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Australia remains a well-liked place to vacation; with ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) data released these days revealing 1.6 million overseas tourists during first quarter of year2012. In spite of the high Australian dollar as well as continued weak financial backdrop in major regions, there has been a 4.1 % increase in arrivals as compared to first quarter of year 2011.

In the initial quarter of recent year, nearly 200,000 people traveled from China, an increase of 10.7 %.  Martin Ferguson AM MP, The Minister for Tourism said that, the consequences were encouraging, particularly in the current climate. In spite of the devastation of previous year’s Japanese tsunami, they have seen Japanese tourist arrivals rise 5.8 % to 98,000 in the first quarter of year 2012.

Turia Pitt and Kate Sanderson endured burns covering over 60 % of their bodies as running in the 100 kliometer race in the Kimberley region in Western Australia in last September. Organized by Hong Kong firm Racing The Planet, ultra marathon was stepped on a course between Kununurra, El Questro Wilderness Park and Gibb River Road.

A parliamentary investigation is investigating whether additional could have been carried out to stop the joggers being burnt as well as the extent of the sponsorship of the state government of the race through Tourism Western Australia. Kim Hames, Tourism Minister has earlier stated in the parliament that it was “private event on private land" however on Wednesday admitted to the investigation that 15 % of the course was on public land.

More travelers will hopefully gather to Australian destinations as industry officials declared recently a long-range tourism blueprint planned to lure more tourists into the country.

Andrew McEvoy, Tourism Australia chief executive unveiled in recent times that the forging of a contract with his firm, the Department of Resources and the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade), Energy and Tourism (DRET) that targets to ramp up the marketing of the nation as an attractive visitor spot.

Tourism Australia, the federal government and Austrade have grouped up to attract foreign and domestic financiers, hoping to invest in tourism developments in the country.

Declared in Melbourne recently, the tourism venture project has accumulated a folio of seventy five tourism projects in Australia which require investment.Government expects that this will assist achieve its target of increasing the rate of tourism from its present $70 billion per year to $140 billion per year by year 2020.

The SATC (South Australian Tourism Commission) has come under trouble for paying celebrities to tweets about the Kangaroo Island which is as part of their social media marketing plan.

As per the Australian media study program Media Watch, South Australia Tourism was paying Australian celebrities like singer Shannon Noll, TV celebrity Sophie Falkiner and Chef Matt Moran near about $750 to make posts about the tourist destination on Twitter.

Noll, Australian Idol runner-up, who is presently showing on Dancing with the Stars show, posted on twitter on March 27 that, "All this moving as well as dancing training! He thinks he needs a break! He heard about Kangaroo Island is overwhelming.

Tourism Australia has confirmed that, it will reveals the next stage of its worldwide advertising campaign in the China – highest and fastest value visitor market of the Australia. The simplified creative, includes a new broadcast advertisement, which will be shown first in the Shanghai in the starteing of June.

Andrew McEvoy, Tourism Australia Managing Director said that, the true success and real test of any advertising campaign is how it executes with customers in key global markets. New creative campaign will be first revealed in China however roll out to 25 countries in 17 different languages as well as carry on the globally successful there is not like Australia pitch.