New SilkAir service to boost Top End Tourism

Silk Air, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines has launched its new Singapore- Darwin service which is set to boost tourism to Top End Australia.

The new four times per week service includes the reintroduction of international business class in and out of Darwin.

Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy believes the new service will assist tourism operators tap into the fast growing Asian markets.

“The emergence of SilkAir onto the Asian Pacific aviation landscape brings more competition, more choice and, importantly, new air connections, with the carrier offering up to 38 Asian cities beyond its Singapore base, including in China, Indonesia, Malaysia and India,” Mr McEvoy said.

He added that SilkAir's connections into Darwin, through its Singapore hub, will better link Top End Australia into Asia’s extensive region, while providing improved access from the UK and Europe.

"This new route shouldn't be seen in isolation, it will also feed new traffic from the world's fastest growing aviation market of Asia,” Mr McEvoy said.

“SilkAir's decision to make Darwin its inaugural Australian destination is a massive boost which I’m sure will be warmly welcomed by operators across the Territory and, more broadly by the industry, as Australian tourism transitions into this Asian Century.”

Recent statistics reveal in 2011, Singapore’s value to Australian tourism increased five per cent to A$1.3 billion.

Tourism Australia forecast that the market has the capability to grow to between A$2.3 billion and A$2.8 billion in total expenditure by 2020.

Source - etravelblackboardasia