Newcastle Airport representatives are currently in the Philippines to discuss route development for the Hunter region.
The 3-day conference was attended by over 1200 delegates from airlines, airports and tourism authorities across the Asia-Pacific.
The opportunity to introduce new air routes has the potential to expand the international tourism market and allow for a larger number of travellers to visit the area.
Newcastle Airport CEO Dr Peter Cock highlighted the positive impact of opening up international services to the region.
"Currently, travel between Asia and our region requires either a one-stop connection or 5 hours of driving to and from Sydney Airport. This results in the Hunter region missing a share some of Australia's largest inbound markets," Dr Cock said.
Other new direct services such as the Auckland to Newcastle route have demonstrated that not only did a large number of tourists visit the area for the first time, they also stayed for a longer period of time.
"This means more money spent in our hotels, restaurants, cafes, shops and on experiences," Dr Cock added.
The conference was held in Cebu, Philippines from 10-12 of March.
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| Newcastle Herald |
