New flights link Brisbane to the Middle East
Published Monday, 01 October, 2007 at 05:29 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Tourism Minister Desley Boyle has welcomed luxury airline Etihad Airways to Brisbane, after its successful maiden flight on Saturday.
“This is great news for Brisbane and for Queensland,” Ms Boyle said.
“There will be three flights a week from Abu Dhabi to Brisbane, via Singapore,” Ms Boyle said.
“The Middle East is an important emerging market and these new flights will mean around an extra 800 people a week may fly into Brisbane. They are expected to spend as much as $40 million a year directly.”
The Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry and Tourism Queensland worked with Brisbane Airport Corporation to attract the airline.
“Tourism Queensland will be marketing Queensland to the Middle East in the coming months, as well as to London, Dublin and mainland Europe, where Etihad also flies,” she said.
“We’ll be bringing travel agents and media to Queensland and giving them a chance to see firsthand all that we’ve got to offer.”
“We’ll especially be targeting families who are looking to leave the Middle East’s summer heat – during our winter - for six to eight weeks,” Ms Boyle said.
“This is a potentially lucrative market, with large disposable incomes, and I’m told they are attracted to a warm climate and nature, of which Queensland has plenty.
“Queensland’s universities such as Griffith and Bond are increasingly attracting students from the Emirates, and their families will be able to take advantage of these new flights to come out and visit.
“There is quite a large population of Australians living in the United Arab Emirates – around 15,000 – who I’m sure will appreciate being able to easily fly back to Brisbane.”
In the past financial year, more than 16,000 people from the Middle East made the trip to Queensland. The numbers have been increasing and these new flights should see further increases.
“In the meantime, there are probably many Queenslanders who have not been to the Emirates and may not know a lot about this magical-sounding place of Abu Dhabi.
“These new flights offer an opportunity for Queenslanders to visit the UAE and see what the region has to offer.”
Ends
“This is great news for Brisbane and for Queensland,” Ms Boyle said.
“There will be three flights a week from Abu Dhabi to Brisbane, via Singapore,” Ms Boyle said.
“The Middle East is an important emerging market and these new flights will mean around an extra 800 people a week may fly into Brisbane. They are expected to spend as much as $40 million a year directly.”
The Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry and Tourism Queensland worked with Brisbane Airport Corporation to attract the airline.
“Tourism Queensland will be marketing Queensland to the Middle East in the coming months, as well as to London, Dublin and mainland Europe, where Etihad also flies,” she said.
“We’ll be bringing travel agents and media to Queensland and giving them a chance to see firsthand all that we’ve got to offer.”
“We’ll especially be targeting families who are looking to leave the Middle East’s summer heat – during our winter - for six to eight weeks,” Ms Boyle said.
“This is a potentially lucrative market, with large disposable incomes, and I’m told they are attracted to a warm climate and nature, of which Queensland has plenty.
“Queensland’s universities such as Griffith and Bond are increasingly attracting students from the Emirates, and their families will be able to take advantage of these new flights to come out and visit.
“There is quite a large population of Australians living in the United Arab Emirates – around 15,000 – who I’m sure will appreciate being able to easily fly back to Brisbane.”
In the past financial year, more than 16,000 people from the Middle East made the trip to Queensland. The numbers have been increasing and these new flights should see further increases.
“In the meantime, there are probably many Queenslanders who have not been to the Emirates and may not know a lot about this magical-sounding place of Abu Dhabi.
“These new flights offer an opportunity for Queenslanders to visit the UAE and see what the region has to offer.”
Ends
Media contact: 3224 2004
1 October 2007