Published Wednesday, 11 June, 2008 at 11:49 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
BLIGH GOVERNMENT TO LURE ASIA PACIFIC AIRLINES TO QLD
Tourism Minister Desley Boyle will lead an urgent trade mission to Asia this month in an attempt to lure new and expanded air services to Queensland.
Premier Anna Bligh said today the Minister would go armed with incentive funding to help bring forward new business opportunities for major carriers from new and emerging markets.
“Tough times call for tough measures,” Ms Bligh said.
“The Australian dollar, rising fuel prices and the recent announcement by Qantas and Jetstar to cut flights is hurting our regional tourism centres.
“Last week I announced $4 million to provide immediate support to our regional tourism centres – including Cairns, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and the Whitsundays.
“These funds will provide a boost for domestic and international marketing campaigns, but will also put money in Desley’s back pocket to bring interested airlines to Queensland sooner.
“The Queensland Government has made no secret of our desire to capture direct services from the rapidly growing tourism market of China and substantial work has already been done in negotiating these.
“However, this one-off shot in the arm funding could bring the airline’s decision to increase capacity forward and provide a softer landing for our tourism industry.
“And once those airlines are bringing international tourists to Queensland, we are confident that our product will speak for itself and services will be here to stay.
Ms Bligh said meetings would be held throughout China and the Asia-Pacific.
“There is no doubting the state tourism industry from the Cape to Coolangatta has felt the repercussions of recent domestic and international airline cuts,” Ms Bligh said.
“Tourism Queensland has already ramped up marketing for the most effected areas in addition to ongoing domestic and international sales and marketing programs.
“But we are not willing to sit back and let the Queensland tourism industry be the victim of these flight cuts, we have called our Asian airline friends and will be knocking on their doors within the next few weeks.
“Minister Boyle will also lead a Queensland delegation the Southern Hemisphere’s largest tourism trade show, Australian Tourism Exchange, in Perth to throw her support behind the Queensland tourism operators and agents doing business there,” Ms Bligh said.
Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said she had already begun discussions with some major international airlines and will leave no stone unturned in the hunt for additional seats.
“The Premier has given me the green light to work with Tourism Queensland and the state’s regional tourism organisations to identify and attract airlines important to the future of Queensland’s tourism industry.
“We will be ensuring that when the proposed domestic and international flight cuts happen there will be viable alternatives waiting to take their place,” she said.
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
Media: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office)
Premier Anna Bligh said today the Minister would go armed with incentive funding to help bring forward new business opportunities for major carriers from new and emerging markets.
“Tough times call for tough measures,” Ms Bligh said.
“The Australian dollar, rising fuel prices and the recent announcement by Qantas and Jetstar to cut flights is hurting our regional tourism centres.
“Last week I announced $4 million to provide immediate support to our regional tourism centres – including Cairns, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and the Whitsundays.
“These funds will provide a boost for domestic and international marketing campaigns, but will also put money in Desley’s back pocket to bring interested airlines to Queensland sooner.
“The Queensland Government has made no secret of our desire to capture direct services from the rapidly growing tourism market of China and substantial work has already been done in negotiating these.
“However, this one-off shot in the arm funding could bring the airline’s decision to increase capacity forward and provide a softer landing for our tourism industry.
“And once those airlines are bringing international tourists to Queensland, we are confident that our product will speak for itself and services will be here to stay.
Ms Bligh said meetings would be held throughout China and the Asia-Pacific.
“There is no doubting the state tourism industry from the Cape to Coolangatta has felt the repercussions of recent domestic and international airline cuts,” Ms Bligh said.
“Tourism Queensland has already ramped up marketing for the most effected areas in addition to ongoing domestic and international sales and marketing programs.
“But we are not willing to sit back and let the Queensland tourism industry be the victim of these flight cuts, we have called our Asian airline friends and will be knocking on their doors within the next few weeks.
“Minister Boyle will also lead a Queensland delegation the Southern Hemisphere’s largest tourism trade show, Australian Tourism Exchange, in Perth to throw her support behind the Queensland tourism operators and agents doing business there,” Ms Bligh said.
Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said she had already begun discussions with some major international airlines and will leave no stone unturned in the hunt for additional seats.
“The Premier has given me the green light to work with Tourism Queensland and the state’s regional tourism organisations to identify and attract airlines important to the future of Queensland’s tourism industry.
“We will be ensuring that when the proposed domestic and international flight cuts happen there will be viable alternatives waiting to take their place,” she said.
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
Media: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office)