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.

Operator Southern Star said repairs would be carried out once the investigation was completed. It is not known when the tourist attraction in Melbourne’s docklands will re-open.

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.

He noted HCMC and other provinces would join forces to introduce the national tourism promotion program known as “Impressive Vietnam” to the buyers in Australia and elsewhere in the world.

During the program scheduled to last until September this year, travel companies work with airlines and hotels to offer discounts of 30-50% for package tours within the country.

Khanh said 19 hotels of three to five-star ratings and 14 travel agencies in HCMC were joining the program launched early this year by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

Khanh said the city would also take the opportunity to sell the “100 Interesting Sites in HCMC” program as well as products and services for MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition) guests.

Other participating localities including Hanoi, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Thuan and Can Tho will promote their products and places of interest at the major international tourism event, he said.

All the participating localities, he said, will sell attractions and discount products and services on offer in Vietnam in the hopes that the country will attract 4.5 international visitors or more this year.

Figures of the General Statistics Office showed 370,000 international tourists traveled to Vietnam last month, up 3.3% over December 2008.

This year, many countries are worried about a possible decline in visitor arrivals because of the impact of the global economic slowdown.

The HCMC government reported that the number of international visitors to the city in January stood at 330,000, or just the same as the year-earlier period. Khanh said the global economic situation would likely impact on leisure rather than business travel as people still have to come to do business.

Khanh said he was optimistic about the MICE situation this year based on what had happened to the market segment. Saigontourist Travel Service Co. has served thousands of MICE guests so far this year.

Therefore, he said, the mission will focus on promoting MICE products at the AIME 2009 in Australia, which is considered one of the major generating markets for Vietnam. Last year, more than 234,000 Australians visited Vietnam, a year-on-year rise of over 104%.

Similar missions are planned this year to promote the “Impressive Vietnam” program in other major markets including Japan, ASEAN, France and Western Europe, Khanh said.

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.

She was also a past member of the Northern Ireland Sports Council as well as various governing bodies in ladies golf.Mrs Hart and her husband Noel celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year.For several years, Mrs Hart was a selector for the Ulster Junior Girls golf team.She was active in the Ladies’ Golfing Union and was elected its chairman in 1993, its centenary year.

As an enthusiastic ambassador for women’s golf, she was the first woman to make a speech in St Andrews Golf Club, the home of golf.Mrs Hart served a further four-year term with the Irish Ladies Golf Union Council and was appointed Chairman of Selectors for the Irish International Ladies Golf Team. She was delighted that in 2003 the Irish Ladies Team won the Home Internationals, under her stewardship, for the first time in 18 years.

Her contribution to the sport of golf in Northern Ireland resulted in being invited to join the NI Sports Council in 1995. She served on the Sports Council for two years, as it awarded National Lottery funding to sporting interests throughout Ulster.Her Memorial Service will be held at 2pm on Tuesday, February 24 at Ballywillan Presbyterian Church, Portrush.

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.”

He said the attack was unlikely to scare off the thousands of backpackers who stayed in the area, but feared “daytrippers” may avoid the beach.”It’s those people that come for day trips or two-day trips, that will now change,” Mr Siano said.

“Usually they come down in summer time. They come down for a dip and a feed. If they stay for more than one day, they do a bit more shopping.”If they are not going to have a dip, then all they are going to have is a quick trip in one of those buses, a few photos, then disappear.”

The shark locked its jaws on the Bondi surfer’s left arm after he caught a wave about 7.30pm (AEDT), almost severing his hand.The 33-year-old was rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital, where he underwent 10 hours of surgery and remains in a serious but stable condition.

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.

Nearly half picked Australia, which is expecting the number of foreign visitors to fall to their lowest level in two decades this year, as a place to visit, a likely boost for a multi-million dollar tourist campaign launched late last year.Those surveyed voted Japan as the second most likely destination for their next holiday, followed by Hong Kong, which garnered 35 per cent of votes.

“That Asia Pacific was named the leading global leisure travel region reinforces the vital role this industry fills in the regional economy,” said Meranda Chan, a Visa country manager and PATA board director.

“While the global economic situation will impact tourism, it is unlikely to bring travel to a standstill. What our survey has shown is that travellers will be more creative in their selection of destinations,” she said in a statement.

The survey was conducted last August in 11 key markets for Asia Pacific tourism — Australia, China, Taiwan, France, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the United States and Britain — and appears to bode well for an industry that has been hit by the global belt-tightening caused by the economic slowdown.

While most of the tourists to Asia-Pacific destinations were already living in the region, the survey showed that some 40 per cent of Americans and 32 per cent from France said they would visit in 2009 or 2010.

According to PATA, international arrivals to Asia-Pacific destinations grew 2.6 per cent in 2008, despite the economic slowdown which reined in arrivals in the second half of the year. The industry accounts for more than 5.5 per cent of Asia’s total GDP.

