Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Travel alerts on Australia

Three near-misses with crocodiles in as many weeks in the "Top End" of the Northern Territory prompted a crocodile conservationist to call for a territory-wide public awareness campaign about the ancient beasts for locals and tourists alike. Before heading into the bush, get advice from wildlife officials or tour operators who know the area.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Australia's travel industry provided work for some 482,800 people

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released figures showing that the country's tourism industry is worth some £85bn (£40bn) to its economy.

Gross value in the tourism industry increased by 7.9% in 2006-07, which was the highest growth rate since 1998-99, according to the figures.

Demand from within Australia increased by 6.8% to reach a value of $63bn, while international consumption of the country's tourism product climbed 9.8% to $22bn.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Australia Travel Market is targeting Kiwis wanting to go to Australia

Kiwi entrepreneur Dave Simmons this week launched the new approach for New Zealand travellers heading across the Tasman.

After 15 years' working in the travel industry in Britain, Simmons has returned with his family to New Zealand, bringing what he says is the unique "meta-search" business model.

A less-techy sounding name for meta-searching is "price comparison".

"From a consumer perspective, it's like going to a shopping mall and going to all the shops to compare prices on a pair of shoes, or on a suitcase that might be in three different shops," says Simmons. "Instead of going to all the shops - and getting the prices - we do that for you."

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

U.S., Australia sign open skies agreement

The U.S. and Australia on Monday inked an open skies aviation agreement eliminating restrictions on air travel between the two allies that would lead to lower fares, officials said.
Visiting Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd witnessed the signing of the agreement at the U.S. Department of Transport in Washington, hailing it as a "new era" in trans-Pacific aviation links.
"Its aim is to make it easier and cheaper for even more people to make the air journey across the Pacific to add more strands to our ties," he said.

Outback Australia Travel