More Chinese Tourists for Hervey Bay?
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie today announced the in-principle agreement between a Chinese airline and Queensland authorities to work closely together to remove possible barriers for flights between Chinese cities and Brisbane.
China Southern Airlines, Tourism Queensland and the Brisbane Airport Corporation will form a working group to further discuss the airline’s interest in operating from Guangzhou to Brisbane.
Mr Beattie said the airline had been investigating the possibility of a non-stop service to Brisbane and the working group was another step forward.
“There are a number of technical and operational issues being worked through but China Southern senior executives will be travelling to Queensland later this month and they will have further discussions with Queensland government, aviation and tourism industry representatives,” Mr Beattie said.
He said China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines have also shown interest in a non-stop service from Shanghai to Brisbane.
“The tourism growth potential from the Chinese mainland is huge. Between December 2003 and 2004 there was an increase of almost 71,000 visitors from China.
“The forecast growth of about 16 per cent annually over the next decade could mean as much as $6 billion to the Queensland economy,” Mr Beattie said.
And of course more Chinese tourists coming to Hervey Bay means more dollars into the local economy.
June 19th, 2006 at 7:59 am
Beware Chinese tourists. So far, anyways, they spend almost nothing in the cities they visit.
June 19th, 2006 at 9:03 am
That’s a very interesting comment - would you care to expand on it a little?
I don’t think that Japanese tourism to Queensland in general has ever translated into much for Hervey Bay so it would be interesting to hear your thoughts.