Etihad steps in to support Tourism Australia

The UAE carrier has announced a new agreement with Tourism Australia that could help fill the marketing gap left behind by Australian airline, Qantas.

Late last month, the Australian flag carrier terminated a joint three-year AU$44 million marketing contract with Tourism Australia, claiming it could not work with the bureau’s director.

Since the announcement, Etihad alliance carrier, Virgin Australia announced it would double its contribution to Tourism Australia, from AU$6 million in joint commitments to AU$12 million over the next three financial years.

In addition, Etihad signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tourism Australia to invest up to AU$6 million over the next three years in a range of cooperative programs targeting visitors from the Middle East, UK and Europe.

Etihad chief executive James Hogan said Australia is strategically important to the carrier and the new arrangement tied up naturally with its airline partnerships.
According to the airline’s head, the two organisations have already started planning a new campaign for the first half of 2013.

Sourced: etravelblackboardasia