Published: 21 August 2009.

By Tourism Queensland.

Four Japanese charter flights to Tropical North Queensland scheduled in September and October signal an increasing confidence of the Japanese market in Queensland, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor said today.

Mr Lawlor said the charter flights, supported by Tourism Australia, Tourism Queensland and Tourism Tropical North Queensland, would bring up to 1300 Japanese visitors to the region.

"This is great news for Tropical North Queensland providing a much-needed boost in these challenging economic times," Mr Lawlor said.

"Three of the charters are carrying school excursion groups from Fukuoka to Cairns in October, having been organised by travel agency JTB and flown by All Nippon Airways.

"In addition, JTB will operate one charter to Cairns - which has already sold out - that will include a five day holiday package for Japanese visitors during Japan's Silver Week long weekend from 19 to 23 September.

"Tourism Queensland, its Australian partners and its international office in Japan are continuing to seek opportunities with the Japanese travel and aviation industries to bring business into Tropical North Queensland."

Mr Lawlor said the Tourism Queensland's Japan office reported that Japanese confidence in travelling to Queensland was increasing following the impacts of both the global financial crisis and swine flu.

"JTB has also said that Tourism Queensland's Best Job in the World campaign was having a positive impact on the market and starting to translate into sales for Queensland.

"This will be reinforced when Tourism Queensland rolls out a planned series of spin-off campaigns this year.

"Best Job finalist Mieko Kobayashi has already been appointed a Queensland ambassador and she has featured in many Japanese news stories and documentaries - she's very popular."

Parliamentary Secretary to Tourism and Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall said Japan remains Tropical North Queensland's largest international source market despite declines across Australia.

"In the year ending March, 252,000 Japanese visitors came to Queensland and 142,000 of them visited Tropical North Queensland region.

"These charter flights are significant in helping to protect regional businesses that rely on the Japanese market.

"The news of the upcoming charter flights followed a decision by Continental Airlines to continue operating four weekly flights between Japan and Cairns via Guam after they were introduced as a seasonal measure in April, Mr Wettenhall said."

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