TA Welcomes China Eastern to Cairns
News that Cairns is to benefit from the launch by China Eastern of new direct flights from Shanghai from October has been warmly welcomed by Tourism Australia, as a much needed boost for Tropical North Queensland and Australian tourism.
China Eastern Airlines will commence direct flights from Shanghai to Cairns, three times a week from 31 October and are expected to inject $35 million into the Queensland economy. Queensland treasurer Tim Nicholls welcomed the news saying the flights would bring more than 700 Chinese visitors to Cairns each week.
Tourism Australia managing director, Andrew McEvoy, believes the success in securing the services will enable the Australian tourism industry to further benefit from the fast growing market of China, and move it closer to its 2020 goal of doubling overnight tourism expenditure to up to $140 billion by the end of the decade.
Tourism Australia will undertake joint marketing activities with China’s second largest airline to promote the new three times weekly Shanghai-Cairns seasonal services, including using traditional and digital media platforms.
“Once again, a coordinated ‘team Australia’ marketing approach – involving regional, state and federal tourism authorities in partnership with Cairns International Airport – has proved key to securing these much needed new air links,” Mr McEvoy said.
“The additional air capacity represents a huge boost to Cairns and Tropical North Queensland by opening up direct passenger and freight links from the key commercial city of Shanghai and beyond it, many of China’s secondary cities.
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