Wednesday, 12 July 2017

• China Southern adds fifth weekly direct flight to Perth from October 29, 2017
• China is the world's fastest growing tourism market
• Tourism WA's goal is to attract 100,000 Chinese visitors spending $500 million by 2020

China Southern Airlines has announced an extra fifth flight per week between Guangzhou and Perth, starting from October 29, 2017.

The extra service is expected to further boost visitor numbers to Western Australia from the world's fastest growing tourism market.
 
China Southern Airlines commenced flights to Perth in November 2011 and since that time the number of Chinese visitors to WA has more than doubled from 23,000 to the current 52,600.
 
The State Government, through Tourism Western Australia, has been working with Perth Airport and China Southern to increase flight frequency and drive awareness of the State as a holiday and business travel destination through major advertising campaigns.
 
Tourism WA has a goal to attract 100,000 Chinese visitors to WA spending $500 million by 2020.
 
Comments attributed to Acting Premier Roger Cook:

"China Southern Airlines currently offers the only direct air route between Perth and China, so it is fantastic to see the airline committing an extra service to help further increase visitor numbers from China to WA.

"Tourism contributed $10 billion in visitor spend in 2016 and is a key pillar of the State Government's plan to diversify the economy and create jobs.

"We know that every $225,000 in overnight visitor spend, or 179 overnight visitors to WA, creates one job in the tourism industry so every visitor and every dollar spent counts.

"China is a vital tourism market for WA with Chinese visitors spending $271 million in the year ending March 2017, an increase of 13 per cent on the previous year, making it our second biggest market in that regard.
 
"To attract more Chinese visitors and boost visitor spend, increasing aviation access to the State is the key."