Over 23 suppliers will join them at their booth to meet and greet visitors in a true Aussie style. According to recently released figures, inbound arrivals from the Gulf countries to Australia were up 20% in 2005 from the year before. Last year, 22,444 UAE citizens visited Australia. Ten years earlier, in '95, that figure was just 3,263, proving that Gulf visitors are rapidly discovering the delights Down Under and much of what the destination has to offer just about everyone in a very safe and exciting environment.
Said Andrew Oldfield, TA's distribution development manager based in Dubai and responsible for the GCC region, "We expect figures to be even higher this year; we have many new products to introduce to the trade and many airlines seem to be focusing on their flights to Australia and adding services. It's a very exciting time for us here in the Gulf this month."
Tourism Australia is making its presence felt in the GCC this year; the organization is launching its "So Where Are You Going This Summer?" ad campaign designed to get customers thinking and planning their holidays and post ATM will be hosting a roadshow traveling to several Gulf States to meet the trade locally.
And with the Gulf's prominence as a very solid and developing market for 'Oz', the Australia delegation to the ATM will be welcoming visitors to its booth, fondly known as "The Shed", which will be even bigger this year than in previous ones. The shed is modelled on a traditional Queensland home where Australian exhibitors, including Tourism Victoria, Tourism New South Wales, Tourism Queensland and Tourism Western Australia, will join TA, tour operators and a wide range of travel and tourism products to say "G'Day".
Although growing in popularity as a destination with visitors from the GCC, according to Oldfield, Australia is looking more attractive than ever to the Gulf traveller due to the world situation, the choice of airlines and ease of travel to the continent and the general welcoming warmth of the Australian people combined with its numerous, unparalleled attractions.
One motivating factor setting Australia for the Arab apart from many other destinations this year is the choice of routes and variety of airlines now servicing Australia from the Gulf States, including non-stop flights to several cities in Australia from Dubai.
Said Oldfield, "Australia is such an easy place to vacation where activities abound for everyone of every age and interest. Rail holidays, theme parks, wildlife, water sports, mountains, reefs, superb dining and of course, shopping galore - we have it all! We also have ample facilities for our Middle Eastern visitors looking for traditional comforts when abroad, including coffee shops, stores selling Arabic staples, an abundance of restaurants serving halal food and mosques which are located in most urban areas.
"Several all-service, in-bound tour operators also offer special packages designed to meet the needs of those coming from the Gulf States. Arabic speaking personnel are available on hand in Australia," he added.
Throughout the ATM this year representatives from several States, Australia-based destination management companies with Middle East expertise and a host of attractions will be on hand. Others will be present to unveil the wonders of New South Wales where Sydney is the capital, Victoria where Melbourne, the capital, is the second largest city in Australia, Western Australia where Perth has increased in popularity here recently and Queensland where Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast are the most popular spots with Middle East visitors.
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Australia lures Arab tourists
- United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, May 03 - 2006 at 10:56
- PRESS RELEASE
Tourism Australia (TA) this year comes to the GCC and to the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) from May 2nd to the 5th with a host of exciting new tourism products to introduce to an ever-increasing Australia-hungry population here in the Gulf.
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Notes and media contacts
For further information please contactAlison Holmes, Public Relations - Bahrain
Tel: +973 17 564531 Fax: +973 17 581 547
Australia on Parade
Exhibiting at the ATM 2006:
DIMA (Department of Immigration and Cultural Affairs)
Dreamworld, QLD
Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney
Gold Coast Tourism
Harbour Town Outlet Shopping Centre, QLD
Holiday Pacific Pty Ltd
JC Travel Professionals
Lawand Tourism Pty Ltd
Melbourne Cup Carnival
Mt Buller Snow Resort, VIC
Orient-Express Hotels, NSW
Palazzo Versace, QLD
Qantas Airlines
Qantas Airways Ltd
Quicksilver Connections Ltd
Stella Resorts Group
Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel
Tall Ship Sailing Cruises, NSW
Tourism New South Wales
Tourism Queensland
Tourism Victoria
Tourism Western Australia
Warner Village Theme Parks, QLD
Wel-Travel (Australia) Pty Ltd
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. Ask your travel agent about how to apply for a visa or go on line to www.immi.gov.au but plan ahead, twelve working days at least. And 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!
Posted by Anne-Birte Stensgaard, Senior News EditorWednesday, May 03 - 2006 at 10:56 UAE local time (GMT+4)
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