Australia’s popular tourist attractions
Posted July 15, 2009 , add a commentOverview of Australia Tourism:
Australia is amongst the most popular tourism places of the world, attracting tourists
especially for beach and adventure tourism. Lying in the Indian and Pacific
Oceans, it is one of the smallest continents of the world but is highly
urbanized, drawing a large number of tourists each year. Australia
offers a variety of tourist attractions and getaway options. It’s a country of
contrast and is known for its amazing natural wonders and open spaces. Australia
is one of the wealthiest
countries with unlimited tourism attractions.
The most popular cities of Australia are, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane,
Canberra, Perth, Hobart and Adelaide.
Climate of Australia:
Australia is mainly a desert area where over 35% of its land is covered with
sand dunes. It is a large island continent lying in the southern hemisphere and
has several climate zones. Overall, the northern part of Australia enjoys a
tropical climate whereas the southern part of Australia has a temperate climate.
Visa Requirement for Australia:
If you are not an Australian or New Zealand passport
holder you will need a visa to enter Australia. Official site
www.immi.gov.au will have the latest information on visa.
Popular Tourist Attractions - Australia Tourism
The Great Barrier Reef:
Located on the north-east coast of Australia, it is one of the most popular tourist
attractions of Australia. It is the world’s largest coral reef
system stretching for 2,000 km and covers an area of about 350,000 sq km. It
has been recognized as a unique area of outstanding value to mankind and a jewel
in the crown of the world’s natural wonders. It’s a true wonder of the world and
an amazing place to see during your Australia tourism getaway. The reef consists
of more than 20000 individual reefs and 600 Islands with world class
accommodation options including beachside mansions and waterfront resorts.
The Great Ocean Road:
Amongst the most spectacular scenic ocean drives in the world. It was built
between 1919 and 1932 as a memorial to the Australian soldiers who gave their
lives in World War one. The Twelve Apostles of Australia, lake Corangamite and
the Princess Margaret Rose caves are some of the must see places here.
Kakadu National Park:
The national park is a World Heritage site and the largest national park in
Australia, it is
a perfect place for adventure tourism. The Kakadu National Park includes the whole of the South Alligator River, which is
home to a large crocodile population along with other habitats including heathland, eucalyptus woods and rainforest.
Noosa:
Noosa is situated on the southern coast of Laguna Bay, about 140 km north of
Brisbane and has a population of about 35,000. The tropical ambience, sparkling
waters, pristine beaches, scenic hinterland and lush rain forests make Noosa a
popular travel destination and a must see for people who come to enjoy Australia
tourism. The beauty of this place is so popular that some of the big celebrities
including movie stars have their vacation homes here.
The Whitsunday Islands:
These are 74 islands floating like jewels in the tropical warm waters of Coral Sea fringed by magnificent reef formations. These islands lie just off
of
Queensland’s coast and are perfectly situated for exploring one of the great
marvels in the world, the Great Barrier Reef.
Uluru:
Uluru also known as Ayers Rock is a large sandstone formation in central
Australia and is amongst the popular tourist attractions of Australia. It is an enormous monolithic rock that rises majestically out of
nowhere. Uluru is listed as a World Heritage Site for its natural and cultural
values and consists of several water springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient
paintings. Uluru is also famous for changing colors from sunrise to sunset.
It is its this beauty that draws almost half a million of tourists towards it
every year.
Yarra Valley:
This famous Australian tourism location is known for its wineries, national parks, wildlife, gourmet restaurants,
antique shops, forests, mountains, world class food along with its natural
beauty. This is a beautiful and charming countryside area with eucalyptus
forests, splendid countryside, small villages and gardens. Yarra Valley is located at a mere one hour drive from Melbourne and is Victoria’s
most visited wine area.
Byron Bay
With its numerous beaches, unspoiled hinterland, and relaxed lifestyle, Byron
Bay is a popular tourist destination in Australia. It is a gorgeous 30 km
stretch of sandy beaches with a small town of the same name at one end.
