Queensland Premier Anna Blight told media on Monday that direct air travel from Brisbane and China will strengthen the tourism industry for both countries.

Negotiations indicate that China Southern Airlines will fly three times a week within this year.

The Premier stressed out that China is Queensland's fastest growing market for tourism and is optimistic it will grow in the future.

"The new flights direct from China into Queensland will start at the end of this year and are expected to add about 3,600 extra seats every month," she said.

"This is good news for the tourism industry when they need it most."

She said that a $500,000 funding will be used for tourism campaigns in China to support the flights and is confident the aviation deal may be permanent once it is successful.

"Queensland is already seeing a number of Chinese tourists - we had a 150,000 visit last year, which is a 16 per cent increase on the year before," she said.

Meanwhile, Desley Boyle for Cairns said that direct flights between China and Queensland will entice more international visitors to the far north.

"With regular flights from China Southern Airlines into Brisbane, they'll be able to get to us regularly and much more easily than ever before.

"We hope this is the first step towards China Southern having a direct connection in the next few years.”