REXCELLENT DECISION WILL BOOST TOURISM

REX Airlines opening two new Gold Coast routes is a fantastic step forward for the city as we continue on the road back from COVID-19. It was nearly a year ago that the tourism and aviation sectors were effectively shut down by the border closures which have become a part of day-to-day life for many of us.

The fallout from the pandemic saw traffic into Gold Coast Airport decline by 99 per cent at the height of border closures and the city’s biggest industry effectively put on ice.

Now, Rex is staking out a claim to the low-cost travel market, with flights between the Gold Coast and both Sydney and Melbourne launching at the end of the month.

Queensland Airports boss Chris Mills, who last year was forced to walk through the deserted Coolangatta terminal daily, is spot on when he describes Rex’s decision as a vote of confidence in the Gold Coast.

It is particularly welcome news for the tourism sector given the continued uncertainty surrounding the reopening of international borders.

The small but precious New Zealand travel bubble was dealt another blow over the weekend with new positive cases detected and Auckland forced back into lockdown.

This is a crushing blow both to New Zealand and for the Gold Coast, which has a large population of Kiwi expats and for our struggling tourism operators whose futures depend on the return, not just of travel-shy domestic visitors but the far more lucrative international market. We must now make the best of this opportunity.