Australia News
We're all going on a virtual holiday
It’s just another clapped-out campervan, carrying another load of Pommy tourists. But the vehicle that limped into Melbourne over the West Gate this week is remarkable - and not just because it defied all expectations when it didn’t conk out on the Nullarbor.
On board are the Kotting family of London: Mark and Tracy, both 40-year-old cabbies, and their girls Billie, 9, and Etta, almost 8. They are cyberspace celebrities - winners of the British newspaper scene’s equivalent of a reality TV show.
The Kottings are blogging their way across Australasia, plotting their course with email missives read by thousands of virtual …
Date: March 1st, 2005 | No Comments
Age no barrier to 'gap year'
MILLIONS of workers are opting for student-style gap years to travel the world, swapping their six weeks� annual leave for longer sabbaticals to India, south-east Asia and the rainforests.
According to research by Direct Line Travel insurance, more than 6.2 million professionals have taken the opportunity to leave their day jobs for months at a time. Employers� groups say their members are being won round to staff taking gap years by the positive effect it has, broadening workers� perspectives and refreshing their enthusiasm.
The most popular destination for a career break is Australia and New Zealand with two-thirds (66 per cent) going …
Date: February 26th, 2005 | No Comments
Virgin's schedule now back on track
MELBOURNE - Virgin Blue flights in and out of Launceston were generally on schedule yesterday as the airline worked to clear a backlog of passengers in southern Australia after a gas leak closed its Melbourne terminal for most of Monday.
However, hundreds of passengers were inconvenienced when the airline cancelled a morning Hobart- Melbourne flight and a Hobart- Sydney service as it continued to seek the source of the leak. From Virgin’s schedule now back on track
Date: February 24th, 2005 | No Comments
Hit the road, mate
Australia: a vast, bare, unblemished land where the highway goes on forever. Simon Calder buys into the legend by purchasing his first-ever car From Hit the road, mate
Date: February 21st, 2005 | 1 comment
Virgin slams ACCC
VIRGIN Atlantic has launched a stinging attack on the competition watchdog for allowing Qantas and British Airways to continue a price-fixing agreement, saying the deal would be deemed illegal in other jurisdictions.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on Tuesday approved the BA-Qantas joint services agreement (JSA) for a further five years after ruling it delivered an overall benefit for consumers. The deal allows the airlines to co-ordinate scheduling, marketing, sales, freight and customer service on the kangaroo route to Europe. From Virgin slams ACCC
Date: February 17th, 2005 | No Comments
Foreign tourists not heeding travel warnings, says Durano
NEGATIVE travel advisories on the Philippines will not affect tourist arrivals as foreigners do not follow them anyway, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said yesterday.
The United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada had advised their nationals to be “cautious” when traveling in the Philippines following the Feb. 14 bomb attacks, and to skip the south of the country altogether because of sporadic clashes between government troops and insurgents.
“Travelers nowadays are very sophisticated. They don’t accept these travel advisories hook, line and sinker. They also do the research,” Durano told reporters in an interview at the US Embassy. From
Foreign …
Date: February 28th, 2005 | No Comments
Transonic expects strong earnings
Transonic Travel Ltd expects an increase of at least 25 per cent in full year earnings after reporting a strong first half net profit.
“Outbound travel from Australia, which has been Transonic’s main business, is expected to grow by at least six per cent per annum for the next four years, and this industry forecast is consistent with announced increases in airline capacity and new route development.”.From Transonic expects strong earnings
Date: February 24th, 2005 | No Comments
Tourism stars shine in the Alice
If everyone else can have an awards show, why not have one for tourism, too! (Shakes head in bewilderment)
Over 700 high-flyers from the tourist industry gathered in Alice Springs for the Australian Tourism Awards proudly presented by Accommodation Finder. Celebrating the ‘best of the best’ the glittering evening provided a showcase for national talent. From Tourism stars shine in the Alice
Date: February 23rd, 2005 | No Comments
Best Deals
Australian airline Qantas Airways has reduced its Aussie AirPass fares by 37 per cent for travel in February, when it is hot and sunny Down Under. From Best Deals
Date: February 19th, 2005 | No Comments
Territory gains in backpacker push
The Northern Territory expects considerable benefit from a $500,000 campaign to promote travel to Australia by German backpackers.
The campaign is being run by STA Travel, with financial support from the Northern Territory Tourist Commission, three other state toursim organisations, Tourism Australia and Qantas. From Territory gains in backpacker push
Date: February 15th, 2005 | No Comments