Cost-of-living concerns impacting Aussie travel plans
After rebounding from the pandemic, the travel industry is facing further setbacks as holidaymakers face cost-of-living concerns.
tourism
Business conditions still strong, but confidence waning
Business conditions remain firmly in positive territory despite successive interest rate rises, although sentiment in the community has dived.
Tourists escape to the country as budgets tighten
Albury has been named Aussie Town of the Year as Australians look to the regions for cheap and cheerful holidays away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
China COVID testing travel requirements to be scrapped
Travellers to Australia from China will no longer need to prove a negative COVID-19 test, following the scrapping of testing requirements.
Floods an ongoing torment for regional tourism
Almost 70 per cent of Australians will avoid taking a regional holiday this year due to rain and flood risks, according to a nationwide poll.
Researchers on the trail of deadly micro jellyfish
Scientists at Queensland's James Cook University have uncovered more clues towards solving the mystery of where juvenile Irukandji jellyfish live.
Passengers stranded for hours as flight diverted to NT
A flight from Bangkok to Melbourne was diverted to Alice Springs after a medical emergency, with passengers stuck on the plane for more than six hours.
Qantas turns profitable again amid travel rebound
Qantas has reported a first-half underlying pre-tax profit of $1.43 billion - turning around last year's loss - as strong demand helped offset high fuel costs.
Big Pineapple has court win over disputed $5.5m debt
The company behind The Big Pineapple has won a temporary victory in a dispute with one investor who wants to have the Queensland tourist attraction sold off.
Regional summer tourist spend tops pre-COVID levels
Spending in the regions during the summer holidays has topped pre-pandemic levels, NAB says, but people are still struggling under cost-of-living pressures.
Qld tour company fined after boys drown on school trip
A Queensland tour company has been fined $250,000 after two Japanese schoolboys drowned when their school group visited K'gari (Fraser Island).
Pick-your-own adventure as sunflower season blooms
While commercial sunflower crops are grown for oils and stock feed, some farmers are finding fun in the field as Australia's eastern states burst into bloom.
Councils take reins on holiday rental regulation
A Victorian council has introduced an annual fee for short-term rental operators and says the sector is not a priority for state and federal government.
It’s a bumper summer for Qld tourism
Queensland tourism operators are enjoying a booming domestic holiday season, but international numbers are still below pre-pandemic levels.
Qld boosts pregnancy services in Gladstone
A major Queensland hospital's maternity unit will operate 24 hours a day from January 30, but the state government says full birthing services are months away.
Melbourne the top destination for tourists
Domestic tourism has bounced back to above pre-COVID-19 levels and Melbourne has been the biggest beneficiary of increased visitors.
Tourism campaign spruiks regional NSW
NSW is spruiking its 890 national parks as premium travel destinations in a bid to help regional communities affected by bushfires, floods and the pandemic.
Qld rejects tourist levy, mulls park fees
The Queensland government is considering changing fees for national parks as part of its tourism plan ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games.
Moscow steps up assault in east Ukraine
Russia pressed on with a fierce military offensive in eastern Ukraine as Kyiv called for a travel ban on Russians.
$3 million Koala research grant used on “Steel Taipain” rollercoaster at Dreamworld
Almost $3 million of taxpayer money for a koala research centre has been 'repurposed' to build a rollercoaster at a Queensland theme park.
Ag minister heads to Indonesia over FMD
Australia's agriculture minister will head to Jakarta for high-level government talks about Indonesia's response to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
Indebted Qld resort manager jailed
A 67-year-old man has been jailed after taking almost $220,000 from a trust account over two years from 2017 to pay a Queensland resort's business expenses.
Post-pandemic tourism rakes in $18 billion for Queensland
Queensland is leading Australia's tourism industry out of the COVID-19 downturn with domestic visitors staying longer and spending more in the Sunshine State.
Qld mulls taxes on tourists, park visitors
The Queensland government is considering an expert panel's proposal for taxes to be imposed on tourists and national parks visitors.
Aust cruise ship key in Vanuatu jab race
As Vanuatu prepares to reopen on July 1, an Australian cruise ship refitted as a floating vaccine clinic is racing to get to the country's remote islands.
Mirvac sues to evict Travelodge lessee
Mirvac is suing the lessee of 10 Travelodge hotels in the NSW Supreme Court, seeking an eviction prior to a scheduled sale of the properties.
Qantas to launch Sydney to London and New York non-stop in 2025
Qantas is buying a fleet of long-range, wide-body Airbus planes to service non-stop flights from Australia's east coast to London, Paris and New York.
First cruise ship docks in Aust since 2020
P&O Australia's Pacific Explorer has become the first cruise liner to dock in Australia since a ban triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
Australian airports swamped over Easter
Airports around the country are dealing with their busiest day in two years as tens of thousands of travellers take to the skies for the Easter long weekend.
Tasmania in no rush to allow cruise ships
The Tasmanian government has indicated it is in no hurry to welcome back international cruise ships, despite the imminent end of a federal ban on the vessels.
Scenic flyers didn’t think about emissions
People who took sightseeing flights during the pandemic, needlessly generating greenhouse gas emissions, have told researchers how they justified it.