Scoot to debut Singapore-Gold Coast flights from June

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has just announced that Singapore Airlines' low-cost long-haul offshoot Scoot will operate flights to the Gold Coast from June this year.

Five weekly flights will operate from 12 June, with the deal described as a "multi-million blueprint partnership between government and industry which will open up overseas markets and support Queensland businesses and local jobs".

Bligh said the deal would see up to 2000 international visitors per week, injecting as much as $65 million annually into the local economy.

Gold Coast Tourism ceo Martin Winter said the route would position the Gold Coast on a new level as an international destination for Singaporeans, with the deal coming after negotiations by a "cross-agency consortium" also including Gold Coast Airport, Tourism Queensland and Tourism Australia.

Flights will go on sale in coming months, with Tourism Queensland and Gold Coast Tourism to work together with key industry players in Singapore to "promote the new route and encourage Singaporeans to think of Queensland for their next holiday".

More information in today's Travel Daily.