China Southern makes a date with Perth

The West Australian government has confirmed China Southern Airlines will launch direct flights between Perth and Guangzhou from November 8.

The airline will fly three times a week - Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays - although it has yet to reveal further details.

It is believed that China Southern has been provided with incentives by the WA government to fly to Perth.

More than 15,000 Chinese tourists came to Western Australia in the year to March, but with direct flights linking the state with the Pearl River Delta region, Chinese visitors numbers are likely to surge.

Tourism WA chief executive Stephanie Buckland said it was recruiting three new staff members in China to promote the state's nature-based activities.

Earlier this week, it was announced that China Southern would double its Melbourne services by introducing twice-daily flights between Guangzhou and Melbourne from October this year.