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Media Release – October 20, 2010
Growing Visitor Arrivals Show Melbourne
Has Little to Fear in Strong Dollar;
Freeing Up Skies Keeps Tourism Sector Strong
Melbourne has a message for an Australian tourism sector lamenting the negative
effects of a surging dollar, according to the CEO of the city’s famous Windsor Hotel. And
it’s this: free up the skies to let in more airlines and low-cost carriers, and visitor numbers
will soar.
With figures released yesterday showing international visitor arrivals to Melbourne
increased by 15.7 per cent in September over September 2009 and with a 22 per cent
increase in arrivals from Asia, Mr Perry said the sector had a choice: lie down and be a
casualty of the strong dollar or stand up and fight.
“”Obviously the strong dollar is a negative,” he said. “But the fact is, Melbourne is seeing
incredibly strong growth in visitor arrivals from a large number of markets thanks to
aggressive efforts by Government and tourism authorities to attract increased direct air
services into Melbourne, especially from the south and north Asia regions.
“The bi-partisan policy
of pushing for more airline access has been a real winner for
Melbourne and it will continue to be a winner. The message for the industry nation-wide
is free up the skies and focus on attracting airlines rather than worry about the exchange
rate. Tourists and business visitors will come.”
He said the strong growth is driven by the expansion of low cost carrier services from
Malaysia-based AirAsia X, Jetstar, V Australia, and Tiger, as well as increasing offerings
from China Eastern, Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Air China and China Southern at the higher
end. New upcoming services from Royal Brunei Airlines and Air India would continue the
growth.
Mr Perry said suggestions there would be a lag effect because of tourists booking well
ahead of their date of travel was nonsense.
“These days most people book weeks, rather than months, out from planned travel
dates,” he said. “They look for good flight deals and there are certainly plenty of these on
the market. Then they’ll look at their best options for how to spend their money at the
destination. The fact that arrivals from Malaysia are up by a phenomenal 56 per cent last
month compared to a year earlier is due to the huge range of flight deals now available
between Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne. It’s not because Malaysians have suddenly
discovered Australia or booked a holiday here a year ago.”
Mr Perry said the increasing number of arrivals was creating or supporting thousands of
jobs in the sector and urged tourism authorities to maintain the focus on expanding
inbound air services.
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“We can lament the fact that, yes, more Australians are holidaying overseas to enjoy the
dollar’s purchasing power or we can make the most of the fact that while much of the
rest of the world remains in recession celebrate we are seeing a huge and sustained
increase in arrivals into Melbourne. There are greater positives that are outweighing the
negatives and as a sector we must be responding creating and proactively to the
opportunities this can create.”
“Let’s pursue even more vigorously the strategy of welcoming more airlines in, which will
maintain strength in our largest service sector export,” he said. “Now is also the time to
look at giving rights to on sell flights to North America. This would further exploit the
significant potential that remains.”
The 180-room Hotel Windsor was built in 1883, pre-dating some of the world’s leading
grand hotels including the Savoy in London, which was built in 1889, the Waldorf Astoria
in New York which dates back to 1893, and the Ritz Paris which opened in 1898.
Issued by:
Tango Public Relations, 03 9654 8098.
For further information:
David Perry, CEO and general manager, The Hotel Windsor, Melbourne.
03 9633 6000 or 0437 650 755; davidperry@thehotelwindsor.com.au
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