All Smiles As Perth Annies Step Up

As the two Perth girls playing the red-headed heroine in the musical Annie know all too well, you are never fully dressed without a smile.

It was fun and games when Lilli De Nardi, 11, and Claudia Fitzgerald, 10, tried on their costumes for the first time.

Clowning around with pooch Dudley, standing in as the character's furry friend Sandy, the alternating Annies wore the chirpy child's 1930s orphanage uniform and the party dress she wears to celebrate her adoption by benevolent billionaire Oliver Warbucks.

"Wearing the curly wig for the first time was kind of weird," Claudia said.

Claudia, Lilli and 16 other Perth "orphans" have been rehearsing five days a week but were still doing their schoolwork, Claudia said.

"It has been good learning new stuff but sometimes it's been tough keeping on your American accent because some words are really hard to pronounce," she said.

Annie opens at the Burswood Theatre on August 24.

Retirees And Chinese Students New Tourism Workers

EARLY retirees, Chinese students and indigenous Australians will be targeted as employees in a plan to boost often-criticised service standards in the tourism industry. 

Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson also wants to facilitate greater foreign investment in Australian tourism, train local tourism operators to be more digital savvy and improve the quality of accommodation, particularly in regional areas.

Mr Ferguson said the strength of the economy and the resources boom made it hard for the tourism industry to compete for workers.

"The rates of pay are just way beyond tourism operators,'' he said.
"A lot of them are small and medium sized businesses going from week to week.

"You have a pool of Australians out there who are work ready - people who have retired early and the share market is down.

"We have to start to think about employing these people in a variety of positions.''

Mr Ferguson also wants to see a greater focus on indigenous tourism in Australia, with subsidies for the training and employment of indigenous people.

"We have a huge potential workforce which we have neglected for a variety of reasons,'' he said.

With China the fastest-growing market for Australian tourism, Mr Ferguson also sees an opportunity to recruit Chinese students living in Australia, who are permitted to work up to 20 hours a week as part of their visa conditions, to the tourism industry.

Despite the challenges of the strong Australian dollar and economic uncertainty in the US and Europe, there was a five per cent rise in overseas visitors over the past financial year.

The biggest rise was in Chinese tourists, up 17 per cent over the year to more than 580,000 visitors.

It is now the third largest source market, closely behind the UK.

While Australians are taking a record number of overseas holidays, domestic tourism is also up.

The most recent National Visitor Survey showed Australians took 73 million overnight trips in the year to March - a five per cent rise on the previous year.

The biggest growth is in the short breaks market, with Australians choosing longer resort holidays in destinations such as Bali and Thailand and long weekends away in Australia.

"You can't say to Australians 'you can't go overseas','' Mr Ferguson said.

"But the short breaks market is just as important.''

While he agrees with businessman James Packer that Chinese tourists are attracted by casinos, Mr Ferguson believes they will also come to see natural attractions.

"The development of the Chinese market is no different to the development of the Japanese market - initially it will be group travel and they will come here for a few days and be attracted to the major cities,'' he said.

"Then they will start venturing off and over time they will want to go and do something themselves.''

Mr Ferguson said he was pleased with Mr Packer's announcement of plans for a luxury hotel in Perth, and wanted to see similar investment in other states.

He said Australian tourism needed to chase foreign investment in tourism attractions and hotels.

"We haven't done enough in the past to promote Australia as a good place for investment,'' he said.

"We have high occupancy rates and not bad tariffs. You only have to go places like Perth to see how much it costs for a night.''

As well as becoming more digitally savvy, Mr Ferguson said Australian businesses could also cater more to the Chinese market by adapting shopping hours to suit Chinese tourists, who love taking gifts home to family and friends.

He admitted some tourist attractions and was tired - particularly in regional areas - and wants to help improve standards through funding grants.

"I travel a lot in Australia and the accommodation quality is variable, but I have seen some improvements,'' he said.

"We're not just about increased numbers - we're also about high yield tourists.''

Mr Ferguson said high-end tourist attractions and resorts like Saffire Freycinet in Tasmania and Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island in South Australia were especially attractive to high yield tourists.

"The Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart is a primary example... visitation to MONA is now higher than Port Arthur but they're working in partnership to try to help one another,'' he said.

Relax Visa Rules For Tourists From Developing Countries, Says UN

AUSTRALIA needs to relax its strict visa requirements for visitors from developing countries if it wants to boost tourism and effectively target the emerging giants of China and India. 

UN World Tourism Organisation secretary-general Taleb Rifai yesterday said there was no evidence that tough entry conditions on tourists were necessary to protect security, and Australia and other developed countries needed to ease their regimes.

"Visas are becoming a real nightmare," Mr Rifai told a tourism conference in Melbourne.

"It is not reasonable to still see long lines, very cumbersome, uneasy, complicated, lengthy, overpriced entry formalities all over the world, particularly facing nationals from countries that are rising and countries that are providing the base for future incoming tourists.

"There is no evidence to establish that there are close and very strong links between visas and security issues."

Chinese and Indian visitors have provided the greatest annual growth to tourism numbers over the past decade but face a number of bureaucratic hurdles to come here.

