CHENNAI – Western Australia is making efforts to establish direct flights between Chennai and Perth in order to enhance the partnership between Tamil Nadu and the Australian province. Rita Saffioti, the deputy premier of Western Australia, along with a delegation, met airline representatives, businesses, and travel and tour companies to promote tourism and business collaboration.
Saffioti stated, We are trying to get a non-stop flight from Chennai to Perth to enhance partnership between Tamil Nadu and Western Australia. The flight duration from Chennai to Perth would be approximately seven hours, eliminating the need for the current route via Singapore on IndiGo-Qantas codeshare.
Acknowledging the importance of the direct link for economic activity and tourism, Saffioti mentioned that Western Australia received around 100,000 visitors, out of which 30,000 were from the Tamil Nadu region, marking a 15% increase.
Highlighting the appeal of Western Australia for Indian residents, Saffioti explained that the region is home to around 160,000 people of Indian heritage. Many individuals who initially settle in Sydney and Melbourne eventually gravitate towards Western Australia due to its affordability in terms of housing and cost of living, as well as higher weekly earnings.
To bridge the information gap and promote Western Australia as a tourist destination, Saffioti expressed the intention to provide more details about the region’s attractions and conduct interviews with residents living there.
In terms of partnership opportunities, Western Australia aims to collaborate with Tamil Nadu in the fields of tourism, technology, and minerals. Saffioti highlighted the possibility of joint ventures for battery production involving companies from both regions.
A partnership has already been established between a Tamil Nadu company and a Western Australian company to manufacture Vanadium flow batteries. Saffioti emphasized the abundance of minerals required for such initiatives.
Addressing the healthcare sector, Saffioti noted a high demand for nurses and occupational therapists in Western Australia. She proposed the idea of individuals from India working in the region’s healthcare industry, with the opportunity to provide training for trainers.
The efforts to enhance the partnership between Western Australia and Tamil Nadu are driven by the shared interests of both regions, aiming to foster economic growth, cultural exchange, and collaboration in various sectors.
With the potential introduction of direct flights between Chennai and Perth, it is hoped that travel and business opportunities will flourish, contributing to the development of stronger ties between the two regions.
