More flights from Indonesia

Today the Chief Executive Officer of Garuda Indonesia and I announced additional flights between Indonesia and Australia that will increase flight capacity by up to 13 per cent.

The announcement was made during the second Indonesia Australia Business Week where I am currently leading a delegation that includes 30 Australian tourism businesses.

The number of international visitors from Indonesia grew by 14 per cent last year, reaching 174,400 – the highest number ever on record.

For the year ending September 2016, Indonesians visiting Australia spent $723 million, an increase of 19 per cent on the previous year.

Governments and industry have agreed the Indonesian market has the potential to be worth over $1 billion to the Australian tourism industry by the year 2020.

Attracting more visitors to Australia will help create Australian jobs and drive economic growth.

In 2014 Tourism Australia formed a strategic partnership with Garuda Indonesia, the first national tourism organisation to do so. The partnership is focused on increasing Indonesian visitation to Australia and showcasing the key

Garuda Indonesia gateway cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. The Turnbull Government is supporting Tourism Australia with a record $639 million investment.

Garuda Indonesia will introduce one additional weekly service from Jakarta to Sydney and from Jakarta to Melbourne from May 2017; and one additional seasonal flight each from Jakarta to Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, subject to slot availability at Jakarta Airport. Garuda Indonesia carries 40 per cent of all visitors from Indonesia to Australia.