Chinese New Year Flight Trial Boosts WA Economy

Saturday, November 25, 2023

Tourism Council WA applauds the confirmation of a seasonal flight service connecting Shanghai and Perth during Chinese New Year 2024 as an exciting development for Western Australia. This initiative, which is expected to be a four-week trial, is expected to inject more than $9 million into the local economy due to the significant spending power of Chinese visitors.

Evan Hall, CEO of the Tourism Council WA, expressed excitement about the trial, highlighting its potential to bring in 14 full planes of Chinese tourists to celebrate the Lunar New Year, reunite with friends and family, and enjoy a peaceful holiday in Western Australia.

Prior to the COVID era, Chinese visitors were the highest spenders, with an estimated $5,000 per visitor in 2019. With more Western Australians traveling abroad, attracting Chinese visitors to WA and beyond has become critical.

Mr. Hall emphasized the importance of the State Government securing a continuous direct service between Shanghai and Perth in order to reclaim WA’s Chinese visitors, who are not only the highest spenders but also the second largest source of international arrivals in Australia.

Tourism Council WA intends to provide industry training to local businesses in advance of the trial. This initiative aims to assist them in entering the Chinese tourism market and providing high-quality, culturally appropriate experiences to incoming visitors.

As Western Australia prepares for this economic boost, the success of the Shanghai-Perth flight trial could pave the way for sustained growth in Chinese tourism, benefiting both the local economy and businesses eager to tap into this lucrative market.

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