THE AUSTRALIAN Tourist Commission is predicting a 10% increase in international tourism arrivals next year as a direct result of hosting the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
ATCmanaging director John Morse said: “People will know much more about this country as a direct result of the Olympics. When you add to this the fact we have 80 flights a week from the UK, air fares are at 1970s levels and the pound is strong against the dollar, we have reason to be very optimistic about tourism from the UK.”
The Games are expected to generate an additional 815,000 international visitors for Australia, but the long-term impact could be even greater with an estimated 1.6m additional tourists visiting the country in the seven years after the event.
Publicity surrounding the Olympics, a favourable exchange rate and competitive air fares is expected to help Australia double its UK tourism arrivals to 1m in the next eight years.
However, some UK operators are concerned about the short-term impact of the Games on their business to Australia.
Jetset Europe managing director John Bond said: “We had to delay the launch of our Australia brochure by one month due to last-minute pricing by hotels. There’s also a nervousness about whether there will be sufficient flight capacity.”
Bond said Sydney hoteliers had increased their rates by an average 8%-12% for 2000 and further increases could not be ruled out as the Games approached.