A new transtasman service between the Gold Coast and Queenstown will boost tourism in the region, industry bosses say.
Low-cost carrier Jetstar will begin flying the route three times a week from December, and will begin a similar service between Wellington and the Gold Coast at the same time.
Queenstown Airport Corporation CEO Scott Paterson said the flights would ''boost capacity and connectivity'' to its key Australian market and beyond.
''Queensland, in particular, is a real growth area for us and this will also open up a long-haul opportunity for connections to Japan on the Jetstar network.''
The service would be attractive to inbound and outbound travellers, Mr Paterson said.
''This new route will provide travellers with more choices between Queensland and Queenstown, and give us the ability to tap into the northern New South Wales and southeast Queensland catchment area, which equates to about 1.5 million residents.''
The airport recently reported its busiest year on record as transtasman passenger growth rose 28% to 308,000 passengers.
Destination Queenstown chief executive Graham Budd said the service would open Queenstown and the wider region to a new market of more than a million people on the Gold Coast and in Coolangatta and northern New South Wales.
However, people in Otago and Southland would have to embrace the new service.
''It needs to be sustainable both ways, so it's really important the outbound services are supported locally as well.''
Jetstar last flew the Queenstown-Gold Coast route from December 2010 to November 2011.
Tourism Industry Association New Zealand spokesman Simon Wallace said yesterday's announcement would boost New Zealand's tourism industry.
''Australia is New Zealand's largest visitor market, but one that still offers plenty of opportunity for growth.''
The industry's Tourism 2025 growth framework had identified ''increased and sustainable connectivity'' as vital to boosting the industry's value from its current $24 billion a year to $41 billion by 2025.