Just over a third of overall respondents said they would not change their travel plans for this year, despite the financial crisis, but the majority revealed they would either look for cheaper alternatives, travel within their own country or postpone any trips.

Among those surveyed, Australians, Britons, Singaporeans, Indians, French and Americans were the least likely to let economic concerns keep them for travelling, while Taiwanese, Koreans, Japanese, Hong Kongers and Chinese were the most likely to change their plans.

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.

Off the coast of Western Australia is the Ningaloo Reef (“Australia’s Other Reef”), a world heritage site, famous for the largest collection of whale sharks in the world. Ningaloo Reef is great for scuba diving and is easily accessible by boat and on foot.The capital of Western Australia is the city of Perth, located on the Swan River, just a short ways inland from the Indian Ocean. A historic city, it is also very tranquil, free from the congestion that plagues most cities. Kings Park, for example, is a popular picnic area, resplendent with walking trails and a botanic garden famous for its wildflowers. And just eight miles from the capital are numerous surfing beaches, most accessible by public transporation.

Just twelve miles south of Perth is the busy port town of Freemantle, a popular stop with tourists largely due to the ferry service offered to Rottnest Island. Rottnest was used as an Aboriginal Prison and an Internment Camp in both World Wars. But it is most famous for its current status, that of a wildlife preserve. It is one of the few places in the world where the quokka can be found. It is also very popular with divers (due to numerous reefs and shipwrecks), surfers, and recreational fishers. There are a few accommodations on the island as well, for those seeking a longer holiday.

Among some other popular destinations in Western Australia are Albany, a resort town 253 miles south east of Perth, reachable by daily flights, buses, and coaches from Perth. Amongst other attractions, it features beautiful coastal scenery in the Torndirrup National Park and whale watching from July to October. The Avon Valley, just 62 miles east of Perth, is famouse for its spring wildflowers.

Yanchep National Park, just 32 miles north of Perth, offers spectacular caves and the chance to hand feed the kangaroos which roam free in the park.

Continuing on to York, one of Western Australia’s most historic towns, visitors can then take in Wave Rock. One of Australia’s best known landmarks, Wave Rock is a spectacular wave-like rock formation carved by wind, rain and time.

Situated south of Perth, the Karri Forest features lush forest, rugged coastal scenery, limestone caves and vineyards. The Margaret River valley offers some of the best wine of Western Australia.

Another not-to-be-missed natural wonder are the Pinnacles, fossilised remains of an ancient forest 161 miles north east of Perth. Be sure to allow a full day to really take in the sight.

Also worth visiting are Wildflower Country, Monkey Mia, the Pilbara, Broome, the Kimberley Region and the Goldfields.

The Kimberly was most recently made famous in Baz Luhrman’s “Australia” movie; most of the sweeping panoramic views of the Australian countryside featured in the movie were of the Kimberly region of Western Australia, and Faraway Downs was set in Carlton Hill, Kununurra, Western Australia, Australia.

As you can see, Western Australia has much to offer the visitor, including sweeping landscapes, authentic experiences, and a freedom from the tourist traps. It is well worth taking the extra time to make your way out here.

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.

“Using current technologies, a high speed train could take less than 50 minutes from Sydney railway station via Sydney Airport and then non-stop via a new rail corridor to Canberra Airport,” the plan says.The prospect of a very fast train linking Sydney and Canberra, and possibly even Melbourne, was boosted in December, when Infrastructure Australia included the idea on its shortlist of projects warranting further analysis. At a cost of $32 billion to $59 billion, the Sydney-Canberra-Melbourne very fast train link was the most expensive project on the shortlist.

The Federal Government has said it wants to develop a second aviation hub for Sydney that lies outside of the Sydney basin, which would likely see it located near Newcastle, the Southern Highlands or Canberra.

“Whilst the definition of the Sydney basin remains unclear, it has been established that a high-speed rail link will be required to link Sydney with the new airport site,” the plan says.”Canberra Airport submits that the use of an existing major airport facility, such as Canberra Airport, will significantly mitigate the economic cost to the Commonwealth of this infrastructure.

“For example, the cost of developing a new international airport between Sydney and Canberra, with a dedicated high speed rail link to Sydney, would be substantially greater than extending a high speed rail line to Canberra and utilising existing airport facilities at Canberra Airport.

“Furthermore, a high speed train link to serve a second Sydney Airport in Canberra would not simply serve the needs of the Airport site, as it would at a greenfields Airport site, but would also serve the significant population catchment in and around the ACT.”

The airport said a high speed train would result in an initial reduction in the number of flights between Sydney and Canberra but the long term benefits would be significant.

