FED: Regions expecting bumper Christmas/New Year

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-2001
FED: Regions expecting bumper Christmas/New Year

Tourism operators in regional Australia are expecting a bumper Christmas/New Year period
fuelled by an exodus from the major cities.

A survey conducted by domestic tourism marketing organisation SeeAustralia shows the
regions have become the bright spot in the industry in a tough last half of 2001.

SeeAustralia chief executive GRAHAM PERRY says surveys show almost 70 per cent of all
Australians plan to take a break and travel over the holiday period.

He says with 82 per cent of all holidays involving a car, feedback suggests most reservations
are from capital cities, within driving distance of the holiday hot spots.

Mr PERRY says after September 11 and the collapse of Ansett, many Australians postponed
their plans to travel -- particularly in October.

But since then domestic tourism has witnessed a dramatic recovery.

AAP RTV ch/jhm/dl/rp

KEYWORD: TOURISM REGIONS (BRISBANE)

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