Tasmania is set to welcome one million passengers this summer thanks in part to a $5 million government fund to attract more airlines.
A record one million seats will be available on flights this summer, up 11% on last year’s total and a record for the airport.
Tourism Minister Jane Howlett says the figure represents “a tremendous vote of confidence in Tasmania as a destination”.
She says the government will unlock even more seats by expanding its Aviation Attraction Fund.
“The domestic component of the guidelines has now been extended to include existing routes, including between Melbourne and Tasmania,” she says.
“Expanding the guidelines in this way will encourage more visitors to Tasmania.”
FLYING TO TASMANIA
Hobart Airport CEO Norris Carter welcomed the revised Fund guidelines.
“This small change will have a big impact,” he says.
“This will potentially unlock tens of thousands more seats on the most popular flights to and from Hobart, including to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.”
Carter says the tweaking to the Fund allowed them to attract 30,000 more passengers on the Hobart-Melbourne route with four months left to go.
“These are also the most valuable routes, connecting Tasmania to more than 70 other destinations across the world.”
Carter says his airport is now the second-fastest growing airport in Australia and the eighth busiest by passenger numbers.
“December 26 will be the first time Hobart Airport records over 14,000 seats in a single day and January 9 will be our biggest day ever, with over 14,200 seats scheduled,” he says.
He also points to 28,500 seats on the Qantas Hobart-Perth route, 22,000 on a new Jetstar Hobart-Newcastle service and 25,000 more seats on seasonal Air New Zealand flights to Auckland.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Amy Hills says the milestone is being fuelled by Tasmania’s strong appeal as a summer destination.
“Tourism operators and event organisers are gearing up for a bumper summer with events like the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, Taste of Summer in the south and events like Festivale and the Foo Fighters in the north.”
She says that with the new Macquarie Point stadium in Hobart going ahead and the delivery of new ferry vessels next October, the state is “on the cusp of a new era for tourism.”
Hospitality Tasmania CEO Steve Old says there is a strong sense of optimism in the air.
“Confidence matters in hospitality, and record seat capacity like this sends a strong signal to operators,” he says.
“Our sector is coming off a strong winter season and a blockbuster summer will only strengthen the outlook.
“Tasmania is building serious year-round momentum.”
ABOUT THE FUND
The Fund teams up the government with Tasmanian airports to boost air traffic and passenger numbers.
It provides up to $2 million to open new domestic routes, extend existing seasonal routes and grow capacity on existing domestic routes.
It also provided up to $3m for direct international flights under a joint funding arrangement.
The airport has upgraded its main runway and installed international screening facilities to cater for larger, international services.
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