CAIRNS has won an avenue to the lucrative Chinese tourism market with China Eastern airlines to begin flights from Shanghai to the far north Queensland city.Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls and Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey and China Eastern executives signed an agreed letter of intent to commence tri-weekly flights.The flights will bring around 700 Chinese visitors to far north Queensland each week, pumping an estimated $35 million a year into the state’s economy.

Ms Stuckey says the deal has been finalised in part through the state government’s $8 million Attracting Aviation fund.She says the flights will be a huge boost for the city and far north Queensland, which has struggled since Cyclone Yasi struck last February.These flights will reduce the time Chinese tourists have to spend in transit, enabling them to spend more time and money visiting the world-renowned Great Barrier Reef,” Ms Stuckey said.China Eastern chief marketing officer Dong Bo says there is demand for a quicker route between mainland China and north Queensland.The new flights will contribute to the development of the local tourism industry and strengthen economic and cultural communications between China and Queensland,” he said.