SEVEN NEW WEEKLY FLIGHTS FOR THE WHITSUNDAYS

A massive tick of confidence has been shown in the Whitsundays with the announcement today that an additional seven flights a week will commence flying into the region in April 2017.

Jetstar and Whitsunday Coast Airport made the announcement after negotiations with Whitsunday Regional Council during the past few months.

The flights mean an additional 65,000 seats a year into the Whitsundays, which will bring more than $84 million in increased economic spend into the region.

From April there will now be three return flights a week to Sydney, an additional service each week on the Melbourne-Whitsundays route and an additional three services each week on Jetstar’s Brisbane route, including a late afternoon flight to suit business travellers.

Tourism Whitsundays CEO said the announcement was a fantastic boost for the region’s tourism industry going into Christmas and the additional flights would have a significant and lasting economic impact on the Whitsundays.

“This is a massive tick of confidence in our region by Jetstar, who have worked closely with our council and Whitsunday Coast Airport to bring these flights to the Whitsundays.

“An additional 65,000 seats a year is significant when you take into account the average length of stay for domestic visitors in the Whitsundays is 5.5 nights.

“The additional flights will provide a significant boost for accommodation houses, tour and transport operators, restaurants and retail outlets next year.

“They will also provide better connectivity for overseas visitors, who will be more likely to visit our region if there is more choice and availability of flights.”

The announcement comes on the back of record numbers of international tourists visiting the Whitsundays in the year to September 30, 2016, with more overseas visitors than ever before coming to the Whitsundays in the 12-month period.

In the heart of the Great Barrier Reef on Queensland’s coast, the Whitsundays is made up of 74 island wonders in the warm waters of the Coral Sea. 2

The Whitsundays is the perfect place to swim and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, charter a boat and cruise the islands, or witness the incredible diversity of marine life including turtles, whales, dolphins and tropical fish.

To find out more about the Whitsundays and to book your next tropical escape, visit Tourism Whitsundays website www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au