"Australians seek Chinese cookout..."

It is interesting to note that Chinese mainland visitors are now a prime target for Australia and its tourism industry (as reported at eTurboNews today)...

Tourism Australia expects China to be the third-largest source of visitors to Australia within three years and is striving to attract more Chinese mainland visitors to meet that expectation...

The Chinese mainland is projected to become the fourth-largest source of international visitors to Australia by the end of this year and the third-largest within three years...


So far, the nation is ranked fifth after New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan, Richard Beere, executive general manager of the international (eastern hemisphere) division of Tourism Australia, told China Business Weekly. In view of the strong Chinese economy and growing two-way exchanges, Beere said that he is highly confident about the Chinese tourism market...

At the World Expo in Shanghai next year, Tourism Australia has planned promotional events to promote the down-under destination...

A total of 356,400 Chinese mainland residents visited Australia last year, which was flat compared with 2007, and 276,500 traveled to the country in the first nine months of this year, representing year-over-year growth of 1 percent. In September alone, visitors from the Chinese mainland totaled 22,900, an increase of 19 percent compared with the same month a year earlier...

This is good news for tourism in Australia, where the industry, and many others, are still recovering from the tragic fires earlier this year...

To read this report in full, go to http://www.eturbonews.com/13032/chinese-mainland-visitors-prime-target-australia

Barticus.

"In need of a long, luxurious soak..."

With so many areas of tourism hit by the current economic doom and gloom, it is always good to be able to report areas that are courting success, regardless...

Australia's spa sector has announced this week the progress of their 600 spa's thanks to the report by Intelligent Spa's...

Intelligent Spas’ fifth Spa Benchmark Report on the Australian spa market presents an extensive collection of financial statistics including breakdowns of key performance indicators by day spas, hotel spas and resort spas. The new research found over 600 spas are operating in Australia and are expected to generate AUD500 million (approximately USD465 million) in revenue during 2009, representing a 17% increase compared to 2008...

“Overall, the Australian spa industry continued to grow during the global economic crisis however some key performance indicators per spa declined due to the crowded market. Spa owners and managers are currently challenged with increasing visits per spa and these updated statistics will help them identify how to operate more effectively in this competitive market going into 2010” stated Julie Garrow, Managing Director of 100% independent research company Intelligent Spas...

Good news in gloomy times indeed...

Follow this at http://www.traveldailynews.com/pages/show_page/34357-600-spas-in-Australia-expected-to-generate-USD4-65m-in-revenue-during-2009

Barticus.

"Er, whatisthatabout???.."

First let me say that I am a HUGE Baz Luhrmann fan, but while spending a day advert spotting I have to wonder if he knew what he was doing with this one...

Given the opportunity to promote the country he knows and love, he, for me anyway, seems to kind of miss the point...

Australia, a vast and varied land with so much natural beauty adorned with a mix of vibrant peoples and cultures, at least that's how I was lucky enough to experience it. But Baz (I still love you but) instead shows us a rainy city (that could be anywhere) and a woman diving into a pool in a deserted landscape...

Was this meant to inspire people? Sorry Baz (luv ya) but I am most unimpressed...

Follow this link to see what you think http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQGMuxJ0vCc

Barticus.

"Australians sing when they are winning...."

Eco Tourism in Australia got a nice boost when Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa was judged the ‘World’s Leading Eco Lodge’ at the World Travel Awards in London earlier this month....

Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson said: “The World Travel Awards acknowledge excellence across the global tourism industry and it is wonderful to see Australian businesses recognised...

“The future success of Australia’s travel and tourism sectors depends upon the development of high quality and innovative product and services and pioneering companies such as the Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa are to be commended...

Tourism Australia and 94 partner organisations have also invested almost $4 million to separate hard-working Australians their 123 million days of accrued leave, worth around $33 billion....

Well done to them. Follow this story at http://minister.ret.gov.au/TheHonMartinFergusonMP/Pages/MINISTERWELCOMESINTERNATIONALACHIEVEMENT.aspx

Barticus.

"Dah dum, dah dum, dumdumdumdumdumdum..."

Queensland Tourism are apparently quite upset about the new film "The Reef.."

The Reef, filmed at Bowen and Hervey Bay, tells the story of four friends who are terrorized by man-eating great white sharks after their boat capsizes on the Great Barrier Reef, and Tourism officials are worried that this will cause a feeling of negativity towards the area with tourists feeling unsafe in the surrounding waters...

News of the film follows a turbulent year for Reef tour operators, who have been struggling to keep afloat during a tourism downturn..

Follow this story at http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,26298580-5014090,00.html

Barticus.

"G'day Mates...."

The campaign for "Best job in the world" as launched by Tourism Queensland in Australia has had a mixed bag of results..

Brit Ben Southall landed the six month job as caretaker of Hamilton Island with a huge salary in what became a media frenzy last year..

But it is not all good news for Tourism Queensland. Despite the fact that they believe they were in receipt of the equivalent of $390 million in global publicity for their investment of only $2.5 million, they still saw tourist numbers drop by 8%...

http://www.eturbonews.com/12667/wish-more-you-were-here

So, with Ben's tenure coming to an end on Hamilton Island, will Tourism Queensland kill off the position or look for another caretaker (shall I get my bags).....

Australia introduces the world's longest golf course. 848 miles!

Around a week ago I was browsing the BBC News website, as I believe that you can always find an interesting read. So, I found an unusual article about Australia...

I have never myself had the pleasure in trying a little bit of golf but thinking about it on a serious level, what a great combination of the two. A country with the most breathtaking, peaceful views and a sport that requires concentration and the sound of nature to accompany the golfers mind. What an awesome idea!

The golf course, known beforehand as the 'world's most gruelling car journey' has been opened to the world after five years of planning and is slowly becoming a tourist attraction. The reasons? Due to its size which covers two states, the amount of wildlife present and also a passion for the sport in such a beautiful destination have proven to be the most popular factors. The future looks bright for this development, so click below for a thorough read.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8319749.stm