Value to the Economy
Tourism in Australia is a large sector of the economy. In 2003/04, the tourism industry represented 3.9% of Australia's GDP at a value of approximately A$32 billion to the national economy.[1] It should be noted that tourism's share of GDP has been slightly decreasing over recent years.
In 2004-05, international visitors consumed AUD$18.3 billion worth of goods and services produced by the Australian economy. This represented 11.1% of total exports of goods and services. [2]
Australia was also the received the 10th biggest revenue from being a tourist destination in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Trends
At least until September 2001, tourism and particularly international tourism had grown rapidly for the past two decades. [citation needed]
During 2001–2002 and 2002–2003, external events such as the September 11, 2001 attacks and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) scare caused changes to the level of international visitors to Australia.
Visas
All visitors to Australia, apart from New Zealanders, require advance permission to enter the country. For most countries, a full visa is required, but holders of certain passports from some OECD and some East Asian countries are able to apply for the simpler Electronic Travel Authority which enables one to apply and be granted a visa.
Marketing
Australia's international tourism campaigns have largely centred around the image of Australia as a wild, expansive, almost uninhabited continent, with all manner of exotic scenery and wildlife, endless beaches, large coastal cities and friendly, relaxed locals. A famous advertising campaign of the 1980s featuring Paul Hogan offering American tourists the chance to "throw another shrimp on the barbie" serves as an example of this marketing approach. (Ironically, this statement is a misquote; Hogan's actual line was "I'll slip an extra shrimp on the barbie for you.") [citation needed]
The marketing focus has changed over the years, for example with specific advertisements created for individual countries. A 2006 Tourism campaign using Australian colloquialisms was typified with the slogan: "So where the bloody hell are you?"
Popular destinations
International tourists
Tourism Australia lists the following as the most visited regions in Australia:
Sydney, includes sights such as Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach.
Melbourne
Brisbane
Far North Queensland including Cairns, known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest
Gold Coast, famous for its beaches and theme parks
Perth, Western Australia
Adelaide
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Uluru (Ayers Rock) and surroundings such as Kata Tjuta
Whitsundays, Queensland
Top Ten Visited Regions in Australia
Domestic tourists
This list varies for domestic tourists and focuses on destinations relatively near capital cities. A notable omission is Far North Queensland mainly due to its distance from capital cities.
Sydney
Melbourne
Brisbane
Gold Coast
northern coastal New South Wales including Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay
Perth
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
South Coast, New South Wales including Nowra and Batemans Bay
South Western Western Australia including Bunbury and Busselton.
Hunter region, New South Wales including Newcastle, Port Stephens
Top 10 Domestic Regions
Popular activities
Tourism Australia reported the following as the most popular activities for overseas tourists:
Dining or eating out at a cafe
Shopping
Beach
Markets
National parks
Pubs, Clubs and Discos
Zoos, Wildlife parks and Aquariums
Botanical Gardens and Public Parks
Charter boats, ferries, cruises
Historical sites, Heritage
Top 10 Activities
This list varies for domestic tourists:
Dining
Visiting friends or relatives
Shopping
General sightseeing
Pubs, Clubs and Discos
Beach
Picnics and Barbecues
Bushwalking
National parks
Fishing
Top Activities for Domestic Tourists
Types of tourists
International tourists
The top 10 countries for short term visits to Australia:
New Zealand
Japan
United Kingdom
United States
China
South Korea
Singapore
Malaysia
Hong Kong
Germany
Source: ABS Overseas Arrivals and Departures August 2006
Whilst the above list may include personal and business visits, a considerable proportion of these visitors would engage in tourist activities. 52% of visitors to Australia in 2005/06 visited for a holiday.
Tourists from countries such as United States and Japan benefited from the weakness of the Australian dollar against their own currencies over much of the 1980s and 1990s, making Australian holidays quite cheap. [citation needed] Japanese tourists make up a distinctive part of the Australian tourism market, usually taking short package tours which concentrate heavily on the iconic sights (typically Sydney, Uluru, Gold Coast and Cairns), and viewing Australian native animals (particularly the koala).
