Category Travel

Australia entices tourists to come `Walkabout’

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 08.10.2008 (IANS): Australia is enticing international tourists to come and lose themselves in the remarkable landscape, unique culture and warmth of its people through a global tourism campaign launched Wednesday that leverages on an outback movie starring Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman.

The Australian $50 million (US$32 million) campaign, which will run in cinema, on television, print and online, across 22 countries, including India, puts the spotlight on the outback and indigenous Aboriginal culture.

“We want the growing Indian middle class to go beyond Sydney-Melbourne-Gold Coast and experience the real outback Australia and its indigenous culture,” Tourism Australia managing director Geoff Buckley told IANS Wednesday.

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Sun, sand and shopping – Sydney lures the Indian tourist

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 15.09.2008 (IANS): As other international tourists give Australia a miss, Indian tourists are being lured to this harbour city of blue skies and scenic beaches with travel packages tailored specifically for the Indian market.

A high-level trade mission from the state of New South Wales (NSW) is in India this week to tap into the increasing number of Indians looking for overseas holidays.

Sydney has become one of the favourite destinations for Indian travellers, be it families, backpackers, honeymooners or business travellers. Indian holidaymakers find Sydney one of the cleanest, most user-friendly cities with some of the finest restaurants and beautiful vistas.

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Big Little Penguin Parade

By Neena Bhandari

Phillip Island (Victoria, Australia), 12.09.2008 (The Hindu Businessline): As the sun set on a balmy summer day, we made our way with hundreds of other tourists to the tiered stands on the Summerland Beach on Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia. There was excitement in the air as we walked to keep our date with the `Little Penguins’.

Patiently and silently, we waited for dusk to give way to darkness. Suddenly fingers were pointing to a mass of black in the distant shallow waters. No sooner had it appeared than it vanished into the vast expanse of the ocean. Probably a raft of penguins had sensed predators and retreated.

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