Australia's popularity just keeps growing

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Tourism Australia is keen to promote the country’s many marine-related activities.

There are strong signs Australia will witness its largest influx of Middle East visitors ever this summer.

The number of visa applications for Australia made by GCC residents shot up by 39% in April compared to the same month in 2006, and increased 15% year-on-year in May, according to Tourism Australia (TA).

"Online visa applications for both months were up 129% on last year," said TA's distribution development manager for the Middle East, Andrew Oldfield. "The majority came from the UAE, but we are hoping the number of visitors from Kuwait will be better this year."

Oldfield said Malaysia Airlines' bookings from the GCC via Kuala Lumpur to Australia had also reported a 12% improvement in May.

"And this is an airline you can probably still get seats on," he said. "Even with Emirates' 49 flights per week to Australia we need more capacity because so many seats are taken up by Europeans travelling to Australia via Dubai."

Luckily rival carrier Etihad Airways has announced plans to introduce a three times weekly service from Abu Dhabi to Brisbane via Singapore in September.

Brisbane represents Etihad's second Australian destination following the launch of its Sydney service in March, which recently became daily.

According to Etihad's Australian manager, Cramer Ball, the Sydney flights in June were full in all classes.

"Without putting a number on it, chief executive James Hogan keeps on saying it's probably been the most successful route launch out of any destination we've started up," he said.
GCC arrivals to Australia increased 38.9% last year (March 2006 to March 2007) and TA figures suggest the majority of the 17,163 travellers visited the Gold Coast.

To cater to the expected influx of UAE visitors this year, the Abu Dhabi government, Gold Coast City Council and Gold Coast Tourism have established the ‘UAE Lounge' in Surfers Paradise, open from 10am to 10pm every day between June 28 and September 30. It provides visitors with a number of services including internet access, refreshments and an information desk.

Gold Coast Tourism has also developed Arabic language publications to promote ‘108 things to see and do' on the Gold Coast', available in the lounge, at Gold Coast Tourism informations centres and through its Dubai office.

With the Gold Coast firmly established as top Australian destination in the minds of Arab travellers, TA's challenge is to encourage them to explore other locations across the vast country.

Oldfield believes there is a market for fishing holidays for male Arab nationals.

"While the women shop, the men can fish," he said.

TA is also keen to promote Australia's "unparalleled array of aquatic treasures" and the opportunities the country presents to interact with marine life.

Highlights include diving and snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef; swimming with dolphins at Rockingham near Perth; watching the sunset march of the penguins at Phillip Island, near Melboune (Victoria); and whale watching at many of Australia's coastal towns.

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