Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt welcomed yesterday's news, which included a memorandum of understanding between Indonesian carrier Garuda Airlines and Auckland Airport for a future direct service, saying earlier improvements in Asian air services to New Zealand's gateway airports had boosted tourism business in the resort.
Indonesia was a small but growing tourism market for New Zealand, with 11,824 visitors in the year to February, up 22.5% in a year.
Asked how the growing influx of Asian visitors arriving in Auckland could be shepherded south, Mr Everitt said it was about putting the Queenstown proposition in front of potential visitors.
"It's an education process, reminding people beyond Auckland there's Queenstown."
Queenstown Airport chief executive Scott Paterson said any more capacity between China and New Zealand had to be positive. Much promotion by China Southern Airlines involved images of Queenstown and the Southern Lakes.
Mr Paterson noted the Wakatipu welcomed chairman Jia Qinglin, the fourth most powerful leader in China, on Sunday and Monday.
Destination Queenstown was doing a good job of promoting the area, he said.
"I think Auckland [International Airport] are very keen to see them come to Queenstown, clearly because they are a shareholder in us, but Auckland is very much just a gateway. Other than the business or event tourists, they jump on a bus and go down the country, or jump on a plane and come to Queenstown, so, fantastic."
The Trenz travel fair in Queenstown next month would focus on doing business in Asia, specifically China and Indonesia.
"The Government's done its part. Now it's up to the airline industry to put the capacity on."
