Australia's tourism authority says arrivals from Arab Gulf states have increased by 25 percent so far this year - mostly from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Paul Buggy from Tourism Queensland says they are headed to the state's beach resorts.
"They are stopping off in Sydney and Melbourne and having a couple of days there, but primarily their number one destination is the Gold Coast. They like staying in apartments, of which the Gold Coast has plenty to offer," Buggy said. "You have theme parks and shopping centers who have put in prayer rooms. The access to Halal food is a lot greater."
