Simpson welcomes LNP's aviation boost for Sunshine Coast tourism

Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson welcomed news of the LNP's Tourism Strategy which will help boost the Sunshine Coast and Queensland aviation industry.

An LNP Government will allocate $8 million to a "Attracting Aviation Fund" to secure new aviation business and routes in to Queensland as well as to enhance existing partnerships.  This will boost Queensland's tourism industry by attracting more international tourists through our airports. 

"The LNP is committed to getting tourism back on track and has a strategy to double overnight expenditure in Queensland by 2020 through DestinationQ," Ms Simpson said.

"Tourism is one of the Queensland economy's four pillars and is extremely important to the Sunshine Coast. Securing more international tourists is critical to growing jobs in this industry."

"Attracting more flights to the Sunshine Coast Airport is in line with plans to expand the airport and building the much-needed East-West runway, which will generate 5,385 new jobs,  grow the tourism and ancillary service sector and help to diversify the economic base of the Sunshine Coast region," Ms Simpson said.

The LNP's Attracting Aviation plan will provide a funding pool for airports to pursue long-term agreements with existing and additional airline carriers from key source markets to create incentives to attract new airline and route business.

Attracting Aviation will develop a strong cooperative marketing strategy between airlines, regional tourism operators, Tourism Queensland and Tourism Australia.

Real support to attract international tourists to Queensland can only be achieved with a change of government.