Tourism Australia Welcomes US Open Skies Agreement

Tourism Australia has welcomed today’s announcement of the open skies agreement between Australia and the
United States of America, liberalising the regulation of air services on the trans-Pacific route, saying it is great news

for Australian tourism.

Tourism Australia’s Executive General Manager International, Richard Beere, said the open skies agreement would

help Australia to grow tourism from the important US travel market.

"Today’s announcement will no doubt provide a further boost in air services from one of Australia's most important
tourist markets – the US," Mr Beere said.

"Last year Australia welcomed 460,000 visitors from the US making it the fourth largest source of international visitors to
Australia after New Zealand, the UK and Japan. Furthermore, the US travel market provides around $2 billion in export
income to Australia annually.

“The new regulations allow airlines to more readily increase airline services on the trans-Pacific route.  Once new
services begin, increased seat capacity promises easier access to Australia particularly during peak periods,” Mr
Beere said. 

Mr Beere said Tourism Australia would continue to work closely with its airline partners to increase Australia's share
of outbound traffic from the US.

"The US market has remained steady for Australia in recent years but this development will increase our
competitiveness in what is a highly sought after market,” he said.

“With new initiatives in place such as the Working Holiday Visa, enabling young Americans to work and holiday in
Australia, we see a great opportunity to increase visitation.

“Our partnerships with the major airlines who service Australia are vital to ensure that Australia continues to be a
destination that is not only much loved by but also well visited by high spending international travellers.

“Partly in anticipation of today’s liberalisation of airline regulations with the US, and additional airline services, the
Tourism Forecasting Committee has forecast an extra $400 million in annual tourism export earnings from the US
between 2007 and 2009,” Mr Beere said.

Tourism Australia is currently planning its international marketing commitments for 2008/09 and additional airline
services on the trans-Pacific route would be a critical factor in maintaining Tourism Australia’s marketing efforts
in the US.

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