“In particular, it gives Canberra a bigger potential role as Sydney’s second airport, as the travel time between Sydney and Canberra by surface modes of transport decreases significantly from three hours to possibly less than an hour.”

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.

“The climate for the business events sector will be tough in 2009, however events such as Dreamtime are part of Australia’s long term commitment to build the country’s share of the global business events market,” said Tourism Australia’s Head of Business Events Australia, Joyce DiMascio.Dreamtime provides influential decision makers for high yielding corporate meeting and incentive businesses with the opportunity to meet face-to-face with tourism businesses and experience Australia first-hand at one event.

The seven day Dreamtime 2009 program will see international buyers and media spend five days in the host city, Sydney, and two days at a second destination within Australia (either Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, the Northern Territory, or Sunshine Coast/Brisbane) for educational visits.

Mr Jon Hutchison AM, Chief Executive Officer of Business Events Sydney, said he was delighted that his organisation had been successful in securing the rights to host Dreamtime this year.

“Together with our partners we are eager to host this prestigious event and are confident that Sydney will exceed expectations of buyers and sellers,” Mr Hutchison said. “The innovative program will deliver experiences that are new and dynamic covering culture, arts, entertainment, the environment and indigenous culture.”

Dreamtime was last staged on the Gold Coast in 2006. It was first held in 1992 and has previously been held in Sydney, Alice Springs, and Uluru, with official airline partner, Qantas.

Ms DiMascio said the event had been ‘refashioned’ this year to reflect the changing focus in the business events sector.

“This year we are taking some big steps to refashion Dreamtime to ensure that it continues to be in line with the changing needs of our business events customers worldwide,” Ms DiMascio said. “In addition to the host city program, Dreamtime will also showcase other parts of the country through a new educational destination program.”

During the year end 31 October 2008, Australia received 193,100 visitors for conventions or conferences, an increase of 5% year-on-year. While the market is relatively small in terms of visitor numbers, the average spend per conference / convention visitor is around three times the average per visitor spend of all visitors to Australia.Dreamtime 2009 is scheduled to be held in October. The final dates are yet to be confirmed.

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.

State emergency workers have come from across the state to help with the cleanup but crews are waiting for the Herbert River to drop below 23 feet (seven meters) before the mop-up can begin in earnest. Weather officials said flood levels in the river had fallen just slightly from a peak of 40 feet (12.2 meters).

Yellow water from rain and the more than a dozen rivers that have broken their banks coursed through city streets and people pushed their cars through thigh-high water. Some used small boats to get around.

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts told Australian Broadcasting Corp. after visiting Ingham that residents are “living in a swimming pool.”Resident Fred Marolla said his family had lost most of their appliances and other essentials.”We’ve lost a fridge, washing machine, freezer. We’ve lost a TV, we lost furniture,” he said.

About 2,900 homes in Ingham were reported damaged and hundreds of people evacuated to a temporary shelter in a local school or to the homes of friends and famiilies. Ingham and surrounding communities have a population of about 13,000.Residents have been warned about crocodiles and snakes roaming flooded streets and yards.

The Weather Bureau said a strong storm off northwestern Queensland and another low pressure system just north of Ingham could develop into cyclones within 24 to 48 hours, raising concerns about more flooding.

The state government said Tuesday that the storms had caused an estimated 109 million Australian dollars ($69.5 million) in damage since late December. About 17 rivers are flooded and dams are overflowing.

The state capital, Brisbane, has not been affected by the latest storms. In November it was declared a natural disaster area after its worst storm in 25 years cut power to tens of thousands of people and flooded streets and buildings.

November to April is tropical cyclone season in northern Australia and overflowing rivers and heavy rainstorms are normal. The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted above-normal monsoonal activity for this season.

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.

Queenslanders’ southern counterparts will be offered “quality bargain breaks” in tourism hot-spots just before the first of the Rudd Government’s cash bonus payments of up to $950 are due in March – providing, of course, that the plan makes it through Federal Parliament.The $42 billion package designed to ward of recession passed through the Lower House this morning following a marathon 15-hour debate. However, Liberal Leader Malcolm Turnbull has vowed to block the legislation in the Senate.

If the package is approved, savvy holiday makers could take advantage of cheap packages offered by Flight Centre and Virgin Blue to Cairns, Townsville, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.Already, 140 business have signed up to the program and will offer tourists extra bonuses to sweeten the deal.

For less than $1000, interstate visitors can snag five nights’ accommodation, including airfares.Ms Bligh said the campaign would boost the state’s tourism industry, which directly employs 119,000 Queenslanders – 75 per cent of whom work in small businesses.

The industry was desperate for a large scale advertising campaign, Ms Bligh said.”It will generate an additional 22,000 extra bed nights and $13 million in visitor expenditure,” she said.Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said the deals would allow bonus recipients to spend their windfall on “something they will actually remember”.