AUSTRALIA. Gold Coast Airport and leading Chinese travel services company Ctrip have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see Ctrip open its first Australian store at the main air gateway to the Gold Coast early next year.
Through the deal, Queensland Airports Limited, the operator of Gold Coast Airport, points to an enhanced offering for Chinese visitors who are already a key travel retail focus. Heinemann Australia recently opened two duty free stores at the airport.
Queensland Airports CEO Chris Mills said: “There is no better location for Ctrip to open its first Australian store than at the gateway to the country’s premier tourist destination. Having Ctrip based at Gold Coast Airport is likely to prompt Chinese visitors to plan more activities during their stay, further increasing the spending of this already lucrative segment.
“We expect this partnership to deliver significant exposure in the Chinese market and strengthen the Gold Coast, Queensland, and Gold Coast Airport brands in what is the largest inbound market for the region.”
Ctrip Destination Marketing CEO Jenna Qian added: “After the completion of the Ctrip concept store, Ctrip and Trip.com will better serve Chinese and overseas travellers and solve their travel needs, as well as promote tourism to the Gold Coast.”
Ctrip dominates the Chinese travel market with 71% of Chinese travellers booking flights, accommodation and tours through its services. The Ctrip store will be located next to the Destination Gold Coast booth between baggage claim and security screening.
State government backing
The agreement was supported by the Queensland Government. Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said that tapping into the huge Chinese market was part of the government’s strategy to build tourism on the Gold Coast.
“Securing more direct flights into Gold Coast Airport is crucial to growing the tourism industry,” she said. “This agreement will ensure the Gold Coast is front of mind for millions of Chinese tourists researching their next overseas holiday.”
More than 300,000 Chinese tourists visit the Gold Coast every year and China has become the number one international visitor market for Australia and Queensland – both in terms of numbers and spending per visitor. About A$360 million (US$259 million) is pumped into the Gold Coast economy by Chinese travellers each year.
Gold Coast Airport processed a record 6.6 million passengers in its last financial year, an increase of +1.7% year-on-year. The airport operates more than 420 flights a week with direct links to Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and New Zealand. The Gold Coast Airport Master Plan anticipates 16 million passengers by 2037.
