With direct flights between Tasmania and New Zealand set to resume as early as next year, northern Tasmania is expected to reap the benefits.
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The flights were announced on Saturday as part of a $50 million federal government commitment in conjunction with $10 million from the state and a further $7.5 million from the airport itself.
The funding will enable 130 direct flights to Hobart from New Zealand - an average of three flights a week during summer.
It will be the first time since 1996 that the direct flight route has been available, and Visit Northern Tasmania chief executive Chris Griffin said the impact of New Zealand tourists would be felt across the whole state.
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"We've always hadfairly solid performance from that market with flights via Melbourne and Sydney. It's great, it's a new opportunity, it's a post COVID opportunity where we can prove that we don't just have to go back to the same old market," Mr Griffin said.
"The Kiwi's are as restricted in their international choices as we are. The opportunity of a new undiscovered part of Australia like Tasmania for a lot of Kiwi's is quite compelling and quite appealing."
As for the north in particular Mr Griffin said he expected New Zealanders to explore the far reaches of the state.
"Kiwi's are really intrepid travellers, they're curious and they don't stay put. They are like us when they are on holiday. They want to explore, they want to get to know the locals and they have absolutely no hesitation to go off the beaten track and have a good look around," Mr Griffin said.
"It's going to feed the entire state. There's a lot of commonality between the culture of being a Tasmanian and being a New Zealander. There are very similar vibes and we come from the same sort of value sets.
"It won't take much to fill planes."
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Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin was equally encouraged about the impact the flights would have.
"This opens up New Zealand to be a big market for us over the next five to ten years," Mr Martin said.
"In lieu of losing some of our other really big international markets it's really important.
"It'll be 20,000 or 30,000 visitors next year we otherwise wouldn't have had. That's worth a lot of money to the state."
Mr Martin said he expected an immediate bump in tourists to Tasmania, similarly to what had happened in the past when direct flights had been opened up to mainland cities.
Mr Martin also encouraged Tasmanians to reciprocate and take the opportunity to travel to New Zealand.
"Support it and go the other way. Hopefully people are thinking about that service for going to New Zealand rather than going via Melbourne," Mr Martin said.
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