Queenstown will look to increase its annual 15% share of Chinese visitors to New Zealand after the announcement China Southern Airlines will fly daily to Queenstown Airport's partner, Auckland International Airport, from November 1.
Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt said daily services from Guangzhou to Auckland, up from three flights a week, was wonderful news for the Wakatipu.
Mr Everitt said it was not unexpected because the vice-president of China Southern said the airline hoped to fly daily before the end of 2011, when his delegation visited Queenstown in April.
"DQ and our members have been planning on an increase in Chinese visitors, so there's a number of strategies in place," Mr Everitt said.
"We've launched a Chinese language version of our website in the last couple of months and we're working with Chinese travel agents and having them understand what additional activities they can be building in itineraries for Chinese visitors.
"As part of our familiarisation programme for agents and media, we've got our first Chinese ski-related media in the resort this winter.
"It's [a] small market for us at this stage, but it has growth opportunity within the context of this announcement," Mr Everitt said.
Auckland Airport aeronautical commercial general manager Glenn Wedlock said the daily flights should provide an estimated $100 million boost to the New Zealand economy.
