❓ Mr. Tallentire asks how direct Shanghai-Perth flights will boost WA tourism and the economy. The Minister outlines efforts to promote the flights, attract Chinese tourists, and highlights the potential economic benefits, including increased spending in various sectors.
AnsweredQoN 1110Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TOURISM — DIRECT
FLIGHTS — SHANGHAI–PERTH
1110. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to boosting the state's tourism businesses
and creating tourism jobs through its unprecedented efforts to secure more
direct flights to Western Australia. Can the minister outline to the house how the direct flights between Shanghai and Perth
will help attract more Chinese holiday-makers to WA over the summer
period, and, in doing so, help grow the WA economy?
FLIGHTS — SHANGHAI–PERTH
1110. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to boosting the state's tourism businesses
and creating tourism jobs through its unprecedented efforts to secure more
direct flights to Western Australia. Can the minister outline to the house how the direct flights between Shanghai and Perth
will help attract more Chinese holiday-makers to WA over the summer
period, and, in doing so, help grow the WA economy?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Thornlie for
his enthusiastic support of tourism—and why would he not support
tourism? The biggest number of people from outside the state in history are
coming to Western Australia, and they are spending more than ever before since
we launched our —
Ms L. Mettam interjected
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse! You now have three.
Mr P. PAPALIA : She is on
three!
Several members interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : According to
Tourism Research Australia, the largest number of out-of-state visitors in
history are coming to Western Australia, and
they are spending more than ever before in history. Most interestingly, we have
had the biggest number of international visitor holiday-makers in history. In
the 12 months to June, 506 000 people came
from overseas to Western Australia. That is a fantastic outcome, but we want
more. That is why last Tuesday I was very pleased to attend an event at the new
Ritz-Carlton, Perth with the Premier, Minister Tinley, the Treasurer,
business luminaries from Western Australia, and the Western Australian Chinese
community, to celebrate, acknowledge and promote the first trial of China
Eastern Airlines flights between Shanghai and Perth, commencing on 15 January.
I would like to take the opportunity to encourage every member of Parliament,
if they can, to consider flying on these flights during this trial. We need
those flights to work so that we can convince China Eastern to roll on into
regular flights post the trial. We do not want it to stop; we want it to keep
going. It is a trial over Chinese New Year. It will boost numbers. It will be
invaluable. People will come to this state, and they will get into our cafes,
bars, hotels and restaurants, and they will get out to the regions, and they
will grow jobs. But we want it to work so that we can be connected to Shanghai,
a city of 29 million people, surrounded by cities of 10 million people. This is
a huge new market, like a whole new country. We currently have only one direct
flight between Perth and China—from Guangzhou. That is wonderful, and I
am very thankful to China Southern Airlines for those flights. But if we can
get China Eastern to continue these flights from Shanghai on a regular basis,
it would be a great coup.
I have a bit of information. The
flights will start on 15 January, three times a week, providing around 7 000
seats to and from Perth. The flights will depart Shanghai at 20 past midnight
and arrive in Perth at 9.50 am. The return leg from Perth will depart at 11.50
am and arrive in Shanghai at 9.10 pm.
Mr V.A. Catania : How much?
Mr P. PAPALIA : What does the
member mean?
Mr V.A. Catania : What is the
cost?
The SPEAKER : It is more than
you can afford, member for North West Central. You are on three calls, by the
way, but I am not throwing you out on the last day.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I want to
explain to the National Party that we do not subsidise flights. We market the
route. We give money to the inbound tour operators to get people on the plane
so that they will come here—unlike some other proposals around
chartering aircraft. That is not what it is. This is an effort to grow
awareness in Shanghai of our market, and then get people on these flights and
encourage China Eastern to continue the flights. We are spending $1 million
extra this year on marketing Western Australia in Shanghai, in an effort to
grow awareness in Shanghai and surrounds and get that market to lift.
The Chinese market has grown
substantially in recent years, thanks to our efforts, with 14 per cent growth
in the last 12 months, and 66 700 Chinese
visitors to Western Australia. The interesting thing about it is that that is
under- performing as a proportion of the national market; we do not get
our per capita share, yet the Chinese are our biggest spenders. They are about
fifth in terms of numbers, but they are our biggest spenders. If we can get the
numbers up, it will be a massive boost to all of Western Australia. I cannot
believe that anyone, even someone as shallow and inane as the member for North
West Central, would criticise this effort. I would encourage him to get on the
plane and fly to Shanghai. He can go online and book it.
Mr V.A. Catania : Do you know
how much it costs per flight?
