EMIRATES AIRLINES

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:48): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Tourism a question about Emirates.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: Direct flights to cities are important for the development and accessibility of destinations. Here in South Australia the government has been committed to increasing access to our state and I know that this commitment has recently paid dividends. Can the minister tell the chamber about arrangements with Emirates?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (14:48): Again this is another success story for tourism in South Australia—another success story. I am absolutely delighted to be able to provide members with information about this very wonderful news—a real success story. From 1 November, Emirates will launch four weekly flights to Adelaide from Dubai, raising to a daily service from 1 February 2013. Adelaide will be the airline's fifth destination in Australia. The government and Adelaide Airport Limited have been pursuing this opportunity for some time, but it is one that the government has been absolutely committed to.

From a tourism perspective, securing a direct air service from the Middle East will also help provide increased access to one of South Australia's Tourism Commission's priority markets, Europe, which makes up 45 per cent of SA's total international visitation and it will also provide benefit to the conference sector, which depends on access for delegates.

Trade will also provide better access to suppliers through customers and new markets, and it is estimated by the South Australian Tourism Commission that daily flights from Emirates will contribute around $40 million in direct expenditure, which is a new economic benefit to the state and will generate over 200 additional jobs. I am also pleased to advise members that the South Australian Tourism Commission will enter into a cooperative marketing agreement with Emirates over a three-year period.

Tourism Australia will also contribute to a cooperative marketing strategy. The campaign activity will be discussed and agreed between the partners, with the intention that advertising of Adelaide and the direct flights will also leverage existing marketing activity to be undertaken by Emirates and Tourism Australia in the core long-haul markets of UK, Germany, France and Italy. I have been advised that some of SATC's international representatives will meet with their Emirates' counterparts within the next few weeks to develop marketing and sales plans to promote the new services to Adelaide.

I am told that some of the likely activities could include launch activity targeting the travel trade and media, possibly involving functions, social media and other PR strategies, VIP familiarisation to South Australia for trade and media travelling on the inaugural flight to Adelaide, and cooperative marketing activities to promote specific packages to Adelaide with wholesale and retail partners who work closely with Emirates.

I am sure members will agree that this is really wonderful news for the state, and I congratulate all those involved, including my parliamentary colleague the Hon. John Rau, Deputy Premier and former minister for tourism. I also acknowledge the Hon. Tom Koutsantonis, Minister for Trade, who obviously worked very hard to assist in making these flights a reality.

South Australia is doing well with other airlines as well. I was delighted recently to announce that Singapore Airlines increased its Singapore to Adelaide flights from seven to 10 per week from July. Arrival of international passengers is not just by air; more are arriving now by sea. South Australia is also doing very well with cruise ships, and I am advised that between 2006-07 and 2011-12 there has been a 187 per cent increase in ship arrivals—from eight up to 23. For the same time, there has been a 546 per cent increase in passenger numbers, and that has gone from just over 6,500 to around 42,000, and this shows we are not only attracting more cruise ship visits but also visits from much larger ships.

Five years ago regional ports had no large cruise ship arrivals at all under the former Liberal government, but in 2012-13 we now have four quite large ships going to regional ports, and it seems evident to me that more and more people are becoming aware of the wonderful things this state has to offer, whether they choose to arrive by air or sea.