Still no date for Southern Star wheel’s re-opening

Melbourne’s $100 million observation wheel remains shut almost three weeks after cracks developed in a bracing member during a heatwave.Engineers from Japan have been assessing the damage, noticed on January 30, and considering the best ways to repair the 120-metre-tall ferris wheel.”Following completion of this investigation, rectification works will be undertaken to repair affected areas,” operator Southern Star told AAP on Thursday.

Vietnam to drum up tourism in Australia

VietNamNet Bridge – Tourism authorities and travel agencies in HCMC and other provinces will head for the Australian city of Melbourne to promote the ongoing national tourism program as well as their own tourism products and services.La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, told the Daily that the city would lead the tourism promotion mission to Australia for a Vietnam Roadshow in Melbourne on February 16.The Vietnam Roadshow will take place a day ahead of the opening of the 17th Asia Pacific Incentive & Meetings Expo, also known as AIME 2009 which attracts a lot of buyers worldwide to business events to be held there, he said.

Family fly in from Australia for memorial servcie

RELATIVES of a Northern Ireland woman who tragically died while visiting them in Australia are flying over for a memorial service in her local church in Portrush.Georgie Hart, who was 74, died suddenly in December while on her annual visit to Australia to see her daughter Daphne and her family who live in Sydney.A former teacher, Mrs Hart was well known among the golfing fraternity in Antrim.

Bondi shark attack will hit tourism: commerce chief

Business leaders fear a shark attack on a surfer at Sydney’s Bondi Beach will hurt the tourist trade.The surfer was savaged last night, a day after a navy clearance diver was mauled by a shark in Sydney Harbour.Bondi Chamber of Commerce vice-president Max Siano said news of the Bondi attack would reverberate around the world, warding off tourists.”It will affect trade because Bondi Beach is visited by 85 per cent of all visitors that come to Australia,” Mr Siano said.”We’ve always thought that this is a safe beach to swim. It’s going to have an effect on tourism.”

Despite crisis, Australia still the world’s favourite destination

Australia has been voted the most coveted destination by travellers 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 5500 people.

Western Australia Overview

Western Australia is by far the largest state in Australia, covering nearly one-third of the contintent. It is also, sadly, the least visited by US Tourists visiting the country, though one might argue it has the most to offer tourists: the rugged Outback, forests, plentiful wildlife, coral reefs and stunning beaches.Although it is a huge state, a combination of air, coach, road and rail links allows for easy access to all the major tourist attractions, cities, and destinations. Warm and temperate, the summer (Nov-March) is the best time to visit the south west. The winter (April-October) is best for visiting the northern tropical parts of the state.

Sydney to Canberra in 50 minutes: fast tracking second airport

A high speed train link that shuttles passengers between Sydney and Canberra in as little as 50 minutes could turn the national capital’s airport into a viable second airport option for Sydney.Canberra Airport today released its 2009 preliminary draft master plan, which outlines its plans over the next 20 years.The airport says it is better placed than any other aviation facility between Melbourne and Brisbane to provide a secondary aviation hub to Sydney Airport, which is expected to be at or close to capacity within the next two decades.

Sydney to Host Dreamtime 2009 in October

Sydney has been selected as the host city for the incentive travel trade event, Dreamtime, which aims to generate future business for Australia’s high yielding business events sector.The seven day event, organised by Tourism Australia, is expected to attract around 100 business events decision makers (buyers) and 20 international media from Australia’s key markets of Asia, Europe, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

Flooded northern Australia braces for more rain

SYDNEY (AP): Sodden residents of northeastern Australia were trying to clean up from weeks of rain Thursday, while forecasters said two offshore storms could turn into cyclones by the weekend.River levels were beginning to fall in some parts of Queensland state while emergency workers continued to evacuate people left stranded.A 42-year-old man was rescued late Wednesday night after clinging to a tree near a swollen creek for more than three hours. He was treated for minor injuries.Ingham, the hardest-hit town, has been underwater since a weekend storm, but water levels were beginning to drop.

‘Spend your bonus in Queensland … please’

Premier Anna Bligh may have jumped the gun, but she is standing by her latest catch-cry: “Take a bonus break in Queensland … please.”In a bid to rescue the state’s flagging tourism industry, the State Government will encourage Melbourne and Sydney residents to spend the Commonwealth stimulus bonus on a holiday in Queensland, complete with a personal invite.The invitations, designed to mimic pay packets, will be sent to every southern household by the end of the month as part of the Queensland’s Government’s $1.3 million Bonus Breaks campaign.