The SPEAKER : Member for North
West Central, you are on three. I can organise a one-way ticket for you.
Mr P. PAPALIA : They had
promotional deals, but I think those have gone. It was about $500 return.
Several members interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I am not their
salesman! I am just trying to encourage members to make the flights work. I thought
the member meant how much it cost the government. I did not realise that is
what the member meant. I will find out and get back to him.
Several members interjected.
Mr
P. PAPALIA : If the member for
North West Central promises not to come back, I will pay for the flight going
over!
his enthusiastic support of tourism—and why would he not support
tourism? The biggest number of people from outside the state in history are
coming to Western Australia, and they are spending more than ever before since
we launched our —
Ms L. Mettam interjected
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse! You now have three.
Mr P. PAPALIA : She is on
three!
Several members interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : According to
Tourism Research Australia, the largest number of out-of-state visitors in
history are coming to Western Australia, and
they are spending more than ever before in history. Most interestingly, we have
had the biggest number of international visitor holiday-makers in history. In
the 12 months to June, 506 000 people came
from overseas to Western Australia. That is a fantastic outcome, but we want
more. That is why last Tuesday I was very pleased to attend an event at the new
Ritz-Carlton, Perth with the Premier, Minister Tinley, the Treasurer,
business luminaries from Western Australia, and the Western Australian Chinese
community, to celebrate, acknowledge and promote the first trial of China
Eastern Airlines flights between Shanghai and Perth, commencing on 15 January.
I would like to take the opportunity to encourage every member of Parliament,
if they can, to consider flying on these flights during this trial. We need
those flights to work so that we can convince China Eastern to roll on into
regular flights post the trial. We do not want it to stop; we want it to keep
going. It is a trial over Chinese New Year. It will boost numbers. It will be
invaluable. People will come to this state, and they will get into our cafes,
bars, hotels and restaurants, and they will get out to the regions, and they
will grow jobs. But we want it to work so that we can be connected to Shanghai,
a city of 29 million people, surrounded by cities of 10 million people. This is
a huge new market, like a whole new country. We currently have only one direct
flight between Perth and China—from Guangzhou. That is wonderful, and I
am very thankful to China Southern Airlines for those flights. But if we can
get China Eastern to continue these flights from Shanghai on a regular basis,
it would be a great coup.
I have a bit of information. The
flights will start on 15 January, three times a week, providing around 7 000
seats to and from Perth. The flights will depart Shanghai at 20 past midnight
and arrive in Perth at 9.50 am. The return leg from Perth will depart at 11.50
am and arrive in Shanghai at 9.10 pm.
Mr V.A. Catania : How much?
Mr P. PAPALIA : What does the
member mean?
Mr V.A. Catania : What is the
cost?
The SPEAKER : It is more than
you can afford, member for North West Central. You are on three calls, by the
way, but I am not throwing you out on the last day.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I want to
explain to the National Party that we do not subsidise flights. We market the
route. We give money to the inbound tour operators to get people on the plane
so that they will come here—unlike some other proposals around
chartering aircraft. That is not what it is. This is an effort to grow
awareness in Shanghai of our market, and then get people on these flights and
encourage China Eastern to continue the flights. We are spending $1 million
extra this year on marketing Western Australia in Shanghai, in an effort to
grow awareness in Shanghai and surrounds and get that market to lift.
The Chinese market has grown
substantially in recent years, thanks to our efforts, with 14 per cent growth
in the last 12 months, and 66 700 Chinese
visitors to Western Australia. The interesting thing about it is that that is
under- performing as a proportion of the national market; we do not get
our per capita share, yet the Chinese are our biggest spenders. They are about
fifth in terms of numbers, but they are our biggest spenders. If we can get the
numbers up, it will be a massive boost to all of Western Australia. I cannot
believe that anyone, even someone as shallow and inane as the member for North
West Central, would criticise this effort. I would encourage him to get on the
plane and fly to Shanghai. He can go online and book it.
Mr V.A. Catania : Do you know
how much it costs per flight?
The SPEAKER : Member for North
West Central, you are on three. I can organise a one-way ticket for you.
Mr P. PAPALIA : They had
promotional deals, but I think those have gone. It was about $500 return.
Several members interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I am not their
salesman! I am just trying to encourage members to make the flights work. I thought
the member meant how much it cost the government. I did not realise that is
what the member meant. I will find out and get back to him.
Several members interjected.
Mr
P. PAPALIA : If the member for
North West Central promises not to come back, I will pay for the flight going
over!
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