Backpackers
Another major source of tourists to Australia include backpackers, mostly young people from Western European countries (particularly the United Kingdom) and Canada. Spending more time in Australia, these travellers tend to explore considerably more of the country. Many backpackers participate in working holidays enabling them to stay longer in the country. Working holiday visas for Australia are available for those aged 18 to 30 for most Western European citizens, and also citizens of Canada and some developed East Asian nations such as Japan and South Korea. [5]
Domestic tourism
Australians are big domestic travellers as well, with a profusion of seaside resort towns in every state (many located on or near good surfing beaches), mountain retreats, plentiful national parks, rivers, fishing locations, wine growing regions, as well as domestic visitation of the major tourist spots. [citation needed]
Domestic tourism peaks during the Australian school holidays.
Major events
Major events attracts large number of tourists.
Sporting
The 2003 Rugby World Cup attracted 65,000 international visitors to Australia. [6]. The 2000 Sydney Olympics resulted in significant inbound and domestic tourism to Sydney. During the games, Sydney hosted 362,000 domestic and 110,000 international visitors. In addition, up to 4 billion people watched the games worldwide.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Choosing a volunteer vacation
People choose to take a volunteer vacation for a variety of reasons, and often more than one applies. First and foremost is a desire to help —be it children, the elderly, the handicapped, animals, or the natural environment. Some people have a specific cause in mind; say, protecting endangered gorillas or preserving the coral reefs off the coast of Australia, and they target organizations that offer such opportunities. Other people have a more general idea of what they want to do; for example, help alleviate hunger or teach children to read. Along with an altruistic reason for volunteering there are often others, such as a desire to see exotic or unusual places, an opportunity to experience new challenges, a chance to practice a foreign language, having an experience that will enhance their resume and/or job opportunities, and the fact that such trips usually provide a substantial tax deduction.
When choosing a volunteer vacation opportunity, prospective travelers should consider several questions.
Where to go? Volunteer vacation opportunities are available in every corner of the world, from the United States to Australia, China, Iceland, and the Amazon.
How much does it cost? The program fees participants pay to take part in volunteer vacations typically (but not always) include room and board, project fees, travel medical insurance, and travel within the country in which the volunteer activity occurs. The fees usually do not include transportation to the country. Potential volunteers should check with the sponsoring organization to determine which costs are included in the program fee, and to learn how much of the fee is tax deductible.
How challenging is it? Some volunteer vacations require a certain level of physical strength and stamina, especially those that involve working outdoors. Potential volunteers should always clearly understand the physical expectations and requirements and be sure they are medically capable of meeting them.
What are the accommodations? Lodging options vary widely and may involve pitching a tent, living in unheated huts, staying with native families, sharing a dormitory-type residence, or checking into a comfortable hotel. Questions about food, water, linens, availability of power (including computer and cell phone access), medical care, and local transportation should be addressed during the evaluation process.
How long? Most volunteer vacations last from one to four weeks; some can extend on for months. The vast variety of volunteer vacation opportunities usually means people can find more than one vacation that fits their needs.
Any special skills needed? People who have special skills—teachers, nurses, veterinarians, biologists, accountants, lawyers, photographers, farmers—are always welcome and in fact urgently needed in some locations. Most volunteer opportunities, however, only ask that people have a desire to help and a willingness to learn and follow directions.
Is language a barrier? Since so many volunteer vacations are in remote, foreign locations, knowledge of another language in addition to English can be helpful and in some cases, strongly recommended. However, most potential volunteers do not need to know a second language.
What about free time? The amount of time volunteers have to spend sightseeing or doing other activities away from their volunteer tasks varies with each assignment, as do the types of activities that are available. This information is usually provided by the sponsoring organization, and it can be helpful to talk or correspond with other people who have volunteered in the location previously.
Who can participate? Volunteer vacations are available for singles, couples, students, families, and older adults. The age limitation is typically 16 to 18 years of age; a parent or guardian usually must accompany any person younger than 16. Volunteer vacations geared for families with younger children have their own special regulations.
