Geoff Dixon, the former CEO of Qantas, and now chairman of Tourism Australia, speaks to WIT on the linkages between aviation and tourism, airlines and ancillary revenues and marketing and social media.

Q: So is there life after Qantas?

A: Yes, there is. Really. I loved being at Qantas but it was just as pleasant to move on. And I am enjoying being chairman of Tourism Australia. I don't think there is any job as tough as running an airline. Everything after that is easy.

Q: Some could say you left at a good time, on a high, because things are looking really tough for Qantas right now?

A: I think I had my share of challenges – I call it the constant shock syndrome. I took over Qantas right after 911, then there was Ansett, SARS, Asian financial crisis, and oil prices in 2007 went to $145. All I see is history repeating itself. It's a very difficult industry and won't get any easier and it is a credit to airlines like SIA, Qantas and Cathay that are still profitable and are not protected in any way.

Q: It's interesting. In Singapore, the chairman of Singapore Tourism Board is also an ex-airline man, Chew Choon Seng, who was CEO of Singapore Airlines. Are we finally seeing a better understanding of the role aviation can play in a nation's tourism industry?

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