Published Thursday, 02 October, 2008 at 09:00 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
More Japanese tourists to wing their way to the Gold Coast
Today’s arrival of the first direct Jetstar flight between Osaka and the Gold Coast will provide a new chapter in Japanese tourism, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said today.
Ms Boyle said the new daily flights, the first of which arrives from Japan today, will include five services between Osaka and the Gold Coast and two between Osaka, the Gold Coast and Sydney, would provide an estimated 1818 additional seats per week from the western Japan into Gold Coast Airport.
“It’s no secret that the Japanese market has been declining for a number of years for a variety of reasons, including a strong Australian dollar against the Yen, increases in flight costs because of high fuel prices and competition from other destinations,” Ms Boyle said.
“Japan has however had a long-time love affair with the Gold Coast and thanks to the strong collaborative efforts between Jetstar, Tourism Queensland, Gold Coast Airports and Gold Coast Tourism, these new flights will help reinvigorate this relationship.”
Ms Boyle said the new route replaced the Osaka-Brisbane-Sydney daily flight.
“Because five out of the seven new daily flights will terminate at the Gold Coast rather than continuing on to Sydney, more Japanese will be encouraged to spend longer on the Gold Coast,” Ms Boyle said.
“With the previous flights, the majority of Japanese tourists who flew into Brisbane were immediately transferring to the Gold Coast anyway so this way they reach their destination quicker and will have more time to explore the region and travel to other destinations within the state.
“Japan remains one of the Gold Coast’s core markets however and Tourism Queensland and the tourism industry will continue to maintain a strong market presence in the country.
“In addition to talks with airlines, we have been involved in a range of industry initiatives including a recent joint Tourism Queensland, Gold Coast Tourism trade mission; the month-long Gold Coast-themed ‘Travel Café’ in one of Tokyo’s busiest train stations; and an upcoming campaign primarily targeting women, couples and families.
“Tourism Queensland and the State Government, in partnership with Gold Coast Tourism and the local tourism industry, remain committed to Japan and these new flights are a strong indication of the industry’s confidence in the market,” she said.
Media contact: Kirstie Maier 3225 1005 or 0448 135 195
2 October 2008
Ms Boyle said the new daily flights, the first of which arrives from Japan today, will include five services between Osaka and the Gold Coast and two between Osaka, the Gold Coast and Sydney, would provide an estimated 1818 additional seats per week from the western Japan into Gold Coast Airport.
“It’s no secret that the Japanese market has been declining for a number of years for a variety of reasons, including a strong Australian dollar against the Yen, increases in flight costs because of high fuel prices and competition from other destinations,” Ms Boyle said.
“Japan has however had a long-time love affair with the Gold Coast and thanks to the strong collaborative efforts between Jetstar, Tourism Queensland, Gold Coast Airports and Gold Coast Tourism, these new flights will help reinvigorate this relationship.”
Ms Boyle said the new route replaced the Osaka-Brisbane-Sydney daily flight.
“Because five out of the seven new daily flights will terminate at the Gold Coast rather than continuing on to Sydney, more Japanese will be encouraged to spend longer on the Gold Coast,” Ms Boyle said.
“With the previous flights, the majority of Japanese tourists who flew into Brisbane were immediately transferring to the Gold Coast anyway so this way they reach their destination quicker and will have more time to explore the region and travel to other destinations within the state.
“Japan remains one of the Gold Coast’s core markets however and Tourism Queensland and the tourism industry will continue to maintain a strong market presence in the country.
“In addition to talks with airlines, we have been involved in a range of industry initiatives including a recent joint Tourism Queensland, Gold Coast Tourism trade mission; the month-long Gold Coast-themed ‘Travel Café’ in one of Tokyo’s busiest train stations; and an upcoming campaign primarily targeting women, couples and families.
“Tourism Queensland and the State Government, in partnership with Gold Coast Tourism and the local tourism industry, remain committed to Japan and these new flights are a strong indication of the industry’s confidence in the market,” she said.
Media contact: Kirstie Maier 3225 1005 or 0448 135 195
2 October 2008