SINGAPORE (Reuters Life!) - Australia has been voted the most coveted destination by travelers in a global survey that also showed two-thirds of people were reviewing their holiday plans because of the global economic crisis.
Asia Pacific was named the number-one region for those intending to travel overseas this year and next in the survey, commissioned by credit card firm Visa and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and which polled over 5,500 people.
Nearly half picked Australia, which is expecting the number of foreign visitors to fall to their lowest level in two decades this year, as a place to visit, a likely boost for a multi-million dollar tourist campaign launched late last year.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Australia may lift Fiji PM's travel ban
Australia is considering lifting travel bans on Fiji's interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama so he can attend a special Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting in Papua New Guinea.
Leaders from PIF's 16 member states, including Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, will next week fly into PNG's capital Port Moresby to discuss the fate of Fiji's membership.
The easiest way for Bainimarama to arrive in Port Moresby is a flight via Brisbane, but Australia's current bans restrict the self-imposed leader from all travel in the country, including transfers.
Leaders from PIF's 16 member states, including Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, will next week fly into PNG's capital Port Moresby to discuss the fate of Fiji's membership.
The easiest way for Bainimarama to arrive in Port Moresby is a flight via Brisbane, but Australia's current bans restrict the self-imposed leader from all travel in the country, including transfers.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Australia surrounded by SARS, bird flu 'ring of fire'
AUSTRALIA risks being caught unawares by outbreaks of SARS, bird flu and other diseases in what a study describes as a "ring of fire" of disease hotspots.
The study, conducted by Dr Peter Daszak of the Consortium for Conservation Medicine in New York, constructed an earthquake zone map to predict where new outbreaks of diseases such as foot-and-mouth, avian influenza and SARS are most likely to occur.
It found that Australia is effectively under siege from its northern Asian neighbours.
The risk map shows that Australia is surrounded to the north by countries that are some of the hottest of the hot-spots, Dr Daszak said.
The study, conducted by Dr Peter Daszak of the Consortium for Conservation Medicine in New York, constructed an earthquake zone map to predict where new outbreaks of diseases such as foot-and-mouth, avian influenza and SARS are most likely to occur.
It found that Australia is effectively under siege from its northern Asian neighbours.
The risk map shows that Australia is surrounded to the north by countries that are some of the hottest of the hot-spots, Dr Daszak said.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Australia continues its visa sanctions for Fiji
Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Fiji would continue to have limitations placed on their access to Australian visas until the militant government demonstrates democratic policies.
Smith also warned that expelling New Zealand's Acting High Commissioner Caroline McDonald would considerably work against the progress to a fair and lawful society. Ms McDonald is waiting a pending decision from the Fijian military regarding her future, because the New Zealand government has refused a New Zealand visa for the son of the secretary to the Commodore. The New Zealand government has stood by its decision in spite of the threats.
Yesterday, the Fiji Under-20s touch football team withdrew from the World Championship in New Zealand because of the impositions of the visa sanctions, and earlier this month after some struggle, the Fiji Under-20s soccer team only just managed to get transit visas for New Zealand. The national netball coach is also considering dropping her star shooter from February's junior team tour because of her connections with the military.
Smith also warned that expelling New Zealand's Acting High Commissioner Caroline McDonald would considerably work against the progress to a fair and lawful society. Ms McDonald is waiting a pending decision from the Fijian military regarding her future, because the New Zealand government has refused a New Zealand visa for the son of the secretary to the Commodore. The New Zealand government has stood by its decision in spite of the threats.
Yesterday, the Fiji Under-20s touch football team withdrew from the World Championship in New Zealand because of the impositions of the visa sanctions, and earlier this month after some struggle, the Fiji Under-20s soccer team only just managed to get transit visas for New Zealand. The national netball coach is also considering dropping her star shooter from February's junior team tour because of her connections with the military.
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