Australia’s closest neighbour, New Caledonia has experienced a remarkable first half of 2023 in terms of international tourist arrivals with a record of travellers. Despite facing challenges arising from post-pandemic recovery and reduced weekly air connections with Australia since the onset of the Covid crisis, the allure of New Caledonia for travellers has remained strong throughout the first half of 2023.
From January to June 2023, the destination welcomed a record number of tourists with 54,184 arrivals (by plane), an increase of 2.3% compared to the first half of 2019. Australian travellers increased by 29% with 13,853 visitors so far this year and is the second largest market after Metropolitan France.
In addition to the influx of travellers discovering the South Pacific destination, the national carrier Aircalin has announced the resumption of the Melbourne route that was paused at the beginning of the pandemic. From Friday 8th of December, Aircalin will operate 3 flights per week from Melbourne to Noumea, with a weekly schedule of return flights on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.
With the existing flight schedules ex-Brisbane and ex-Sydney, the Melbourne route is a welcomed announcement for Australian travellers wanting to enjoy a South Pacific holiday easily accessible within 3,5 hours. Aircalin also has a codeshare agreement with the domestic airline Air Caledonia, resulting in easier bookings to travel onwards to islands such as Lifou and the Isle of Pines off the main island on one itinerary.
Once restrictions were lifted for travels to New Caledonia in August last year, Australians were eager to visit and the destination welcomed a record high of travellers already in December, beating its pre-pandemic numbers. Since then the popularity of the destination has continued to rise, something Rebecca Marchal, Account Director for New Caledonia Tourism Australia is very excited about.
“The allure of New Caledonia continues to entice more travellers to our beautiful destination and we’re excited that Aircalin is now bringing back the opportunity for Victorians to easily travel to Noumea. Whether it’s for a short weekend trip, a trip over the school holidays with the family, or a relaxing longer holiday over the Christmas break, New Caledonia will tick the boxes for every type of holiday,” Marchal said about the announcement.
Aircalin General Manager Australia Chris Thistlethwaite said the airline is very excited to offer Victorians an exciting new direct flight destination. “As Australia’s closest South Pacific neighbour, New Caledonia offers a plethora of activities and holiday options for Victorians and with a flight time of 3 hours and 35 minutes from Melbourne, you can even visit for a long weekend,” he said.
This resurgence in international tourism in New Caledonia can be attributed to the concerted efforts of New Caledonia Tourism, the constant support of the trade industry in Australia, and its local partners. Their campaigns, including the “Get Closer” awareness initiative and strategic tactical campaigns, along with focused efforts to address swimming restrictions concerns, have been instrumental in achieving this recovery.
Look no further than New Caledonia for a destination that combines natural beauty, friendly locals and delicious cuisine that reflects the melting pot of culture that is the South Pacific. Whether it is for a dose of French influence without the long-haul flight or to simply find a spot of relaxation under the palm trees next to a white-sand beach, a visit to Australia’s closest neighbour fits the bill.
