At the beginning of the 1990s Japan’s currency, the yen, was so strong that it caused an intense controversy in Australia.
Some people feared that Japanese buying power was so strong that many of our precious national assets would soon be owned by investors from Tokyo.
Fifteen years on, it is Australia’s dollar that is so strong that the Australian tourism industry is now worried that Japanese people will not travel here any more.
Many Japanese are cutting costs where they can, apparently booking fewer holidays to Australia.
Even the most popular destinations such as far north Queensland may be lucky to beat last year’s Japanese visitor arrivals.
Related Travel Information
Queensland’s tourism industry body, the Queensland Tourism Industry Council has unveiled the ‘Training Train’, a program designed to bring hospitality education to the state’s regions.
Aimed at supporting regional and rural tourism and hospitality operators, the ‘QTIC Training Express’ is a 10-carriage, mobile training and promotional facility on a dedicated Queensland Rail train.
The $1-million QTIC Training Express will travel throughout Queensland during August and September, stopping in 14 destinations, including Toowoomba, Cairns and Mt Isa.
Source: travelbiz.com.au
New Zealand's international tourism showcase Trenz started in Christchurch yesterday with at least some overseas buyers looking for something new from local operators.
Trenz (Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand) has drawn more than 1600 international and domestic industry delegates, and some media.
Some 450 travel and tourism companies are exhibiting their wares.
Among the buyers attending the conference, which has been organised by the Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand, was Swai Hapoo-riwat of Thai company Majestic Travel International.
Mr Hapoo-riwat's firm organises air travel, tours and activities for more than 2000 Thai tourists to New Zealand each year and he
Air New Zealand today climbed on board Tourism New Zealand's bid to ensure the quality of the country's tourism industry operators.
Air NZ spokesman Steve Bayliss told the Trenz (Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand) tourism conference in Christchurch today that the national carrier was now Qualmark certified.
Yesterday, Tourism NZ chief executive George Hickton said tourism operators would need independent quality certification from 2007 to be included in the government body's move to promote tourism.
The only existing certification which Tourism NZ currently accepted was its Qualmark joint venture with the Automobile Association.
Tourism NZ is seeking to maintain and extend
A number of natural attractions in Western Australia's Great Southern are likely to come under scrutiny as part of a Government crackdown on safety standards in the tourism industry.
Tourism Minister Mark McGowan wants an assessment of potentially hazardous areas that are accessible to tourists in response to the rescue of 11 people in the Karijini National Park in the Pilbara on Monday.
Martin Lloyd from the Department of Conservation and Land Management says there are a number of hazardous sites in the Great Southern, such as the Gap in the Torndirup National Park and Bluff Knoll in the Stirling Ranges.
But Mr
The Mozambican government is clamping down on South African tourism property investors in various regions along their coastline.
In recent weeks many South Africans had to either stop operating established tourism resorts or cancel developments that are already in process. Most recently two South Africans in Bilene north of Maputo have been forced to vacate the property they obtained from government.
Following a civil war which lasted more than 30 years, Mozambique was battered economically and socially. In order to revive its economy, foreign investment, especially in tourism was welcomed by Mozambican government.
Many South African business operators then invested in