Both for-profit and nonprofit organizations and companies offer volunteer vacations. Some organizations sponsor opportunities that focus on a specific issue, such as saving sea turtles or building homes for the needy, while others offer a broad spectrum of projects that center on areas such as education, poverty, public health, endangered species, and habitat preservation. While some organizations have projects in only a few countries, others offer options in dozens of locations on nearly every continent.
People interested in learning more about volunteer vacations in general or selecting one in particular can begin by exploring volunteer vacation directories or targeting organizations that offer specific opportunities.
Volunteer vacation directories
People who are uncertain about the type of volunteer vacation they want to take may find it best to start by checking a directory of opportunities by category. Charity Guide is a nonprofit that provides information on volunteer vacations in several different categories: environmental protection,[2] children’s issues [3], animal welfare [4], and health and safety [5]. Travel with a Challenge [6] provides a directory that caters to mature volunteers (age 45 years and older). Transitions Abroad [7] is a portal for volunteer vacations involving social issues around the globe.
Organizations that sponsor volunteer vacations
Potential volunteers can also scour the opportunities offered by organizations that sponsor volunteer vacations. Airline Ambassadors International [8] distributes medical and other aid to children, families, and underprivileged communities around the world. Global Service Corp. [9] focuses its efforts in two countries, Tanzania and Thailand, and offers projects that last from two weeks up to six months. People interested in environmental and animal issues can choose from more than 130 projects in 47 countries offered by the nonprofit group Earthwatch [10]. Cross Cultural Solutions [11] has projects lasting from one to twelve weeks located in eleven countries. One-week opportunities are the mainstay of Globe Aware [12], which sponsors projects in nine countries. Community development, conservation, and teaching are just a few of the types of projects offered by i-to-i [13] in more than two dozen countries. One unique type of organization is [14], a Non-Profit Franchise run and paid for entirely by volunteers.
People who don’t find what they’re looking for with a sponsoring organization or who have a pet cause or favorite charity can contact the particular group or charity on their own and ask about volunteer vacation opportunities.
When choosing a volunteer vacation opportunity, prospective travelers should consider several questions.
Where to go? Volunteer vacation opportunities are available in every corner of the world, from the United States to Australia, China, Iceland, and the Amazon.
How much does it cost? The program fees participants pay to take part in volunteer vacations typically (but not always) include room and board, project fees, travel medical insurance, and travel within the country in which the volunteer activity occurs. The fees usually do not include transportation to the country. Potential volunteers should check with the sponsoring organization to determine which costs are included in the program fee, and to learn how much of the fee is tax deductible.
How challenging is it? Some volunteer vacations require a certain level of physical strength and stamina, especially those that involve working outdoors. Potential volunteers should always clearly understand the physical expectations and requirements and be sure they are medically capable of meeting them.
What are the accommodations? Lodging options vary widely and may involve pitching a tent, living in unheated huts, staying with native families, sharing a dormitory-type residence, or checking into a comfortable hotel. Questions about food, water, linens, availability of power (including computer and cell phone access), medical care, and local transportation should be addressed during the evaluation process.
How long? Most volunteer vacations last from one to four weeks; some can extend on for months. The vast variety of volunteer vacation opportunities usually means people can find more than one vacation that fits their needs.
Any special skills needed? People who have special skills—teachers, nurses, veterinarians, biologists, accountants, lawyers, photographers, farmers—are always welcome and in fact urgently needed in some locations. Most volunteer opportunities, however, only ask that people have a desire to help and a willingness to learn and follow directions.
Is language a barrier? Since so many volunteer vacations are in remote, foreign locations, knowledge of another language in addition to English can be helpful and in some cases, strongly recommended. However, most potential volunteers do not need to know a second language.
What about free time? The amount of time volunteers have to spend sightseeing or doing other activities away from their volunteer tasks varies with each assignment, as do the types of activities that are available. This information is usually provided by the sponsoring organization, and it can be helpful to talk or correspond with other people who have volunteered in the location previously.
