Australia Hopes to Cash in on The Ashes
Although The Ashes will be played on English turf this year, Australia is already looking forward to next year’s cricket clash in order to boost tourism to the country. In the deflated tourism market, Australia is counting on British tourism to bring in additional revenue.
The last Ashes series to be held in Australia was in the 2006/7 cricket season which saw some 35,000 British enthusiasts book flights to Australia in order to support the English cricket team over the five tests. According to Rodney Harrex, regional general manager for Tourism Australia, The Ashes brought in an additional £155 million (A$316 million) to the country.
Mr Harrex commented: “These impressive figures highlight the opportunity for Australia as a tourist destination in the summer of 2010/11 when we’ll welcome the English team and their fans back on to Aussie soil,” reported Travel Weekly.
In recent weeks, tourism in Queensland has received some welcome attention after the promotion of the “Best Job in the World” campaign from Tourism Queensland. Brit Ben Southall won the mother of all bargain holidays, been chosen from a cast of thousands to “work” as the caretaker of Hamilton Island for six months, being paid a princely £70,000 for the honour.
Mr Southall’s job requires him to explore and promote the local area with a gruelling task of sun-bathing, diving and snorkelling to show off the attractions of the barrier reef. The event is estimated to have brought in some £53 million (A$110 million) to the area already through global publicity. Australia is hopeful that The Ashes will capture similar attention next year.
Holidays News posted by Lily Townsend on 01 July 2009
The Ashes, test cricket, Australia, England, tourism, best job
http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2009/06/30/31324/tourism-australia-bids-to-cash-in-on-ashes-2009.html
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