Chinese tourists expected to return to Aussie shores in 2023
Here’s when Tropical Tourism North Queensland is expecting to see a return of Chinese tourists to the Far North.
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TOURISM Tropical North Queensland is expecting to see a return of Chinese tourists to Australian shores in 2023.
Despite current lockdown restrictions in China and the closure of its international borders, TTNQ Chair Ken Chapman said he was confident Chinese tourists will return in the new year.
Speaking at a press conference at Cairns Airport about the new partnership between Virgin Australia and Air Nippon Airlines (ANA) and their new international route from Cairns to Tokyo (Haneda), Mr Chapman said tourism in the Far North was on its way back to pre-pandemic levels.
While Japan is a key market in Far North Queensland tourism, tourism operators are looking to attract tourists from other nations, namely China which has been severely affected by the pandemic.
Mr Chapman was confident China will open its borders next year and there will be a high level of interest in Cairns.
“I think we will start to see certainly the Chinese students coming back. We’ve got the product that they want. So China’s not going to come back to where it was pre-Covid anytime soon, but I’m confident that next year we’ll start to see some good solid business when that happens,” Mr Chapman said.
“We’ve already got connections through Singapore and you know, actually ANA has got some great connections in particular in northern China. I think eventually we’ll see connections back into China itself and or Hong Kong, but that’s a little way off I have to say.
“Europe and the US are already starting to come back in reasonable numbers. What Australia as a whole has seen, is the first travellers back were visiting friends and relatives in both directions and tourism has been quite slow. That’s just the reality of what we’ve seen in the pandemic. But we’ve got to get out there and make a lot of noise.”
On Tuesday, Virgin Australia announced its newest international route – a direct flight from Cairns to Tokyo (Haneda).
The partnership means customers can travel from Cairns to Haneda on Virgin Australia and catch a connecting flight on Air Nippon Airlines to any major city in the world.
The year-round direct flight will see passengers able to travel directly from Cairns to Tokyo (Haneda) on a daily basis from June 28, 2023, subject to regulatory approval.
Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said she was excited announce the connection from Cairns to Tokyo and that it had been ‘a long time in the making’.
“We’ve been looking at this for many months. And to bring it all together now is just fantastic. And to do that at the end of the year with so much to look forward to in 2023 is just spectacular.” Ms Hrdlicka said.
“Japan is really important to Australia to Australian tourism. Australians love Japan so the cross connection to Australia and Japan is really important.
“Northern Australia, particularly Northern Queensland and Japan, there’s a strong affinity and there has been for some time and so Haneda for us is a logical place. It’s the most important airport in Tokyo. It attaches to the biggest catchment of people in Tokyo, and we’re really excited to be able to connect Haneda to Cairns and the rest of Australia,” said Ms Hrdlicka.
Air Nippon Airlines General Manager Maki Matsuzaki said the airline had previously serviced flights from Sydney and Perth to Japan, but that they had been suspended due to the Covid pandemic.
“We are trying to bring it back. The business between Haneda and Sydney has been very good for us.” Ms Matsuzaki said.
Ms Matsuzaki said she expected a similar success with the new Cairns to Haneda route. Japan reopened its international borders in October.
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Originally published as Chinese tourists expected to return to Aussie shores in 2023
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