More than sixty thousand new airline seats bringing increased visitors to Western Australia from Asia will inject over $150 million into the State economy and create 990 new jobs.
Tourism Council WA today congratulated Perth Airport on the addition of an extra daily service by China Southern Airlines from Guangzhou on the new Airbus A33B, and Cathay Pacific upgrading its daily Perth to Hong Kong service to an Airbus A350. In total, more than 60,000 new seats will become available.
Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said the expansion was a great outcome for the Western Australian tourism industry and the local economy.
“Chinese visitors are traditionally high-yield, spending on average more than $5,000 each in Western Australia,” Mr Hall said.
“Expanding this market will create a huge job boost for WA, creating 990 direct, full-time equivalent jobs in service sectors including hospitality, entertainment, retail and transport, and injecting more than $150 million into the local economy.”
Mr Hall said direct flights were essential to developing Western Australia as a leisure destination for Asian travellers.
“It is important that Western Australia develops new attractions, tours and events that appeal to both locals and Asian visitors to ensure we can fill the additional 60,000 seats each year,” he said.