SEOUL, 2016-Jul-01 — /Travel PR News/ — Tourism Australia in partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland has entered a new deal with Korean airline Jin Air in Seoul today to secure a new seasonal service to Cairns.
The new partnership agreement will see the two organisations support a seasonal twice-weekly service from Incheon Airport in the South Korean capital to Cairns in Tropical North Queensland from December 2016.
Tourism Australia Managing Director John O’Sullivan said the timing of the new services would help the industry to further capitalise on the double digit growth in visitors and spend from Korea.
“Tourism Australia is delighted to be working in partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland to support the Jin Air services to Cairns, with jointly funded tactical marketing activity to ensure that thousands of Korean travellers take advantage of the new services,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
“Korean visitor spend grew 21 per cent last year to a record $1.4 billion as a result of strong growth in visitation which saw us welcome more than 250,000 visitors from Korea for the year. Having additional air services gives us a further boost to build on the fast growing Korea market.
“This is the first time that Jin Air has flown to Australia and it is a terrific opportunity for Korean travellers, giving them direct access to Tropical North Queensland to experience the reef and rainforests of the region,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
The new seasonal service was secured through Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) with support from Tourism Australia, Cairns Airport, and Tourism Tropical North Queensland.
Tourism Australia through its key distribution partners in Korea will support the Jin Air services through joint marketing with TEQ to encourage potential travellers to take up the direct flights to Cairns.
South Korea has been a strong performing market in recent years. In the past year (to year-end April 2016) visitor numbers from South Korea have grown 18 per cent to 251,000, making it Australia’s eighth largest source market for international visitors. Significantly, spend by Korean visitors in Australia rose 21 per cent to $1.4 billion during the year-ended March 2016 to make it Australia’s seventh largest source market for visitor spend.
CONTACT
Leo Seaton
General Manager Media and Communications
lseaton@tourism.australia.com
+61 2 9361 1363, 0447 463 197
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Tourism Australia Regional General Manager Greater China, Andrew Hogg, Jin Air Senior Vice President, Director of Marketing & PR Ms Emily Cho and Chief Executive Officer Tourism and Events Queensland, Leanne Coddington.