Who can participate? Volunteer vacations are available for singles, couples, students, families, and older adults. The age limitation is typically 16 to 18 years of age; a parent or guardian usually must accompany any person younger than 16. Volunteer vacations geared for families with younger children have their own special regulations.
Both for-profit and nonprofit organizations and companies offer volunteer vacations. Some organizations sponsor opportunities that focus on a specific issue, such as saving sea turtles or building homes for the needy, while others offer a broad spectrum of projects that center on areas such as education, poverty, public health, endangered species, and habitat preservation. While some organizations have projects in only a few countries, others offer options in dozens of locations on nearly every continent.
People interested in learning more about volunteer vacations in general or selecting one in particular can begin by exploring volunteer vacation directories or targeting organizations that offer specific opportunities.
Volunteer vacation directories
People who are uncertain about the type of volunteer vacation they want to take may find it best to start by checking a directory of opportunities by category. Charity Guide is a nonprofit that provides information on volunteer vacations in several different categories: environmental protection,[2] children’s issues [3], animal welfare [4], and health and safety [5]. Travel with a Challenge [6] provides a directory that caters to mature volunteers (age 45 years and older). Transitions Abroad [7] is a portal for volunteer vacations involving social issues around the globe.
Organizations that sponsor volunteer vacations
Potential volunteers can also scour the opportunities offered by organizations that sponsor volunteer vacations. Airline Ambassadors International [8] distributes medical and other aid to children, families, and underprivileged communities around the world. Global Service Corp. [9] focuses its efforts in two countries, Tanzania and Thailand, and offers projects that last from two weeks up to six months. People interested in environmental and animal issues can choose from more than 130 projects in 47 countries offered by the nonprofit group Earthwatch [10]. Cross Cultural Solutions [11] has projects lasting from one to twelve weeks located in eleven countries. One-week opportunities are the mainstay of Globe Aware [12], which sponsors projects in nine countries. Community development, conservation, and teaching are just a few of the types of projects offered by i-to-i [13] in more than two dozen countries. One unique type of organization is [14], a Non-Profit Franchise run and paid for entirely by volunteers.
People who don’t find what they’re looking for with a sponsoring organization or who have a pet cause or favorite charity can contact the particular group or charity on their own and ask about volunteer vacation opportunities.
Volunteer vacation
Volunteer vacations are an opportunity for people to make a positive difference in the lives of others or to help improve or contribute to society, culture, or the environment while on vacation. It is also a chance for people of nearly any age to immerse themselves in foreign or challenging circumstances, experience a different culture first-hand, and learn more about the world they live in.
According to the Travel Industry Association of America [1] , more than 55 million Americans have participated in a volunteer vacation, and about 100 million more are considering taking one. Volunteer vacations attract people from all walks of life and all age groups—students on break or who take a year off between high school and college, singles, couples, families with young children, and older adults. Despite obvious differences among these people, they typically share a desire to “do something good” while also experiencing new places and challenges in locales they might not otherwise visit.
According to the Travel Industry Association of America [1] , more than 55 million Americans have participated in a volunteer vacation, and about 100 million more are considering taking one. Volunteer vacations attract people from all walks of life and all age groups—students on break or who take a year off between high school and college, singles, couples, families with young children, and older adults. Despite obvious differences among these people, they typically share a desire to “do something good” while also experiencing new places and challenges in locales they might not otherwise visit.
Extreme tourism
Extreme tourism or shock tourism is a type of niche tourism involving travel to dangerous places (mountains, jungles, deserts, caves, etc.) or participation in dangerous events. Extreme tourism overlaps with extreme sport. The two share the main attraction, "adrenaline rush" caused by an element of risk, and differing mostly in the degree of engagement and professionalism.
Extreme tourism is a growing business in the countries of the former Soviet Union (Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, etc.) and in South American countries like Peru, Chile and Argentina. The mountainous and rugged terrain of Northern Pakistan has also developed into a popular extreme tourism location.
While traditional tourism requires significant investments in hotels, roads, etc., extreme tourism requires much less to jump-start a business. In addition to traditional travel-based tourism destinations, various exotic attractions are suggested, such as flyovers in MiGs at 2.5 Mach, ice diving in the White Sea, or travelling across the Chernobyl zone.
