Byron Bay, a coastal town in New South Wales
GOVERNMENT state agency Destination NSW has signed a contract with Sichuan Airlines in a bid to lure more visitors from western China to Sydney and the New South Wales region.
While the value and duration of the partnership remains undisclosed, it will see direct flights and travel packages from Chongqing to Sydney promoted via Alitrip and Ctrip.
Although the state is already in partnership with Ctrip as part of a two-year MoU signed in August 2015, the new move will see Destination NSW becoming Australia’s first state tourism body to partner with Alitrip, according to CEO of Destination NSW, Sandra Chipchase.
“Destination NSW is focused on increasing our marketing programmes into more geographic source markets in China,” she said.
“Working in partnership with Sichuan Airlines provides us with a targeted opportunity to increase visitation from western China to Sydney and regional New South Wales via direct flights from Chongqing.”
In addition to marketing programmes, the partnership with Sichuan Airlines also includes education and training for agents.
Approximately 567,000 Chinese visited the state last year, spending a record A$2.3 billion (US$1.7 billion).
