News for South Pacific

Gladstone Council is committed to improve Gladstone Airport's access roads by 2031 (The Observer, 17-Apr-2017). The council has yet to draw out a project timeline or estimated cost, but plans to link Penda Ave/Dawson Hwy roundabout by extending Shaw St to Olsen Ave.

Timaru Richard Pearse Airport completed (18-Apr-2017) the first stage of its NZD1.3 million (USD911,306) upgrade project, featuring a fully sealed car park, additional parking capacity and dedicated pick up/drop off bays to improve safety. As previously reported by CAPA, the NZD575,000 (USD388,100) project was conducted by Fulton Hogan. The airport will implement a NZD5 (USD3.50) daily parking surcharge from late Aug-2017. The following phase will work on terminal upgrades and expansion. [more - original PR] 

Australia's Federal Government spent a total of AUD427 million (USD324 million) on travel and accommodation in 2016, an increase of AUD50 million (USD37.9 million) over the 2013/2014 financial year (Canberra Times, 18-Apr-2017). This equates to more than AUD2700 (USD2049) for each of the 155,000 public servants.

Auckland Airport celebrated reaching NZD1 million (USD701,392) in Alipay transactions since the service launched in Oct-2016 (NZ Herald, 17-Apr-2017). China is the airport's second largest visitor market. Airport GM Jason Delamore stated: "The Alipay partnership also opens up opportunities to communicate with potential travellers from China before they come to New Zealand and with Chinese visitors while they're travelling here".

Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) invoked legislation which does not require the bureau to release material about its search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 (The Australian, 17-Apr-2017). ATSB GM for strategic capability Colin McNamara claimed the release could "cause damage the international relations of the commonwealth". The ATSB warned that any bureau ­employee who provides such ­information to the public or a court could face two years in jail.

French Polynesia tourism increased 4.7% year-on-year to 192,495 in 2016, according to the Institute of Statistics of French Polynesia (SPTO, 13-Apr-2017). The increase is from all markets except Europe (excluding France), which remains stable. International air traffic increased by 4.2% however, the average length of stay decreased by 2.8% and the average overall stay shortened to 13.8 days.

Tourism Australia reported (17-Apr-2017) visitor arrivals to Australia fell 2% in Feb-2017. Details include:

• Visitor arrivals: 780,100, -2.1% year-on-year;
• • China: 142,200, -18.2%;
  • UK: 87,100, +7.1%;
  • New Zealand: 82,400, +4.3%;
  • US: 74,100, +4.5%;
  • Singapore: 27,200, -15.0%. [more - original PR]

Qantas advised a parliamentary committee to refrain from allowing international carriers to operate on domestic routes in Australia, known as cabotage (Sydney Morning Herald, 17-Apr-2017). A submission by Qantas Group executive Andrew Parker to the senate committee which is investigating the possibility of cabotage, stated any changes would have substantial economic, employment and operational risks and would undermine Australia's position in future air services negotiations. The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development submission stated cabotage can be considered under existing policy in exceptional cases, such as on routes not serviced by Australian airlines.

Tourism New Zealand stated (13-Apr-2017) the World Masters Games opens in Auckland on 21-Apr-2017 and is a major opportunity to encourage as many of the international participants, their family and friends, to stay longer and travel further afield in New Zealand before or after the Games. The Games also provide a platform to showcase New Zealand to the world. Before the event, Tourism New Zealand has produced content that has resulted in 89 stories globally that are helping to promote New Zealand as a tourist destination. Tourism New Zealand will also continue to explore content and PR opportunities with visiting media throughout the 10 day event. [more - original PR]

Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand partnered (18-Apr-2017) with Brazilian travel show, Lugar Incomum to feature the country in eight dedicated episodes. Tourism New Zealand GM Americas and Europe Bjoern Spreitzer stated Tourism New Zealand took full advantage of the show’s airtime and built a significant marketing campaign around it including amplified advertising in Brazil featuring the show’s host Didi Wagner. Mr Spreitzer added: "Brazil is a market showing steady growth and with direct flights to New Zealand now arriving three times a week from nearby Buenos Aires with plans to extend, the region has really opened up". [more - original PR]