Tourism Queensland (Australia) has
unveiled "The Great Sunshine Way," a new touring route geared towards
drive tourism. The route will link key southern Queensland
regions, including the Gold Coast, Brisbane, the
SunshineCoast,
the FraserCoast
and the southern country areas of Queensland.
Hotel packages haven't yet been created to accompany the drive route, although
discussions are underway.
Other Australian travel trends were highlighted by WendyHills,
manager of Australian experiences for Tourism Australia, and ecotourism was high
on the list. Hills noted that in 2006, 15 percent of international visitors to Australia
included an ecotourism component in their visit. Other important markets
included food and wine; and spa, health and wellbeing. The number of
international visitors including a spa visit in their travels in Australia more
than doubled in 2006, reaching a total of 109,000. Hills referred to one
important market as the "learning aspect of travel." Hills described
these visitors as, "Looking to learn new information, obtain fresh
insights and to experience and participate in the life and culture of Australia."