Qantas
Qantas Airways Ltd Chief Executive Alan Joyce speaks during a news conference in Sydney August 28, 2014. Qantas Airways Ltd on Thursday reported its biggest financial loss ever after taking a hefty A$2.6 billion writedown due to a company restructure that includes a re-valuing of its fleet. Qantas, which formed an alliance with Emirates Airline last year in an effort to trim losses on international routes, posted a statutory net loss of A$2.8 billion ($2.6 billion) for the year to June 30, compared with a restated profit of A$2 millon a year ago. Reuters/David Gray

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has asked the government to help cut short customs and immigration queues at airports to offer tourists even better travel experiences in Australia.

Alan also requested the government to keep the multi-year entry visa at a lower cost for Chinese travellers and make significant investment into Australia's tourism marketing to ensure the nation becomes one of the best service-based economies for the tourists. Joyce advocated the steps that should be taken to improve the tourism sector of the country and said that there are so many things that the government as well as the opposition could do with the concerned sector to enhance the economy and generate opportunities.

“We need to continue to invest in tourism development, including infrastructure and marketing, however at a micro level we need to also address a few pain points for customers,” Joyce told the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.

While flying from Hong Kong to Sydney recently, Joyce heard from passengers that they enjoyed the flight and the Qantas lounge in Hong Kong. However, they suffered when it came to the long long customs and immigration queues, the CEO added in justifying his demands.

Joyce asked the government to look at the U.S. or Singapore airports where significant investment by authorities to automate systems and cut down the wait time in queues have left a good impression on tourists.

“This is a part of a recent broader agenda for the Obama administration, which has made tourism a priority. It has seen policies to reduce queue times, reduce visa costs, and invest more heavily in global marketing,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald.

In April, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection announced 92 SmartGates to be installed at eight international airports in Australia by 2016. The gates will consider facial biometrics technology in verifying the identity of a traveller after scanning a passport image.

Meanwhile, Qantas signed a new codeshare agreement with Solomon Airlines on Wednesday to offer significant benefits to passengers flying between Australia and Honiara, Solomon Island’s capital.

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