By Luke Voogt
“Flights full of Chinese tourists” have prompted Avalon Airport to focus on securing more connecting flights from Sydney, according to the airport’s chief.
The airport was targeting the “low-hanging fruit” of Chinese tourists flying domestically after efforts to attract direct international flights stalled over the past 12 months, Avalon Airport chief executive Justin Giddings told the Indy.
“We’ve had great success in freight and Chinese visitation via Sydney. The Great Ocean Road has been a big kicker.”
Tourism expert Brett Ince said Chinese tourists were choosing Avalon over Tullamarine for cheaper flights, easier car hire and to avoid metropolitan traffic.
Mr Ince, deputy executive director of Tourism Geelong and The Bellarine, said more Chinese tourists were visiting the Great Ocean Road and Sovereign Hill through Avalon Airport.
The tourism board was working to attract Chinese tourists on flights from Sydney, Adelaide and the Gold Coast using “existing flight structure”, Mr Ince said.
Northern Bellarine Peninsula seafood was an “emerging market“ for Chinese tourism, with increasing numbers of visitors sampling local mussels and abalone, he said.
“Seafood is a big thing for their culture.”
Latest Victorian Government statisitics show average 17 per cent increases in Chinese day-tourist numbers each year over the past decade.
Mr Ince said the expansion of Deakin University offered further opportunities for Avalon.
The airport was a gateway for families visiting students at the university or one of Geelong’s 13 internationally registered high schools, he said.
In October 2015, The Indy reported the airport was pushing to introduce international flights, with a New Zealand airline emerging as the strongest contender.
But efforts have stalled despite Federal Government reclassifying Avalon Airport as a ’regional gateway’ rather than a ’major international gateway’, which had been a red-tape obstacle to achieving overseas flights.
“Nothing has really happened in terms of that in the last year,” Mr Giddings said.
The reclassification allows the Commonwealth to offer incentives to international airlines through its Regional Air Access Package.
Mr Giddings said China, Hong Kong, India, Philippines and a number of Pacific countries had recognised the airport’s new status.
“That’s all happened with all the ones I care about. Avalon Airport has a lot of opportunity to grow.”
