Visit Cornwall chief executive, Malcolm Bell, has welcomed the two new European air links from Newquay Airport.
Ryanair yesterday confirmed its return to the airport after a four-year absence, unveiling new summer routes to Frankfurt and Alicante.
Bell said: “We are incredibly pleased to welcome the new route from Frankfurt to Newquay for 2016.
“Germany is Cornwall’s strongest overseas market, currently accounting for approximately 2% of all visitors to Cornwall and the route will undoubtedly add to Cornwall’s attractiveness as a holiday destination.”
Bell said that through the South West Tourism Growth Fund, Visit Cornwall will be working with Ryanair on a joint marketing campaign to promote the route in Germany.
He added: “We expect to welcome an additional 10,000 German visitors to Cornwall in the 32-week period that the flights will operate, boosting the Cornish economy by £4.3 million.”
He said that while the Alicante route would be dominated by outbound tourism rather than inbound, it is a route development that he was equally pleased about.
“It will encourage local support and use of Newquay Airport which can only be good for the future of the airport, which is a vital asset in Cornwall tourism’s long-term sustainability,” he commented.
