News in Brief: Monday June 24

News in Brief: Monday June 24
By admin


The number of passengers travelling between Melbourne and Sydney, Australia's busiest route, climbed almost 4% to 670,000 in April compared to the previous year, according to latest figures.

Brisbane to Sydney saw 1.2% growth to 360,000, but numbers between Brisbane and Melbourne fell 5.4% to 250,000.

Gold Coast to Sydney and Melbourne to Perth, the fourth and fifth busiest routes, saw strong growth of 9.8% and 11.1% respectively.

The sharpest growth was seen between Newman and Perth (55%), Hobart-Melbourne (17.3%), Hobart-Sydney (22.6%), Melbourne-Sunshine Coast (23.3%) and Launceston-Sydney (41.1%).

 

Insight Vacations is offering savings of 10% on its entire range of escorted tours. Bookings of the Grand Canadian Rockies and Alaska Cruise or Best of Eastern Canada and USA made before July 31 will also receive a free nights accommodation before the tour.

 

The five star Tadrai Island Resort in Fiji has introduced its first special offer since opening in 2011.

The pay four, stay five deal is available for bookings made before July 12 for travel until March 31 2014.

 

Tourism New Zealand has announced it will fly an Australian same sex couple to New Zealand for a marriage ceremony to promote the day that the legislation change comes into force.

A national search will see the couple married on August 19 and the competition will begin on June 24.

"We are excited to be making history and working with one lucky same-sex couple to become the very first from Australia to be married here in New Zealand," Tourism New Zealand general manager Australia Tim Burgess said.

 

Globus has launched a 10-day British Colombia Wildlife Safari for 2014 with earlybird savings of 10% on all tours featured in the wholesaler's new US and Canada program.

The safari is one of three new itineraries in the brochure with the earlybird offers available on all tours booked 12 months or more before departure.

Other new tours are the 10-day Discover Glacier National Parks, Hella Canyon and Washington Wine Country itinerary and a nine-day Wonders of the Maritimes and Scenic Cape Breton.

"Our current year is one of our best ever in North America, with sales up 23% on the same time last year," Globus marketing manager Christian Schweitzer said.

 

Scenic Tours will sponsor the Wimbledon broadcast to air on Channel seven tonight. The sponsorship will support the launch of their 2014 European river cruises brochure.

 

Tempo Holidays has offered $250 off the December departure of the Romantic Christmas Markets Getaway tour in Germany if booked before July 15.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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