TOURISM ON A ROLL FOR HOBART

HOBART’S Covid-19 recovery tourism boom continues to tick along nicely, bringing millions of dollars into the economy. And there was more good news on Friday with international flights set to resume, opening up the state to even more tourists.

Air New Zealand is about to embrace direct flights from Auckland to Hobart again, as part of a rollout of 14 new routes in 16 days for the airline.

For Tasmanians keen for a holiday across the ditch they can now fly direct, twice a week, from July 7.

The good news for tourism operators in Tasmania is that those same flights will bring Kiwis, with bulging wallets, back into the state again.

The move will continue the tourism momentum in Tasmania.

Since the borders reopened, the state has enjoyed a large number of return and new tourists.

Dark Mofo last week showed how valuable the arts sector was, with plane loads of mainlanders dropping in for the festivities.

Hobart Airport chief executive Norris Carter said the airport had been very busy during Dark Mofo.

“We had up to 76 flights on a single day, which is as busy as it gets over Christmas and Easter, and shows how Dark Mofo has contributed to growing Tasmania’s off-season.”

Currently, most of the mainland is on school holidays and numbers coming to Tasmania for a taste of winter have been solid, but the Tassie school holidays are expected to be even bigger.

“We’re expecting the July school holidays to be busy, so much so that we’re expanding our carparks to cater for the demand,” Mr Carter said.

“We’re connecting communities with more flights to more destinations than ever before.”

And that should improve further once the airport has its runway strengthened.

The newly elected federal Labor government committed to upgrading the airport in the election campaign.

Then shadow minister for infrastructure, transport and regional development Catherine King promised $60m towards the upgrading and strengthening of the runway and airfield facilities.

The $80m upgrade will allow bigger aircraft to land in Hobart, opening up more international routes and allowing the state’s produce to be exported worldwide.

It is hoped new passenger and cargo routes will include direct flights to Singapore and Hong Kong.

Those flights will be a game changer for the island.

Hong Kong, with a population close to 8 million, and Singapore, 6 million, will be massive markets for Tassie tourism.