Jin Air’s success inspires growth

AIRPORT and tourism leaders are optimistic that the first successful direct seasonal flights from Korea to Cairns will lead to more.

A report shows Jin Air’s direct flights from South Korea to the Far North delivered a $9 million boost to the region with almost 6000 Korean visitors arriving between mid-December and early February.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Alex de Waal said the airline reported that it had sold 97 per cent of the seats on the 16 flights from Seoul.

“Jin Air and nine Korean wholesalers sold package tours which included the Great Barrier Reef, Wet Tropics rainforest, Kuranda, Port Douglas, the Atherton Tablelands and Cassowary Coast,” he said.

Airport chief executive Norris Carter said discussions with Jin Air included more seasonal flights and a year-round service to provide a direct connection between South Korea and Australia.

“We hope this successful seasonal service will be the start of a long and fruitful partnership that will support even further growth in Korean visitor numbers to Australia,” he said.

“Cairns is the northern gateway to Australia and has an excellent domestic network that will allow South Koreans to easily travel to other holiday destinations.”

Mr de Waal said the International Visitor Survey for the year ending September last year recorded 10,800 Korean visitors to the region.

He said the 6000 Jin Air passengers would have added significantly to the annual total.

“The Great Barrier Reef is a major drawcard for this market and the Korean charter travellers visited this World Heritage area with Reef Magic and Sunlover Cruises,” Mr de Waal said.

“They also experienced skydiving, hot-air ballooning, white-water rafting, Paronella Park, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Rainforestation Nature Park.

“TTNQ worked with Cairns Airport, Tourism and Events Queensland and Tourism Australia to support promotional activities in the market and assisted Korean inbound tour operators to establish business relationships between Korean agents and Cairns suppliers.

“As part of Queensland on Tour in September, TTNQ and six members — Reef Magic, the CaPTA Group, Shangri-La Cairns, Paronella Park, Sunlover Cruises and Raging Thunder — hosted training workshops for more than 100 Korean agents to familiarise them with Cairns and Great Barrier Reef.