocent sort of gift it's actually really pleasant, it's a great concept so we are delighted and I hope the president likes it."
Mr Xi may leave the state with more than one.
"Other customers had been buying them up in the hope have brought them as well hoping to give them to the president, so I'm assuming he's going to be inundated with bears which will be fascinating to see," Mr Ravens said.