The climate of Byron Bay is sub-tropical with warm days in both Summers and
Winters and quite a high rainfall giving rise to beautiful stretches of coastal
rainforest.
Mornington Peninsula - Australia
Tourism
Morning Peninsula is located on the eastern side of Port Phillip Bay just an hour drive from
Melbourne. Some of Australia’s best sandy beaches are here with a variety of
water activities including sailing, fishing, surfing, scuba diving and swimming
with the dolphins and seals. Along with its bay beaches Mornington
Peninsula is also famous for its wines especially Chardonnay and Pinot.
Sydney
Sydney is a beautiful city and its fabulous location lifts it to a position where it
is a genuine contender for the title of - “the world’s most beautiful city”. This
cosmopolitan city is surrounded by iconic beaches, World Heritage areas,
lush hinterland and acclaimed wine regions. It is one of the most popular
tourist attraction of Australia. The harbour of Sydney is one of the most
beautiful harbours in the world with its best views at night.
The Blue Mountains
It’s a natural wonderland of untamed bush, spectacular rock formations and
fascinating Australian wildlife & birdlife and is a very popular tourist
attraction of Australia. The great dividing range stretches
right up to the east of Australia from Melbourne in the south to Crains in the
north. The area closest to Sydney is known as the Blue Mountains. Blue
Mountains offers a tempting combination of breathtaking natural beauty, fine
restaurants and romantic accommodation options within two hours drive from
Sydney.
Rottnest Island
It is situated in the Indian Ocean, close to Perth and is home to some of the
worlds most crystal clear beaches and bays. It is a first Class Reserve with
amazing coral reefs, crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches and it’s own
unique wildlife, including the Quokka, indigenous marsupial related to the
wallaby family. Rottnest Island is not only among the popular tourist
attractions but also a unique one in Australia tourism.
Wineglass Bay, Tasmania
Tasmania is also home to one of the 10 most beautiful beaches of the world,
known as Wineglass Bay. The bay’s perfect curve of white sand, the blue sea and
skies form a stunning picture with a breathtaking view.
Cradle Mountain- Australia
Tourism
This famous Australia tourism location is a mountain in the “Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park”.
The mountain is composed of dolerite columns, similar to many of the other
mountains in the area. It is a craggy peak that was formed by glaciers and forms
a stunning backdrop to the lovely Dove lake that lies below it.
Mt William National Park
It lies in the north east corner of Tasmania, Australia. Bay of Fires is
the local name for the unparalleled coastline that is found here. The
internationally recognized Bay of Fires is situated between Eddystone Point and
Binalong Bay and is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Tasmania.
Islands Of Australia:
Ashmore Island, Bruny Island, Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cococs Islands,
Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island, Lord Howe Island, McDonald Islands, Macquaire
Island, Norfolk Island.
Rainbow Beaches Around The World
Posted July 14, 2009 , add a commentBeaches not only come in all shapes, sizes, and textures, they come in a virtual rainbow of colors. Most beach fans know that sand color can range from pale cream to golden to caramel, but few realize that in select places around the world, sands can be red, brown, pink, orange, gold, purple, green, and even black! Continue reading 'Rainbow Beaches Around The World'
Karma Goes Social
Posted , add a comment) The Karma Group’s Creative Director, Clinton Albuquerque states, “Traditional marketing and PR weren’t providing the immediacy and specific target marketing that we required. We wanted to engage our audience on a regular basis and increase our brand awareness through the latest online channels.”
Social media marketing has become recognized as a key driver of brand affinity and brand awareness in the travel industry. Through increasingly popular channels such as TripAdvisor, companies are finding that they can make a personal connection with someone who has expressed an interest in their brand. These connections are two-way dialogues rather than a one-way marketing “push.” Mr. Albuquerque adds, “social media is a breakthrough marketing channel. We can now listen and interact with people, not just broadcast to them. It allows us to tailor our content to match their individual interests. Moreover, the feedback we obtain from these conversations helps us make our product better and more responsive to our target markets.”
Many industry insiders believe that social media is the future for the travel industry. Ric Shreves of water&stone notes, “the travel industry, more than any other I know of, benefits from word of mouth and viral marketing. Travellers trust what other travellers tell them, and photo and video sharing sites tap right into human nature, where seeing is believing.”
