Council welcomes return of flights to the Fraser Coast

In line with COVID-19 guidelines, markers have been put in place to ensure people flying in and out maintain their social distancing and there are extra hand sanitiser stations throughout the terminal.

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said the resumption of daily flights in time for the school holidays would be a huge stimulus for the region as it emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Tourism is a huge part of the Fraser Coast economy,” he said.

“The flights will have an immediate economic impact in the tourism industry which will flow through to other sectors of the economy and go a long way to helping businesses save jobs.

“It’s not just tourists though. The flights mean that friends and family can also visit and is a sign that we are gradually returning to normal.”

The Qantas decision to resume flights two weeks before the school holidays was fantastic, Fraser Coast Tourism and Events general manager Martin Simons said.

“These holidays and the start of the whale watching season kick-start winter tourism and airline access is a vital ingredient of that,” Mr Simons said.

“In the last 12 months the Fraser Coast has built itself to be the fifth most popular holiday destination in Queensland, behind the big four of the Gold and Sunshine coasts, Brisbane and Cairns.

“This had been achieved because of the great diversity of experiences on offer in the region.

“Not many other regions of Queensland or indeed Australia can boast this diversity, which is the focus of our marketing campaign in south-east Queensland, currently underway.”

Mr Simons paid tribute to the remarkable resilience of Fraser Coast tourism, accommodation, hotel and restaurant operators who had weathered the COVID crisis and were ready to welcome visitors, rebooting from one of the most intense periods of their lives.

President of the Hervey Bay Chamber of Commerce Sandra Holebrook also welcomed the return of the flights.

“It is wonderful news that flights to the Fraser Coast will resume in time for the July school holidays, bringing a much needed boost to the region at a time when traditionally tourism is a major contributor to the economy,” she said.

“With the resumption of flights into the region, businesses will be able to take advantage of the predicted increase in visitor numbers to boost their operational capacity in line with COVID restrictions easing.

“Tourism at this time of the year assists all our businesses to be sustainable, so any opportunity to provide a stimulus is very welcome.”

Hervey Bay whale watch businesses are ready for the visitors.

“We're hoping it'll stimulate tourism, and the economy, with additional visitors to the region; just in time for the holiday period,” Rebecca Greenshields from Whalesong Cruises said.

“We're remaining optimistic that the Premier will open the borders soon to allow more visitors to come to the region.”

Cr Seymour also welcomed a $5m regional airport aviation route restart program announced by State Tourism Minister Kate Jones.

The money will help secure more intrastate flights.

“We want to ensure that the daily Sydney jet flights resume as quickly as possible,” Cr Seymour said.