State government committed to ongoing discussions with Cathay Pacific after Far North delegation
A delegation of executives and representatives from Cairns has returned from Hong Kong with confidence following their recent push to return Cathay Pacific flights to the region. Here’s how it went.
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A delegation of executives and representatives from Cairns has returned from Hong Kong with confidence following their recent push to return Cathay Pacific flights to the region.
If that eventuates, it could return a tourist market worth $200m per year to the region’s economy.
Cathay previously operated flights into and out of Cairns Airport for 24 years.
The delegation also met with trade and investment representatives in Hong Kong to gauge demand for Far North agricultural products in China’s Greater Bay Area, which comprises Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong.
Cairns MP Michael Healy, who participated in the delegation, said he felt confident about the future for both Cathay Pacific cargo and passenger flights into Cairns.
“We’re committed to further discussions with Cathay as the airline rebuilds its network after the impacts of Covid. We collectively feel our delegation had a positive impact, as was stated by the Cathay team,” Mr Healy said.
“We also met with the senior trade investment commissioner representing Australia in Hong Kong. She told us our delegation was impressive and that it had made a substantial impact as it was the first delegation of its kind since Hong Kong reopened. In addition, we also met with potential investors and expect those discussions to continue also.”
Mr Healy said the delegation had also created the opportunity for an exporter and producer forum to be held in Cairns this year.
He said the economic value of future exports to the Greater Bay Area was worth millions of dollars to the region’s economy.
He also said Japan’s recent release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima power plant into the Pacific Ocean had created an opportunity for more Chinese demand for Far North Queensland aquaculture products, given a recent Chinese ban on Japanese aquaculture exports.
“(The forum) would ensure greater outcomes for our region in the export and tourism sectors, while reducing risk for visiting airlines,” he said.
The Greater Bay Area contains a potential market of about 80m people for the Far North’s agriculture and aquaculture products, according to Advance Cairns CEO Jacinta Reddan, who also participated in the delegation.
Ms Reddan said the delegation had determined a strong demand for the Far North’s products within that region of China.
“The calibre of conversations, the feedback received and the timing of the delegation could not have been better,” Ms Reddan said.
“We know there’s a demand for our exports in the region.”
Ms Reddan said Cathay Pacific executives would visit Cairns “in the coming months”.
“We look forward to ongoing visits,” she said.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen said Hong Kong residents were looking forward to returning to Cairns.
“We know Hong Kong is a gateway to 86.6m global travellers through the Greater Bay Area. We’re really confident about our recovery in China but it is going to take some time … as the airlines and airports restaff to be able to meet that demand for new aircraft and new routes.”
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