The first direct flight from China in four years was welcomed at Cairns Airport on 1 February with China Eastern’s seasonal service resuming for Chinese New Year. Tropical North Queensland’s international recovery is closely linked to aviation access and the China Eastern flights will allow the destination to show that Cairns is ready to welcome visitors from China.
Chinese New Year visitors will bring an economic impact of more than $26 million to the region with even more Chinese travellers landing in Cairns via the domestic terminal after arriving in Australia via Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
With the resumption of Chinese New Year travel, TTNQ’s members working in the China market are looking forward to solid numbers in February from a mixture of group and independent travellers. The Great Barrier Reef, rainforest and Indigenous experiences remain popular. Independent Chinese travellers are becoming more adventurous and hiring cars to explore regional attractions while staying longer in apartments and holiday homes.
China was our largest international market before the pandemic accounting for one in five international visitor nights and injecting more than $200 million a year into our regional economy. TTNQ has maintained a presence in the market and elevated our in-market activities over the past year earning $15.5 million in publicity and undertaking 1700 trade engagements.
[China Eastern flight welcomed – TTNQ Fortnightly Pulse – 7 February 2024]