Coast set to reap the tourism benefits before flight arrives direct from Hong Kong

THE Coast is ready for the great haul of China when the first direct flight from Hong Kong to the Glitter Strip arrives bearing a $10m economic boost.

Aerial view of Hong Kong harbor. /Hong/Kong

THE Gold Coast is ready for the great haul of China when the first direct flight from Hong Kong to the Glitter Strip arrives bearing a $10 million economic boost.

And leading the charge will be cashed-up Hong Kong residents ready to let down their hair, visiting the Magic Millions race day and the city’s famous sun-kissed beaches.

The inaugural Hong Kong Airlines flight will touch down at 8.45am tomorrow and bring in 200 visitors, kicking off what is expected to be one of the biggest tourism periods in recent memory.

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Chief among the new arrivals will be affluent visitors from the trade hub, as well as those connecting from mainland China.

The Hong Kong flights come just months after the arrival of the first direct flight from Wuhan China to the Gold Coast. Tourist Lily Ying was among the first to land on the tarmac. Picture: Richard Gosling

Gold Coast Tourism chairman Paul Donovan, speaking from Macau, said the lead-up to February’s Chinese New Year would be a boom period for the city.

“From a tourism point of view, this opens up one of the world’s biggest hubs direct to the Gold Coast and the Hong Kong market is far more affluent than the mainland and its people are more aware of Australia,” he said.

“The next 12 weeks are going to be one of the busiest times of year for Chinese tourism and we are confident that after that time these flights will keep going.

“If you look at what they are doing, the opportunities for us are huge to develop our tourism links with the region which is great because this has been in the making for many years.”

Gold Coast Tourism Chairman Paul Donovan said the affluent Hong Kong market will boost the economy. Picture: Scott Fletcher

Mr Donovan said Hong Kong’s position as the gateway between mainland China and much of the world would allow a wide catchment of visitors to come to the city.

The trial, revealed exclusively by the Bulletin last August, will feature three flights a week for three months.

It is expected to become a permanent service following the trial’s end.

Among those on the inaugural flight will be Mayor Tom Tate, Mr Donovan and leading tourism leaders and travel agents from Hong Kong

It comes just three months after the first direct flights began running between the Gold Coast and Chinese city Wuhan.

Martin Winter says Chinese New Year would be “bigger than ever”

Gold Coast Tourism chief executive Martin Winter said Saturday’s extravaganza arrival was just the beginning.

“Chinese New Year will be bigger than ever and we can expect this to be a bumper time for the city,” he said.

“These Hong Kong flights alone stand to bring in more than $10 million of additional business and, combined with the Wuhan flights, it is little wonder that China is our biggest and most important visitor cohort.”

Cr Tate said the flights offered the city an “incredible opportunity”.

“Our skies are opening up to global tourism like never before,” he said.

“This an incredible opportunity for economic development on the Gold Coast as these flights are going to open up a new opportunity, through Hong Kong as a hub, for new and existing markets in China.”