Hainan Airlines delivers $64 million boost and 30,000 Chinese visitors
TNQ’s booming Chinese visitor market is continuing to grow with new twice weekly direct flights between Shenzen and Cairns set to deliver $64 million to the region’s economy and attract an extra 30,000 Chinese tourists over two years.
The flights, which are expected to start in December, are the result of a deal signed last week between the State Government and Hainan Airlines as part of the $10 million Attracting Aviation Investment Fund.
The Chinese visitor market is Queensland’s most valuable and fastest growing international market with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk saying the deal with Hainan Airlines will help TNQ further capitalise on further tourism growth.
“We know that Chinese travellers are extremely valuable to the Queensland economy, injecting $1 billion over the past year,” she said.
“This latest agreement ensures that Cairns is well placed to continue attracting large numbers of Chinese visitors.
“These new flights, delivered in partnership with Cairns Airport and Tourism and Events Queensland, will open up additional opportunities for travellers to experience everything the north of our state has to offer.”
The latest deal comes after TropicNow exclusively announced in June that year-round China Southern flights between Guangzhou and Cairns are due start in December and inject about $30 million in overnight visitor expenditure in the region annually over the next three years.
The three flights per week service will deliver 33,852 seats on an A330-200 aircraft. <strike></strike>
DIRECT CHINA FLIGHTS A SIGNIFICANT BOOST
The deal with Hainan Airlines was signed in Beijing last week with Tourism and Major Events Minister Kate Jones saying the flights would bring thousands of tourists to TNQ to enjoy attractions including the Great Barrier Reef.
“With up to 30,000 visitors expected to arrive on these services over two years, they’ll provide a significant boost for the local tourism industry, as well as other flow-on benefits for the local economy, supporting almost 500 jobs across the region,” she said.
The direct flights form part of the 2017 China-Australia Year of Tourism.
The Attracting Aviation Investment Fund is a $10 million funding commitment by the Palaszczuk Government to support new or expanding airlines to bring more passengers to Queensland by securing greater international aviation access.
