Tasmania is planning to move its European representation office to the UK by the end of the year, after seeing a 24% increase in leisure visitors from Britain in the year ending June 30 1999.
The 24% increase, to 18,000 visitors, follows a 23% rise the previous year, according to regional manager UK and Europe David Phillips.
“We have been doing very well now for two years,” said Phillips. “There are a lot of repeat visitors to Australia who are looking for something different to see. Tasmania appeals because it is small, so people can travel around easily, and it is very safe.”
Presently based in Frankfurt, Germany, Tasmania is now keen for Phillips to move to the UK, which contributes half of Tasmania’s total of European visitors. Phillips said tourism to the island will be helped this year by an increase in both frequency and capacity on air routes from the Australian mainland.
Kendall Airlines is doubling frequency on the routes from Melbourne that it is about to take over from sister carrier Ansett Australia.
It will be offering up to eight return flights a day on the Melbourne-Launceston service, which starts next month, and up to 10 a day from Melbourne to Hobart starting in early 2000. Phillips said Kendall will also be flying Ansett’s routes from Sydney and Adelaide into Tasmania.
n Work has starting on renovating a narrow-gauge steam railway that once carried copper ore from Queenstown to Strahan. Phillips said the first section of the ABT Railway will open in late 2000.