Blue skies for minister

Jones facing far less turbulence this year

A RELIEVED state tourism minister has happily accepted an invitation to speak at next week’s Chinese New Year corporate lunch in Cairns after the cancellation of direct charter flights last year put a dampener on 2017 festivities.

Last year Kate Jones faced a grilling when China Eastern axed their seasonal flights to the dismay of the tourism industry. But next week she will be all smiles as thousands of Chinese travellers are now arriving on China Eastern as well as China Southern and Hainan non-stop services from the mainland and on Cathay-Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines flights from Hong Kong.

Great Barrier Reef Chinese New Year Celebrations general manager Nathan Lee Long said Ms Jones would be providing an update on the success in securing direct flights from China compared to the lack of flights in 2017.

He said she would also be naming the golden KUR-Cow bull taking pride of joy at Harry Sou’s Cafe China Restaurant where the CQUniversity yum cha lunch is being held.

Mr Lee Long said there were still tickets at $90 per person available for the lunch with seating for up to 400.

He said this year’s panel discussion would centre on international education, particularly from China. Panellists are CQUniversity’s senior deputy vice-chancellor Alastair Dawson, TAFE Queensland North general manager Joann Pyne, Study Cairns president Carol Doyle, Education Department international manager Linda Forbes, Banora International Group managing director Janine Bowmaker and Cairns Chamber of Commerce president Nick Loukas.

The lunch on Wednesday next week will be hosted by Lee Lin Chin, the weekend presenter of SBS World News.