The airline previously said it would operate the route via Melbourne, but those plans changed today with the announcement that a direct Guangzhou to Auckland route would be opened instead. The airline said the route would be flown three times a week from 8 April 2011.

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler said the new route was expected to bring in 25,000 more visitors, mostly from mainland China, to New Zealand each year.

"Visitors arriving on the route will inject an estimated $75 million into New Zealand's tourism industry in its first year".

He said the number of Chinese with the means and inclination to travel internationally was booming. "Presently New Zealand attracts 120,000 Chinese visitors and that is poised to grow if estimates are right that the total annual number of international departures from China will double to about 100 million in the next five years. New Zealand needs to ensure it is well placed to take advantage of that growth and having more direct aviation links is the first step".

Mr Bowler said attracting visitors from southern China to holiday in New Zealand had been hampered in the past because of a lack of air capacity, but the new direct Guangzhou to Auckland link would improve access. Being a direct service, it also had the potential to help increase the proportion of mono-New Zealand visitors, and therefore the average length of time Chinese visitors stayed in New Zealand, he said.

"The Guangdong region is a power house of Chinese industry and has the third highest GDP per capita in China. It is a mature market in terms of travel selections and travel style expectations and New Zealand as a holiday destination has a lot to offer these visitors."

Auckland Airport Chief Executive Simon Moutter agreed the new Auckland to Guangzhou route was terrific for New Zealand tourism and the wider national economy.

"Having one of the biggest airlines in the world going direct sooner than planned is a fantastic result that will drive more visitors here and offer them more time to see what our country has to offer."

In the year to November 2010, 120,222 visitors arrived in New Zealand from China, up 15 per cent on the 12 months to November 2009. Visitor arrival figures for the year to December 2010 are due to be released next month.