A SEOUL KIND OF FEELING

DIRECT flights between the Gold Coast and South Korea will begin this year in what is being hailed a major tourism coup for the city.

Budget airline Jetstar, in partnership with JeJu Air, will fly to Seoul three times a week from December.

The deal, to be announced today, was negotiated in secret in recent months. It will pump more than $176 million into the economy and create nearly 2000 jobs over the next three years.

Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the new nine-hour flights, which are expected to cost more than $900 one way, would help grow tourism on the Gold Coast.

“South Korea is a highpriority market for Queensland and this new service will provide added capacity to an important route,” she said.

“It’s our sixth-largest market for international visitors and expenditure, with the latest figures showing 59,000 South Korean visitors spent more than $238 million in Queensland last year.”

The flights will create an extra 660 tourism jobs each year and bring 52,000 inbound airline seats a year to the city.

New tourism data released in March revealed South Korean visitation to the Gold Coast and northern NSW had increased by 53 per cent in the past year.

International tourists spent $1.4 billion on the Gold Coast last year.

Queensland Airports chief executive Chris Mills said the expansion of Jetstar’s longhaul services would link the city with a critical inbound visitor market.

“There is a growing demand to connect our regions,” he said. “We also know travellers from South Korea are among the top spenders when it comes to visitor groups, so this will deliver significant benefits to our tourism economy.

“We expect the flights will also be popular with Gold Coasters and northern NSW residents looking to explore South Korea.”

The flights will be announced in a ceremony at Gold Coast Airport this morning.

The deal was secured with funding from the State Government’s Attracting Aviation Investment Fund.

Destination Gold Coast chief executive Annaliese Battista said the new service would bring an even larger swag of visitors to the city.

“The Gold Coast is the third most popular destination in Australia for South Korean visitors who return time and time again, because they love our beaches, weather, theme parks and natural attractions,” she said.

“Strong interest in Australia’s favourite playground resonates particularly with families and honeymooners who are looking for high-end, sophisticated and iconic tourism experiences.”