Published Tuesday, 18 November, 2008 at 02:28 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Etihad Airways strengthens ties with Queensland
DUBAI: Tourism Queensland and Etihad Airways have joined forces to promote Queensland as a holiday destination to potential Middle Eastern visitors and Europeans travelling via the Middle East, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle announced today.
Ms Boyle, who is currently in Dubai as part of a trade mission to the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and China, said the cooperative marketing agreement between Tourism Queensland and Etihad Airways would support Etihad flights into Brisbane and promote Queensland internationally.
“Specifically, the deal brokered between Etihad Airways and Tourism Queensland will see the Abu Dhabi via Singapore to Brisbane route actively promoted, with the Brisbane International Airport touted to prospective visitors as the primary gateway to the Sunshine State,” she said.
“In turn, Queensland’s global profile as a holiday destination will also be lifted.”
Ms Boyle said the Middle East was emerging as a growing tourism market for Queensland.
“Last year, 30,000 Middle Eastern visitors came to Queensland, and while this may seem a relatively low number compared with other markets, Arab nation visitors travel in large family groups, stay longer and spend more than the average international visitor,” she said.
“This number is expected to increase with the new partnership arrangement and Etihad Airways’ operating three weekly services into Brisbane, providing approximately 1200 total weekly inbound seats into Queensland.
“The Middle East is also becoming an increasingly popular transit hub for Europeans travelling to Asia and the Pacific and Etihad’s increased capacity into Brisbane will make it easier than ever for these visitors to make Queensland their point of entry into Australia.
“The services provided by Etihad to Brisbane have been a major reason for the continuous growth in passenger traffic between Queensland and Europe, the UK, the Middle East and Singapore.”
Ms Boyle said the option for more international visitors to fly to Brisbane from the Middle East was also boon for other parts of the state as visitors could easily connect to domestic flights to a range of Queensland destinations.
Ms Boyle said the new agreement between Tourism Queensland and Etihad Airways is building on the good work the Bligh Government had already done including the $4 million tourism assistance package announced at the peak of the international tourism crisis, the sale of Sunlover and the successful negotiation of new and increased airline services into Queensland.
“The battle is far from over,” she said. “The government, aviation and tourism industries needed to keep working together to ensure the future of Queensland’s tourism industry remains bright.”
Ends
Media contact: 3225 1005 or 0419 025 326
Ms Boyle, who is currently in Dubai as part of a trade mission to the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and China, said the cooperative marketing agreement between Tourism Queensland and Etihad Airways would support Etihad flights into Brisbane and promote Queensland internationally.
“Specifically, the deal brokered between Etihad Airways and Tourism Queensland will see the Abu Dhabi via Singapore to Brisbane route actively promoted, with the Brisbane International Airport touted to prospective visitors as the primary gateway to the Sunshine State,” she said.
“In turn, Queensland’s global profile as a holiday destination will also be lifted.”
Ms Boyle said the Middle East was emerging as a growing tourism market for Queensland.
“Last year, 30,000 Middle Eastern visitors came to Queensland, and while this may seem a relatively low number compared with other markets, Arab nation visitors travel in large family groups, stay longer and spend more than the average international visitor,” she said.
“This number is expected to increase with the new partnership arrangement and Etihad Airways’ operating three weekly services into Brisbane, providing approximately 1200 total weekly inbound seats into Queensland.
“The Middle East is also becoming an increasingly popular transit hub for Europeans travelling to Asia and the Pacific and Etihad’s increased capacity into Brisbane will make it easier than ever for these visitors to make Queensland their point of entry into Australia.
“The services provided by Etihad to Brisbane have been a major reason for the continuous growth in passenger traffic between Queensland and Europe, the UK, the Middle East and Singapore.”
Ms Boyle said the option for more international visitors to fly to Brisbane from the Middle East was also boon for other parts of the state as visitors could easily connect to domestic flights to a range of Queensland destinations.
Ms Boyle said the new agreement between Tourism Queensland and Etihad Airways is building on the good work the Bligh Government had already done including the $4 million tourism assistance package announced at the peak of the international tourism crisis, the sale of Sunlover and the successful negotiation of new and increased airline services into Queensland.
“The battle is far from over,” she said. “The government, aviation and tourism industries needed to keep working together to ensure the future of Queensland’s tourism industry remains bright.”
Ends
Media contact: 3225 1005 or 0419 025 326