Inbound tourism ecstasy as Scoot heads to Gold Coast
Scoot, Singapore Airlines’ new long-haul-low cost carrier, is coming to the Gold Coast, filling Queensland politicians and the inbound tourism industry with delight.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has an election coming up and needs all the positive news she can muster.
Scoot may worry Air AsiaX and possibly Jetstar but it’s good news for inbound tourism to Australia.
Bligh yesterday announced a major aviation deal with the new airline – worth an estimated AUD65 million a year – which will bring thousands of international travellers to the Gold Coast each week.
“This is a multi-million blueprint partnership between government and industry which will open up overseas markets and support Queensland businesses and local jobs,” she said.
“Under the new deal with low-cost carrier Scoot, an offshoot of Singapore Airlines, we will be welcoming up to 2000 international visitors who will be flying direct into the Gold Coast on five Scoot flights each week.
“This is the first partnership of its kind under the Queensland Government’s aviation strategy, injecting up to $65 million per year into the local economy, with all levels of government and industry at the table,” Bligh said.
“Our Government is working hard to support important industries like this right across the State.”
Scoot starts its new five weekly flights from 12 June 2012.
The five new weekly international services, directly linking the Gold Coast to Singapore, would strengthen Australia’s capacity to engage with the all-important Asian market, managing director of the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC), Felicia Mariani, commented.
“We welcome this announcement as a significant boost to the tourism industry and the further opportunities – including a future direct link to China – it offers Australian operators.
“This service recognises the growing interest Asian travellers have with Australia and is an indicator of significant growth to come,” Mariani said.
“The important thing now is to ensure we support the tourism industry to fully engage this opportunity by building the right product, connecting with the right markets and establishing the right distribution channels as well as delivering the experiences these visitors are looking for.”
In supporting Queensland’s tourism industry to connect with new markets, ATEC yesterday hosted the Tropical North Queensland Showcase in Sydney, bringing together 35 suppliers, showcasing 30 tourism products from Tropical North Queensland, in a full day of workshops.
Queensland’s Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business Minister, Jan Jarratt said Singapore Airlines had long been a major carrier into Australia and having the Gold Coast selected as one of the first international destinations for its new low-cost off-shoot demonstrated the potential the airline has identified in the destination and the corporate confidence it has in the city.
“Scoot has indicated that its first year destinations will also include China, so the option of one-stop connections to the Gold Coast from mainland China will add even more potential for the region,” she said.
“Asia represents the greatest growth potential for Queensland’s tourism industry and increasing air capacity into Queensland from Asia is our long-term goal.”
Gold Coast Tourism chief executive Martin Winter echoed the sentiments, saying the regular services would position the Gold Coast on a new level as an international destination for Singaporeans and was the result of a determined effort by the consortium in pursuing and doing the deal to bring the airline to Queensland.
“The Gold Coast has today achieved a new standing as an international destination with regular direct flights from the Asian hub of Singapore unlocking a massive network of access and promotional opportunities,” Winter said.
“The city was convincingly represented by the cross-agency consortium of Gold Coast Tourism, Gold Coast Airport, Tourism Queensland and Tourism Australia in pursuing, negotiating and securing this milestone commitment to the Gold Coast’s tourism industry.”
Scoot CEO Campbell Wilson said Scoot was all about offering great value, fun and a unique attitude, “Scootitude”.
“Where else in Australia offers more value and fun than the Gold Coast? And Singapore, with so many new developments in recent years, has reinvented itself to become one of Asia’s hottest leisure destinations,” Wilson said.
Written by Peter Needham
