[Busman747]

Originally Posted by talentedbutslow

Brits keen to head Down Under: poll

Wednesday Jun 7 05:52 AEST

Young British travellers know where the bloody hell Australia is and they can't want to come here, a poll finds.
According to the survey, conducted by guidebook publisher Lonely Planet, Australia beat the US, New Zealand, India, Italy and even popular holiday destinations Spain and Thailand as the next country young British travellers most want to visit.
Tourism Australia managing director Scott Morrison said the results of the survey were "welcome news" for Australia, following the recent "So where the bloody hell are you?" campaign.
"Young travellers are a key, high-yield market, with their high dispersal and length of stay delivering immediate economic benefit to regional, rural and remote communities around Australia," Mr Morrison said in a statement.
"We will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure that these young people continue to make Australia their number one destination in the world."
Mr Morrison said an expansion to the range of industries where backpackers could work to qualify for a visa extension, announced last year by Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone, was having a major positive effect on Australian tourism

Is this "Damage Limitation?"

According to the press over the past few years, Australia is more dangerous to back packers than a stroll through Blackburn or Burnley on a saturday night! I just can't imagine that many young people prefer Australia to the States, New Zealand or Thailand.