Posted on 12/20/2005 7:30:21 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
SYDNEY's racial violence has not scared off American tourists from visiting Australia over the Christmas holiday period, the head of a major US tourism company said today.
Britain, Canada and Indonesia have cautioned their residents to be alert if in Sydney, particularly around some beach areas where the recent violence erupted. Ian Swain, the founder of Philadelphia-based Swain Tours, has about 800 Americans booked to travel to Australia over the next few weeks and not one has cancelled citing fears about the problems that have erupted on Sydney's southern beaches.
"Not one," the Australian-born opertor who has specialised in offering Americans trips to Australia for the past 17 years said.
"We haven't heard anything negative from any of our clients."
When news broke about the violence in Australia, Mr Swain instructed his staff to call their Australia-bound clients to fill them in on the situation, but he said most of the Americans had not heard about the unrest.
The first time they learnt about the violence was when his staff called.
The American media has covered the riots, but it has not been front page news and only snippets appeared on TV news bulletins.
Mr Swain said he wanted to ensure his clients did not learn about the tensions for the first time while they were sitting on their Qantas plane watching the inflight TV news bulletin.
"We have been proactive and actually calling our clients to tell them they may read or hear about these things, but it is quite isolated in the southern suburbs of Sydney," Mr Swain said.
"I think as long as you put their minds at ease, they are fine about it.
"It's the unknown that could be disturbing.
"I wouldn't want them to get on the plane and watch the news on their Qantas flight."
In 2005 Swain Tours organised trips to Australia for 11,000 American clients with each trip costing an average of $US4,800 ($A6,548).
I've always had my suspicions about you...what are you, a Collingwood supporter? :)
I beg your pardon? How dare you? :)
It comes from spending six years at boarding school. A cheap, highly nutritious food... you either come to absolute love what they feed you or absolutely loathe it. There's no middle ground.
THAT'S the difference. I only did two years at boarding school. I'm still very fond of Vegemite. Loathe Collingwood, though...
Well, gentlemen, I won't step into the middle of an internal battle over vegemite. This is purely an Aussie domestic issue and foreign interference would be inappropriate. But I'll say again, there is no country I have more enjoyed visiting. Pure joy. The Great Ocean Road alone is worth the eternal flight from the US.
Yeah, The Great Ocean Road is really something, isn't it?
I just love it!!!
I've been over visiting four times....
and for me Melbourne wins hands down over Sydney.
I was especially put off when the tour guide to the Blue Mountains told us that Sydney was surpassing San Francisco as the gay/lesbian capital of the world. That's their choice... I just don't care to be there! (This was in '99)
And about those 'tropical rain forests'... call 'em what they are - JUNGLES!!!! Sheesh! Leeches.... bloody big leeches.... lots of them... yuck!
Victoria Market.... great fun time. Almost as good as the central market in Budapest.
An to sit on a hillside overlooking Apollo Bay and the Great Ocean road on a sunny morning....
In my neck of the woods we're always looking for a good fight. :-)
MY old GF loved the stuff. I could only choke it down when it was along side very cold beer.
The jar of Vegemite was thrown away the same day she moved out!
The fact that people in Sydney are fighting back is something most Americans approve of
There is no doubt I like Melbourne more. Sydney is a bit bland . But the questions is, how do we deal with the rich leftists living in the inner CBD regions and Fitzroy?
We don't have THAT many mosques in Australia. Dozens, yes - but nowhere near "Hundreds".
I wouldn't be scared, but I wouldn't let my women go out uncovered, or without a male relative in attendance. THAT could be dangerous.
YEah, California is just about as bad as France, aren't they. Not being sarcastic, I'm dead serious.
Are you kidding? Most Americans absolutely LOVE our Aussie friends. The Aussies have stood beside us in some of the toughest fights in the world. If anything, I suspect that there would be an increase in "tourists" if only for the chance to stand beside you now.
An to sit on a hillside overlooking Apollo Bay and the Great Ocean road on a sunny morning....
We find it's important to have someone to ridicule!
As am I.
Make them full litter boxes..
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