LNP slams loss of Bali air service

THE LNP has slammed the Labor State Government for not doing more to help regional tourism on the back of the loss of Townsville to Bali flights.

It comes as new flights from China to Brisbane were announced yesterday.

LNP tourism spokesman Jon Krause said news that one airline, Air China, would direct extra flights into the southeast corner hid a trend of Queensland’s tourism industry falling behind southern states.

“While this do- nothing Premier prances around the southeast of the state chasing votes, Queenslanders whose livelihoods depend on tourism are being ignored by this Brisbane- obsessed Labor Government,” Mr Krause said.

“In the past year, international visitor expenditure in central Queensland fell by over $ 20 million, by $ 4 million in Cairns and by $ 2 million on the Fraser Coast — even the Gold Coast suffered a $ 56 million drop.

“Cairns is still trying to recover from the loss of direct flights from China in January this year and just last week Jetstar cancelled flights from Bali into Townsville.

“With youth unemployment at more than 20 per cent in many regional areas … Queenslanders deserve better.”