MANCHESTER, England, March 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Routes Asia, the only route development forum for the Asian region, will head to Brisbane, Australia, in 2018.

Routes Asia brings together leading airlines, airports and stakeholders to discuss air service to, from and within Asia-Pacific. The 2018 event will be hosted by a consortium comprising Brisbane Airport Corporation, Brisbane Marketing, Tourism Australia, Tourism Events Queensland and Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

     (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150730/250177LOGO )

Australia has one of the most highly diversified economies in the world with a GDP of $1.4 trillion. The country has strong trade links with Asia-Pacific and seven of its 10 largest markets are within the region. Trade with East Asia has grown annually to $380 billion in 2014.

Brisbane's reputation as a global business destination was enhanced by the staging of the G20 World Leaders' Summit in 2014. The Greater Brisbane economy is worth $146 billion and the city is expected to overtake Hong Kong and Singapore as the fastest-growing mature city in the world in the next 10 years (predicted by Jones Lang LaSalle).

The capital city of the state of Queensland, which is home to major international attractions such as the Great Barrier Reef; Brisbane is a destination in its own right. The city's growing popularity as a food and arts destination saw one million international visitors in 2015 with significant numbers from China (165,000), Japan (27,000) and India (27,000). Queensland's total international visitor numbers grew nine per cent in 2015 to 2.3 million.

The multi-billion dollar Queen's Wharf Precinct development will attract even more visitors to Brisbane when it opens incrementally between 2018 and 2022. The entertainment and leisure complex will offer more than 1,100 premium hotel rooms, 50 restaurants and bars, shops and gaming facilities.

Brisbane Airport handled more than 22 million passengers in 2015 and its capacity will double when a new second runway opens in 2020. A total of $1.35 billion is being invested in the new runway and $45 million has been spent on the redevelopment of the international terminal. The airport aims to handle an additional 1.5 million passengers from major Asian airports by 2018.

Katie Bland, Director of Routes, said: "The current investment in Brisbane and the growing market make it an ideal location for Routes Asia 2018. There is a great deal of potential for the aviation industry, connecting Brisbane to the world.

"Routes Asia will be a great opportunity for Brisbane to show the aviation industry all that it has to offer as a market and destination."

Julieanne Alroe, Brisbane Airport Corporation CEO and Managing Director, said: "Dozens of influential cities from across Asia bid for the chance to host delegates for the Routes Asia conference and it is a reflection of Brisbane and Queensland's growing importance and profile that it has been chosen for this event.

"With Brisbane Airport's new runway opening in 2020, we are confident this gathering of the region's key decision makers will strengthen Brisbane's role as a major gateway into Queensland and the rest of Australia."

John O'Sullivan, Managing Director Tourism Australia, said: "Having been recognised in recent years by delegates for our destination marketing skills, it's a great honour for 'Team Australia' to host this prestigious event in 2018 and demonstrate first hand to the world's route planners exactly why Australia is such a great investment proposition for future aviation development."

Routes Asia 2018, 18-20 March 2018, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia. 

Notes to Editors 

About Routes 

• Routes events are unique forums dedicated to the development of new air services. Five 'regional' route development forums are held between February and July in the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa/Middle East and Silk Road/Russian Commonwealth, and the flagship World Routes event takes place in September. http://www.routesonline.com
  
• The events revolve around pre-scheduled meetings and an exhibition and conference which are delivered in partnership with host stakeholders. Hosts tend to be a collaboration between airports, tourism authorities and investment partners (the bidding process takes place two to three years before the event takes place).
  
• Routes was founded in 1995 as part of the UK‐based consultancy ASM which specialises in route development for airports, airlines and tourism and travel organisations. http://www.asm‐global.com. Routes and ASM are part of the UBM EMEA division of UBM plc.

For further information contact:

Karen Reeves
Communications & Content Marketing Manager
Routes, UBM EMEA
T: +44-(0)161-234-2721
M: +44-(0)796-6405-105
E: Karen.Reeves@ubm.com

Leonie Vandeven
Media and Corporate Communications Manager
Brisbane Airport Corporation PTY Limited
T: +61-(0)7-3406-5708
M: +61-(0)401-696 638
Media Hotline: +61-(0)466-322-485
E: Leonie.Vendeven@bne.com.au
 

SOURCE Routes