- Direct flights between Guangzhou and Perth resume tonight
- China Southern Airlines flights to provide nearly 800 additional inbound seats to WA each week
- Flight resumption coincides with the Perth Chung Wah Cultural Festival, showcasing local Chinese community culture and the inaugural international dragon boat racing competition
- Cook Government has secured or relaunched direct links with 20 international destinations to WA
Chinese visitors will now again be able to travel to Western Australia direct, following the resumption of non-stop flights between Guangzhou and Perth.
Announced earlier this year following missions by both the Premier and Tourism Minister to China in the past 12 months, the China Southern Airlines service will operate three times weekly on a Boeing 787-9 aircraft, with the first flight landing in Perth this evening.
Estimated to provide over 780 additional inbound seats to WA each week, it will be the first non-stop service between Guangzhou and Western Australia since 2020 and follows the successful seasonal service between Shanghai and Perth operated by China Eastern Airlines earlier this year.
The China Southern Airlines flight previously operated from 2011 to 2020, bringing 33,000 visitors to WA in its final year alone.
Guangzhou is a vital transport hub for Chinese and international visitors, located about 120 kilometres north-west of Hong Kong on the Pearl River.
China continues to be WA's biggest tourism market by visitor spend, with 75,000 visitors from China spending $328 million in the State in year ending June 2024.
It is also the State's biggest trading partner, with goods exported from WA to China totalling $143 billion in 2023-24.
Aviation forms a key part of the Cook Government's tourism strategy, with 20 new or resumed international direct links secured since borders reopened, further strengthening WA's position as Australia's Western Gateway.
The launch of the China Southern Airlines service is perfectly timed for celebration, as the Perth Chung Wah Cultural Festival 2024 kicks off on Saturday, 30 November with an international dragon boat racing competition, a lion dancing high pole exhibition, vibrant Chinese cultural performances, delicious food, and a business forum.
Twelve members of the Guangzhou Liede Dragon Boat Team will be on the first China Southern Airlines flight from Guangzhou, ready to compete against local and other international teams and showcase the best in international dragon boat racing along the Swan River.
Running over two weekends, the festival will be a vibrant showcase of our State, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of WA's Chinese community.
The festival is the second major community cultural event made possible with $2.15 million from the Global Connections Through Local Events program funding administered by the Office of Multicultural Interests.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"Securing direct flights is a key part of our tourism plan, to bring more visitors to WA, diversify our economy and create more local jobs.
"China is our biggest trading partner, and this new ongoing direct flight will open up new opportunities for tourism and trade.
"My Government is positioning WA as the Western Gateway to Australia, supercharging our tourism industry to help set up our State for the future."
As stated by Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti:
"The resumption of this route is a game changer for Western Australia's tourism sector, as we know people are more likely to travel to places they can easily access.
"Consistently, we've seen China stand out as one of WA's premium markets and historically deliver high visitor numbers and expenditure, so having nearly 800 available each week straight into Perth is huge.
"This non-stop connection will not only strengthen inbound tourism, but also energise adjacent sectors such as agriculture and business, solidifying our State's reputation as Australia's Western Gateway.
"Direct aviation connectivity with Guangzhou is also a huge win for our local Chinese community, with this flight making it even easier to stay connected with family and friends while welcoming more visitors to our State."
As stated by Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister Dr Tony Buti:
"What better way to welcome these resumed China Southern flights than with the Perth Chung Wah Cultural Festival, featuring international dragon boat racing, cultural performances and delicious Chinese food along the banks of our stunning Swan River.
"It's particularly fitting the Guangzhou Liede Dragon Boat Team will be on the first flight over from Guangzhou, ready to compete against local and international teams.
"We have a strong and proud local Chinese community here in WA, so we are very excited for a big turnout at this great free family friendly community cultural event over the next two weekends."
As stated by Chung Wah Association president Dr Ting Chen:
"We are thankful for the support and funding provided by the WA Government, through the Office of Multicultural Interests, to present this exciting Perth Chung Wah Cultural Festival.
"The opportunity to align the Perth Chung Wah Cultural Festival with the resumption of China Southern Flights into WA is incredibly special and we are thrilled to be a part of this important milestone.
"This first China Southern flight will help bring our festival together - and the resumption of these flights will further connect our communities into the future."
