LONG HAUL TO LAND BIG DEAL
Flights locked in after vast effort
A WIDE-BODIED commercial jet that departed one of China’s most populous cities will land in Cairns this morning, ending months of anticipation and heralding the start of a landmark opportunity for Far North tourism.
As of today, aviation giant China Southern Airlines will operate three services a week between Cairns and Guangzhou, a booming commercial hub with more than 14 million residents.
The three-year deal is expected to inject $90 million into the region’s coffers while bolstering the Far North’s reputation as a luxury holiday destination within the surging Chinese market.
“China Southern’s Guangzhou flights provide convenient access to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef for people from China and other parts of Asia,” said Cairns Airport chief executive Norris Carter.
“They also open up the Canton route for visitors to travel between Europe and Cairns via China Southern’s Guangzhou hub.”
It comes on the back of a mammoth industry effort at a local level between Cairns Airport, Tourism Tropical North Queensland and Cairns Regional Council.
Other influential players in securing the deal included Tourism and Events Queensland, the State Government and Tourism Australia.
The new service will deliver an extra 33,000 airline seats annually to the Far North, with “free and independent travellers (FITs)” from China’s south firmly in the sights of local tourism professionals.
“We anticipate the number of Chinese (visitors) will grow to 350,000 by 2020 and their length of stay will increase as more independent travellers take advantage of scheduled services,” said TTNQ chief executive Pip Close.
“The younger, connected Chinese millennial travellers are eager for new travel experiences offering cultural enrichment, outdoor activities and authentic experiences.”
China is the Tropical North’s largest source market for international travellers, with 214,000 Chinese visitors spending a total of $102 million in the region during 2016-17.
Louis Lu, China Southern’s regional manager for Australia and New Zealand, said the carrier was “very proud” to add Cairns to its extensive cache of destinations.
“Cairns and Tropical North Queensland is well known as a beautiful destination and these new flights will make it easier for Chinese visitors to access the Great Barrier Reef and all natural and man-made attractions in the region,” he said.
“China Southern Airlines has made an ongoing commitment to Australia since its first flights 20 years ago and Cairns is the latest destination in its global expansion.”
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Steven Ciobo, said China Southern’s new service offered “enormous tourism opportunities” for Far North Queensland and Australia.
“This is a part of our country which ticks so many boxes for today’s increasingly inquisitive and confident Chinese traveller,” Mr Ciobo said.
WE ANTICIPATE THE NUMBER OF CHINESE (VISITORS) WILL GROW TO 350,000 BY 2020 AND THEIR LENGTH OF STAY WILL INCREASE …
CAIRNS AIRPORT CHIEF EXECUTIVE NORRIS CARTER