Extreme tourism is a growing business in the countries of the former Soviet Union (Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, etc.) and in South American countries like Peru, Chile and Argentina. The mountainous and rugged terrain of Northern Pakistan has also developed into a popular extreme tourism location.
While traditional tourism requires significant investments in hotels, roads, etc., extreme tourism requires much less to jump-start a business. In addition to traditional travel-based tourism destinations, various exotic attractions are suggested, such as flyovers in MiGs at 2.5 Mach, ice diving in the White Sea, or travelling across the Chernobyl zone.
Pilgrimage
In religion and spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or search of great moral significance. Sometimes, it is a journey to a sacred place or shrine of importance to a person's beliefs and faith. Members of every major religion participate in pilgrimages. A person who makes such a journey is called a pilgrim.
Buddhism offers four sites of pilgrimage: the Buddha's birthplace at Kapilavastu, the site where he attained Enlightenment Bodh Gaya, where he first preached at Benares, and where he achieved Parinirvana at Kusinagara.
In the kingdoms of Israel and Judah the visitation of certain ancient cult-centers was repressed in the 7th century BC, when the worship was restricted to Jahweh at the temple in Jerusalem. In Syria, the shrine of Astarte at the headwater spring of the river Adonis survived until it was destroyed by order of Emperor Constantine in the 4th century AD.
In mainland Greece, a stream of individuals made their way to Delphi or the oracle of Zeus at Dodona, and once every four years, at the period of the Olympic games, the temple of Zeus at Olympia formed the goal of swarms of pilgrims from every part of the Hellenic world. When Alexander the Great reached Egypt, he put his whole vast enterprise on hold, while he made his way with a small band deep into the Libyan desert, to consult the oracle of Ammun. During the imperium of his Ptolemaic heirs, the shrine of Isis at Philae received many votive inscriptions from Greeks on behalf of their kindred far away at home.
Although a pilgrimage is normally viewed in the context of religion, the personality cults cultivated by communist leaders ironically gave birth to pilgrimages of their own. Prior to the demise of the USSR in 1991, a visit to Lenin's Mausoleum in Red Square, Moscow can be said to have had all the characteristics exhibiting a pilgrimage — for Communists. This type of pilgrimage to a personality cult is still evident today on people who pay visits of homage to Mao Tse Tung, Kim Il Sung, and Ho Chi Minh.
Buddhism offers four sites of pilgrimage: the Buddha's birthplace at Kapilavastu, the site where he attained Enlightenment Bodh Gaya, where he first preached at Benares, and where he achieved Parinirvana at Kusinagara.
In the kingdoms of Israel and Judah the visitation of certain ancient cult-centers was repressed in the 7th century BC, when the worship was restricted to Jahweh at the temple in Jerusalem. In Syria, the shrine of Astarte at the headwater spring of the river Adonis survived until it was destroyed by order of Emperor Constantine in the 4th century AD.
In mainland Greece, a stream of individuals made their way to Delphi or the oracle of Zeus at Dodona, and once every four years, at the period of the Olympic games, the temple of Zeus at Olympia formed the goal of swarms of pilgrims from every part of the Hellenic world. When Alexander the Great reached Egypt, he put his whole vast enterprise on hold, while he made his way with a small band deep into the Libyan desert, to consult the oracle of Ammun. During the imperium of his Ptolemaic heirs, the shrine of Isis at Philae received many votive inscriptions from Greeks on behalf of their kindred far away at home.
Although a pilgrimage is normally viewed in the context of religion, the personality cults cultivated by communist leaders ironically gave birth to pilgrimages of their own. Prior to the demise of the USSR in 1991, a visit to Lenin's Mausoleum in Red Square, Moscow can be said to have had all the characteristics exhibiting a pilgrimage — for Communists. This type of pilgrimage to a personality cult is still evident today on people who pay visits of homage to Mao Tse Tung, Kim Il Sung, and Ho Chi Minh.
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