Karma Resorts is expanding rapidly. The Group currently operates two oceanfront luxury resorts on Bali’s dramatic southern peninsula and another in Koh Samui, Thailand, all of them earning industry accolades, including membership of the Leading Small Hotels of the World. Development is now underway on two new luxury villa resorts. Karma Margaret River celebrates the idyllic charms of this famous winemaking region in Western Australia, while Karma Agung, named after the sacred volcano that rears skyward behind it, spills down a hillside on Bali’s magical eastern coast. Exquisite new luxury villa resorts will soon unfold in Palawan (Philippines), Langkawi (Malaysia), Lombok (Indonesia), Fiji, Goa & Kerala (India) and Mykonos (Greece), putting Karma Resorts at the vanguard of 21st century global luxury living.
By creating a custom social media marketing campaign, the Group hopes to continue to engage their target markets and keep them more in tune with the rapid changes that happening within the resorts. To manage and execute their social media marketing efforts, Karma Resorts retained water&stone and ClearWhiteSpace. It was water&stone and ClearWhiteSpace who launched Bali’s first social media marketing services in May of this year. Clinton adds “The team at water&stone and ClearWhiteSpace have the technical expertise and the market experience to interpret and deliver our message in a fashion we trust. We also liked the idea that they are a local firm with whom we can work to tailor our social media marketing campaign and be proactive in reaching our target audience.”
About Karma Resorts
The Karma Resorts Group owns and operates luxury resorts.
About water&stone (the publisher)
water&stone is a boutique web design and online marketing agency. The firm specializes in the implementation of open source technologies and search marketing.
About ClearWhiteSpace:
ClearWhiteSpace is a creative marketing agency based in Bali.
For More Information:
Karma Resorts: http://www.karmaresorts.com
For more information about Karma Resorts, including links to the various resorts operated worldwide.
water&stone: http://www.waterandstone.com
For more information about water&stone, including company profile, portfolio and client list.
ClearWhiteSpace: http://www.clearwhitespace.com
For more information about CWS, including company profile, portfolio and client list.
Qantas launches Promotion in Singapore
Posted , add a commentQantas is offering travellers departing
Singapore the chance to fly to eight cities around the world from
just Sin$498. The promotion is only available until 17 July 2009,
with special fares to Australia, India and Europe.
Return trips to travel hotspots in Europe, including Frankfurt and
London, are available from Sin$1330 and Sin$1510 respectively. Travel
to Europe is valid from 1 September to 19 November 2009.
Travellers looking for a unique Asia travel experience can take a
trip to India, Mumbai, from just Sin$570. Embrace Australian
hospitality by visiting Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and
Adelaide, with fares from as low as Sin$498. Travel to destinations
in Australia and India is valid from 1 August to 31 August 2009.
Prices
quoted above are valid for return economy air travel, from
Singapore to selected destinations and include taxes and
surcharges. Other terms and conditions apply.
Travelport GDS appoints Linda Kelly-Smith as Product Manager
Posted , add a commentTravelport GDS has appointed Linda Kelly-Smith
to the role of Product Manager – Mid-Back Office Solutions.
Linda, who was most recently employed as
Sabre Pacific’s online manager, will be responsible for driving
the ongoing development of Travelport’s suite of mid-back office
products.
In addition to sales, product and marketing
strategy for the online channel, Linda also possesses a broad
range of experience in the travel technology sector. She has held
senior roles in product development, sales and business
development at various companies, including Tramada Systems.
With a particular focus on agency workflow and
the mid-back office space, Linda will help to drive the
development of Travelport’s mid-back office suite of products –
including its CrossCheck Travel Enterprise solution, which has
evolved to become one of the most widely used mid-back office
systems in Australia and New Zealand, with over 900 agency users.
Linda will take the lead in the product
team in identifying new market opportunities, meeting user
requirements and delivering increased value to customers.
Linda will commence her new role at Travelport
GDS in mid-August 2009.