New direct flights to boost Sino-Australia relations

China and Australia are to beef up their cultural and economic relations as China Southern Airlines (CSA) announced to usher in its first airline in Chinese mainland from Guangzhou to Cairns.

This is CSA's second route to Australia after the initial route being to Brisbane.

The Guangzhou-based airline company will operate three flights per week, according the announcement.

"The first of the direct flights connecting Chinese mainland with Cairns will prove a huge boost to Chinese outbound tourism as well as tourism and economic development in the Tropical North Queensland," said Kate Jones, minister for Tourism and Major Events, Queensland Government.

Divers swim in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. [Photo/southcn.com]

"It will also offer a unique and wonderful tourism experiences in Australia," Kate added.

Statistics show that China is Queensland's largest overseas tourism market, due to its rapid development.

In the past year, a total of 400,000 Chinese visitors landed in the state and brought more than A$1billion ($765.8 million) in the past year.

The new airline will offer direct access to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef.

These new flights are expected to bring more than 33,000 Chinese visitors to Tropical North Queensland every year, according to Queensland State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Minister Kate said that she is looking forward to having more Chinese visitors come to Australia's tropical north. "The year of 2017 marks Sino-Australia Year of Tourism and the new flights will better the exchanges between the two countries," she added.

The first flights are expected to land in Cairns in December.

China Southern Airline's airplanes line up on the tarmac at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport beneath blue skies. [Photo/csair.com]