Tourism industry leaders are ‘supremely confident’ that much-anticipated direct flights between Cairns and China will be in place by the end of the year.

Outgoing Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Alex de Waal told TropicNow that he was certain that three direct services per week between Cairns and a “primary destination in China” would be up and running by December.

Mr de Waal’s prediction comes on the eve of a trade delegation to China by Queensland Tourism Minister Kate Jones and representatives of Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) aimed at “sure-ing up” direct flights between Cairns and China.

The consortium will meet with influential Chinese officials, including senior in-market airline and tourism trade officials, between March 24-31.

Minister Jones said the government wanted to get more Chinese tourists into Queensland and "make it easy for them to visit different parts of the state".

Plans for direct flights between Brisbane and China are also on the table.