Australia lures Arab tourists

Notes and media contacts

For further information please contact
Alison Holmes, Public Relations - Bahrain
Tel: +973 17 564531 Fax: +973 17 581457

Australia on Parade
Exhibiting at the ATM 2005:

Tourism New South Wales
Tourism Victoria
Tourism Queensland
Tourism Western Australia
Star City Hotel and Casino
Marriott International Inc. (Australia)
Grand Hyatt Melbourne
Conrad Jupiters
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
Breakfree Resort Apartments
Palazzo Versace
The Perth Mint
Sydney Showboats and Magistic Cruises
Warner Village Theme Parks
Dreamworld
Indigo World Travel
Holiday Pacific Pty Ltd
JC Travel Professionals
General Travel Australia
Lawand Tourism Pty Ltd
Hyatt Regency Coolum

Part II: Australia Beckons; Here's Why.
You may wish to know...

Ask the average person who has never visited Australia to list what they know about the country and they invariably come up with the same things: the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, theme parks (thankfully off-season in our summer months!), the Gold Coast, superb shopping, sunshine, desert, kangaroos and koalas.

But when visitors arrive they are often surprised at the breadth of the experiences on offer and the simplicity of getting around. Incredibly friendly people, beautiful cities, zoos and aquariums, parks, wildlife unparalleled, rainforests, seafood galore and world-class cuisine, including some of the best Lebanese food outside Beirut, is all on offer!

Pick up a copy of Al Hayat or Asharq Al Awsat at the newsstand, take a seat at any of the abundant outside cafes and order a coffee. But before you start dreaming, don't forget your visas. Citizens from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE can apply on line for a short stay visa through www.immi.gov.au. Travel agents can also do this upon request and visas on line take between seven to ten working days to process. Then, start packing.

How to get there
There are many convenient routes to take to suit your requirements. Qantas offers its superb and frequent services to all Australian destinations from the Far East hubs, and check out the offers from Malaysia, Kuwait, Gulf Air, Singapore, Emirates and Cathay Pacific. All will have great deals this summer. Most offer holiday packages tailor-made to suit your needs, budget and interests. Ask your travel agent.

The land
Just slightly smaller than the United States, Australia is home to about 19 million people, most of who live around the coastline. The country's native plants and animals set it apart from every other continent and while you are unlikely to see kangaroos hopping down the high streets of major cities (OK, you definitely won't), nature is easily accessible and zoos, aquariums and wildlife sanctuaries are found all over. The national parks and open spaces are brimming with marsupials and birds so getting familiar with the animals, reptiles, fish and mammals of the country is easy and incredibly hands on, more so than anywhere else you will have ever experienced.

And style
The best of style in the land is inspired by a strong respect for the traditions of older cultures, combined, once again, with the inspirations of the new. Consider the lifestyle. No Australian is far from a park, or a beach, or a river, or an expanse of territory to enjoy. And enjoyment is the key. Australians have a love of life, of the good things in life, and to Australians, that's really what style means. Let that spirit be infectious...

Multicultural Australia
One of the biggest surprises for visitors to Australia is its multiracial population. Since 1945, Australia's largely Anglo-Irish population base has been enriched by waves of immigrants from Italy, Greece, Eastern Europe, Lebanon, the Middle East, China and South East Asia. Melbourne, for example, is reputed to host the largest population of Greeks outside Athens.
Each incoming nationality has brought with it its own traditions, leaving Australia with a variety of cultures and creeds and a lively and exotic festival calendar. Mosques are found in all cities.

Off the beaten path
Out in the countryside, you'll find classic country towns born in the feisty days of the gold rush, national parks brimming with the sensations of wild Australia, beautiful wooded areas, secluded beaches, country museums and the red sand and dust of the Outback. For anyone who wants a little spice added to a visit, very close to Sydney the forested peaks of the Blue Mountains provide the perfect escape for the adventurer with a day to spare.

What to pack
Bring a sense of adventure, style and at least one empty suitcase for all the bargains you won't be able to pass up. And don't forget your sunglasses. One thing about Australia that will differ entirely from the Gulf - you will never complain about the beautiful, sunny weather during the months of June through September, but bring a sweater or two for Melbourne which gets quite cool in the evenings!