In our regular market update, we look at how the Olympic Games being held in Sydney, Australia are boosting interest in the destination.

In our regular market update, we look at how the Olympic Games being held in Sydney, Australia are boosting interest in the destination.

TRAVELagents are predicting a surge of interest in Australia as a result of the Olympic Games, currently being held in Sydney.

Jackie Ross, senior consultant at Young’s Travel in Hornchurch, Essex said: “There seems to be more interest in Australia. We have started to get calls for people wanting to travel after the Olympics.”

Linda Dixon, manager at Portland Travel in Hove agreed. “We are expecting demand for Australia to increase. The more it is on our screens the more people will think of going there.”

A Thomas Cook consultant from Hull described bookings to Australia as “steady” but expected an increase once the games come to an end. “A lot of people have stayed away during the Olympics because of capacity problems but we expect to see quite a few more people travelling, especially from November when summertime begins,” she said. Package deals that are currently available include two week room-only stays in Sydney during October for under £1,000 and flight-only deals in November for £650.

The most popular long-haul destination for both lates and spring 2001 however continues to be the US with agents reporting sales to places like Florida, Los Angeles and weekends away and New York up by 15%.