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THE number of Chinese tourists travelling to the Far North is expected to soar with the first direct flights from the world's most populated country starting in less than three months.
More than 36,000 Chinese travellers will be able to fly non-stop from Shanghai to Cairns each year on the China Eastern Airlines flights three times a week with services beginning in October.
The flights, which The Cairns Post revealed last week, will inject an estimated $35 million a year into the economy.
Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls and Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey will meet China Eastern executives in Shanghai today.
Ms Stuckey will sign a co-operative letter of intent with the carrier’s marketing officer Dong Bo.
Mr Nicholls welcomed the announcement, saying the flights would bring more than 700 Chinese visitors to Cairns each week.
"The number of Chinese visitors to Queensland increased by 16 per cent in the 12 months to March this year, injecting $403 million into the Queensland economy," he said.
"Tourism is one of the four pillars of the Queensland economy and aviation access is vital to helping us achieve our target of doubling overnight visitor expenditure to $30 billion by 2020."
Ms Stuckey said the deal was struck using the Newman Government’s $8 million Attracting Aviation Investment Fund.
"Today’s announcement is great news, not only for our north Queensland tourism operators who did it tough after cyclone Yasi, but also for the whole state," she said.
"China Eastern is one of China’s largest and most valued airlines and we welcome them to Queensland with open arms."
Mr Dong said the new route offered mainland Chinese new access to Australia.
"Cairns as a major city in north Queensland serves as a gateway to numerous tourist sites throughout the country," he said.
Cairns Airport chief executive officer Kevin Brown said the services would have an "enormous impact" on tourism.
"After several years of successfully operating Chinese New Year charter flights to Cairns from Shanghai, it’s very exciting that China Eastern is now introducing a scheduled service," he said.
"It will help strengthen Cairns’ position as the Asian gateway to Australia."
China is the region’s fastest growing source of holidaymakers, overtaking Japan in the year to March 31.
More than 36,000 Chinese travellers will be able to fly non-stop from Shanghai to Cairns each year on the China Eastern Airlines flights three times a week with services beginning in October.
The flights, which The Cairns Post revealed last week, will inject an estimated $35 million a year into the economy.
Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls and Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey will meet China Eastern executives in Shanghai today.
Ms Stuckey will sign a co-operative letter of intent with the carrier’s marketing officer Dong Bo.
Mr Nicholls welcomed the announcement, saying the flights would bring more than 700 Chinese visitors to Cairns each week.
"The number of Chinese visitors to Queensland increased by 16 per cent in the 12 months to March this year, injecting $403 million into the Queensland economy," he said.
"Tourism is one of the four pillars of the Queensland economy and aviation access is vital to helping us achieve our target of doubling overnight visitor expenditure to $30 billion by 2020."
Ms Stuckey said the deal was struck using the Newman Government’s $8 million Attracting Aviation Investment Fund.
"Today’s announcement is great news, not only for our north Queensland tourism operators who did it tough after cyclone Yasi, but also for the whole state," she said.
"These flights will reduce the time Chinese tourists have to spend in transit, enabling them to spend more time and money visiting the world-renowned Great Barrier Reef."
"China Eastern is one of China’s largest and most valued airlines and we welcome them to Queensland with open arms."
Mr Dong said the new route offered mainland Chinese new access to Australia.
"Cairns as a major city in north Queensland serves as a gateway to numerous tourist sites throughout the country," he said.
Cairns Airport chief executive officer Kevin Brown said the services would have an "enormous impact" on tourism.
"After several years of successfully operating Chinese New Year charter flights to Cairns from Shanghai, it’s very exciting that China Eastern is now introducing a scheduled service," he said.
"It will help strengthen Cairns’ position as the Asian gateway to Australia."
China is the region’s fastest growing source of holidaymakers, overtaking Japan in the year to March 31.
Article printed by The Cairns Post - 20th July 2012
Writer: Nick Dalton
Peter Musso licensed real estate agent at Ray White Cairns Beaches selling property in Cairns' beautiful northern beach suburbs including Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach, Clifton Beach, Palm Cove, Trinity Park, Smithfield, Yorkeys Knob, Holloways Beach, Machans Beach, Caravonica and surrounds.
Writer: Nick Dalton
Peter Musso licensed real estate agent at Ray White Cairns Beaches selling property in Cairns' beautiful northern beach suburbs including Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach, Clifton Beach, Palm Cove, Trinity Park, Smithfield, Yorkeys Knob, Holloways Beach, Machans Beach, Caravonica and surrounds.
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