QLD and NSW join forces to attract more South American visitors

Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development

The Honourable Andrew Fraser

26/04/2010

QLD and NSW join forces to attract more South American visitors

Queensland will join forces with NSW to attract more Latin American tourists to Australia, building on strong growth in tourist numbers over the past year.

Leading a major trade mission to Latin America, Mr Fraser said from Brazil today that the $200,000 print, TV, online and outdoor advertising campaign was a joint initiative of Tourism Queensland, Tourism NSW, Tourism Australia and Qantas.

The campaign will target visitors in Argentina, Brazil and Chile with enticing pictures and accommodation and airfare packages.

"Tourism directly contributes more than $9 billion to the Queensland economy and supports 222,000 jobs," Mr Fraser said.

"That's why the Bligh Government committed an extra $36 million over three years to support tourism in tough times.

"This joint initiative is good news for Queensland - particularly tourism hubs like Cairns, Whitsundays and the Gold Coast.

"South America is an emerging market for Queensland with Argentina, Brazil and Chile recording strong growth in visitor numbers - Latin American visitors were up 11 per cent in 2009."

"Qantas currently operates a direct route from Buenos Aires and the campaign promotes good value airfares on this route with connections to a variety of Queensland destinations including Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Cairns and Hamilton Island.

The campaign will include print, outdoor, TV and online advertising, travel agent training and the promotion of wholesale travel packages featuring special Qantas sale airfares.

The campaign would focus primarily on promoting package deals combining flights with a 10-night Queensland, NSW accommodation offer, such as flights and accommodation from Buenos Aires to Palm Cove from $US 2639.

Qantas Airlines Commercial Group Executive Rob Gurney said: "Qantas operates direct services from Sydney to Buenos three times a week.

"The South American market is growing and we look forward to flying more visitors to Australia to experience the best of Queensland and NSW."