Mr Nicholls, who also doubles as the minister for trade, will lead more than 30 business delegates on a mission across South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Singapore between 20 July and 3 August, as they attempt to shore up investment and trade ties for the state.

The delegates, who have been selected from across Queensland’s business community, have been required to pay a participation fee, to assist with the delivery of “in-market business briefings, business matching services, nominated functions, venues, catering, ground-transport and a mission delegate booklet profiling each delegate”.

The fee was not disclosed.

The delegates, outside of Mr Nicholls and a member of his staff, will have to pay for their own flights, accommodation and meals.

Mr Nicholls and his staffer will be “travelling business class as per existing guidelines” and according to his office, as the only two members of the ‘‘Official Party’’, will be the only two paid for by the state.

But Mr Nicholls will be one of the first ministers to benefit from a change in policy, as revealed by News Limited last week, which allows MPs to retain frequent flyer points accrued while on official business for private use.

In announcing the trade mission, Mr Nicholls said Australia’s Asian neighbours represented 29 per cent or $26 billion of the state’s total merchandise trade in 2012.

Mr Nicholls is not the only senior government minister preparing to head overseas; premier Campbell Newman will lead a “trade and investment” mission to New Zealand from July 28 to August 2.