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QUEENSLAND is in for a $53 million tourism boost after China Eastern Airlines announced plans to bump up its Shanghai to Brisbane route to daily flights.
The service is expected to commence in December and follows Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's recent trade mission to China.
"Our partnership with China Eastern was a first and the airline has shown great confidence in my government's ongoing commitment to increase aviation access to Queensland," Palaszczuk says.
"Having met with senior China Eastern officials in China recently and putting the case for more flights to and from Queensland, I'm very pleased in their decision to increase their commitment from three flights per week to seven.
"This daily route will bring up to 85,000 inbound passengers to Queensland and generate $53 million in economic benefit to the state."
A record 400,000 Chinese travellers visited Queensland in 2015 contributing almost $1 billion in visitor expenditure - up 51 per cent on the previous year.
China Eastern Airlines currently operates a seasonal service between Shanghai and Cairns providing access for up to 13,000 visitors each year to North Queensland and the state's gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.
The Brisbane service is supported by Tourism and Events Queensland through the Government's $10 million Attracting Aviation Investment Fund in partnership with Tourism Australia and Brisbane Airport Corporation.
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