Brisbane Airport is set to welcome its 3 millionth passenger during this upcoming holiday season clearly marking Queensland's status as a leading destination and open for business.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said this was a remarkable turnaround given the visitor numbers that were recorded during the last two COVID-19 pandemic affected years.
"During the pandemic Brisbane Airport's throughput of visitors, like all airports, was hit by national and international travel restrictions," the Premier said.
"Last year including the Christmas period, Brisbane Airport's passenger numbers peaked at 1.21 million.
"However, with the lifting of restrictions and borders both nationally and internationally opening earlier this year the travelling public have been voting with their feet and the 3 millionth visitor is a great recovery sign.
"When Brisbane is busy, Queensland's tourism industry is busy with 75 per cent of all Queensland arrivals, transiting through Brisbane Airport."
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said Tourism Research Australia data for the year to June 2022 showed domestic visitors spent a nation-leading $19.6 billion in Queensland.
"Our domestic tourism recovery is bouncing back stronger than before Covid to make Queensland Australia's destination of choice, but there's more work to do," Mr Hinchliffe said.
"Queensland's Towards Tourism 2032 roadmap sets an ambitious target to more than double the State's visitor economy to $44 billion by 2032.
"The Palaszczuk Government's $200 million aviation war chest, in partnership with Queensland's four international airports, is an important part of rebuilding the State's international tourism industry.
"Our Attracting Aviation Investment Fund (AAIF) is predicted to land up to 5.3 million inbound airline seats a year, generating almost $4 billion and hundreds of good Queensland jobs.
"Today, we're announcing AAIF support for China Airlines to increase its existing Taipei to Brisbane service from three flights a week to five from January.
"We know international aviation is absolutely critical to Queensland's sustained tourism recovery.
"Taipei to Brisbane is the seventh inbound service backed by the aviation investment fund with more overseas flights on the runway over coming months."
Brisbane Airport's Executive General Manager of Aviation Ryan Both said China Airlines was a high-quality carrier with a significant worldwide network.
"They bring to our tourism destinations visitors from high-spending markets like Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and their home of Taiwan – all markets thirsty for quality air capacity to Queensland," Mr Both said.
Each outbound flight will deliver up to 15 tonnes of Queensland cargo capacity, with chilled meat currently the number one export to Taiwan, in a boost for regional Queensland.
"Queensland is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Taiwan and is home to one of largest Taiwanese communities in Australia," China Airlines' Brisbane General Manager Jonathan Shih said.
From 1 January 2023, China Airlines will operate a 306-seat Airbus A350-900 from Taipei arriving Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