Those travelling to Australia for the first time must provide bank statements or other financial information, as well as a letter from their employer showing their position and salary, length of employment and approval for leave, or evidence of enrolment for students.

If visiting relatives or friends, a letter of invitation from the relative or friend in Australia may also be required.

While the tourism industry has bemoaned the high Australian dollar for making Australia less competitive as a destination, Mr Rifai told The Australian visa requirements and easier international travel should be seen as a greater priorities.

"The cost is not the major factor here, it's the ease of reaching here, cost of travel and cost and complications of entry," said the former Jordanian government minister.

"Cost is a very important element in competitiveness but it should not be too much of an obsession.
"Some of the most attractive destinations in the world are some of the most expensive destinations in the world as well."

UNESCO has threatened to declare the Great Barrier Reef "in danger" if conservation efforts are not improved, but Mr Rifai said Australia should be congratulated for setting itself high environmental targets.

"The fact that Australia has these very valuable reefs places more responsibility on Australia, but I think all in all you should be satisfied with what you're doing so far," he said. "On environmental counts, Australia is doing very, very well."

Packer Bets on Perth Crown

JAMES Packer continues to gamble heavily on luring Asian tourists to his Australian casino resorts, with Crown announcing plans yesterday to spend $568 million building a six-star hotel at its Perth casino. The deal with the West Australian government also includes a boost to its gambling facilities.
The announcement comes as Crown seeks permission from New South Wales and Queensland gaming regulators to lift its stake in Echo Entertainment from 10 per cent to 25 per cent.

The Echo investment is part of a plan to engage its local rival in a joint venture focused on Asian VIP gamblers. Crown intends to create a billion-dollar luxury destination at Sydney's harbour showpiece, Barangaroo, but needs Echo's casino licence - and money - to do it.

Crown announced yesterday it had an in-principle agreement to pay the WA government $60 million for land for the hotel development.

The government has agreed not to oppose an application for 500 additional gaming machines at the Perth casino and 130 additional gaming tables, according to Crown. The application will include plans for private VIP gambling salons.

The hotel, to be known as Crown Towers Perth, adds to the $2.2 billion Crown is spending on its two Australian casino resorts to attract Asian gamblers from the strong competition in Singapore and Macau.

''Our goal is to create an integrated resort capable of competing with the best in the Asian region,'' Mr Packer told a Perth audience late last year.

He has made no secret of the need to invest heavily in luxury accommodation and facilities to compete for China's lucrative tourists, who are displaying an appetite for travel, gourmet food and gambling.

A third of Crown's Australian revenue last year, about $800 million, was generated from international visitors.

Most of this revenue comes from high rollers and other international customers. But the recent opening of two casino resorts in Singapore has affected Crown's business, especially in Perth.

The increase in gambling facilities in Perth would be phased in over the next five years subject to the approval of the Gaming and Wagering Commission of Western Australia, Crown said.

Construction of the 500-room hotel on a property adjacent to the casino will begin early next year and take three years, according to Crown.

The development is expected to include restaurants, bars, resort and convention facilities.
The company's shares closed 2¢ higher at $8.47 yesterday.

On Course for a Thrilling International Championship

Approximately $3.5million has been spent rebuilding the course since the international Johnnie Walker Classic was held at Lake Karrinyup back in 2003.  Holes have been both lengthened and shortened and every green and bunker has been rebuilt to enhance Lake Karrinyup’s world-class reputation.

Course architect and former European Tour player Mike Clayton said the quintessentially Australian golf course had its own character and would provide new challenges to players when they arrive in Perth for Australia’s richest golf event – the Perth International (18 to 21 October).

“Lake Karrinyup is a course that asks players interesting and quite obvious questions.  The answering of those questions is what makes it an enduringly interesting course to play,” Clayton said.

“The course’s character is distinguished by expansive fairways and holes that require the player to execute a wide variety of tee shots. Those with the skill to shape the ball to fit the hole, to fly it through the ever-present seaside winds and who hit to the best part of the wide fairways on their approach to the flag will earn the rewards and shoot the lowest scores.”

Course superintendent Trevor Strachan agreed the new layout would challenge the most seasoned pros in the new US$2million tournament.

“The course is now more open and the bunkering is closer to the greens. We now have a course that requires a different type of golf to be played,” Strachan said.

“The surface of the greens is harder and faster and there are more subtle undulations which I think will make it tricky for players returning to the course or experiencing it for the first time.

“Spectators will have a better experience with the new layout as well.  It’s easier to get around the course and there are some great new vantage points.

“You can see eight holes within a 500 metre walk and around the lake will be a terrific place to see a range of holes including the back of the 8th to the 11th and even the 3rd hole.  Plus there will be grandstands set up on the 12th and 17th,” Strachan said.

Strachan will lead a team of 18 grounds keeping staff plus a team of volunteers in the busy lead up to the springtime championship.

“We’ve got to get through winter and then get the grass into place for spring, turfing out the weak areas and getting presentation right.

“Coming out of winter there’s less growing time, so it’s going to be busy.”

Lake Karrinyup is widely acknowledged as Western Australia’s premier private golf club and is ranked the state’s number one course by Australian Golf Digest.  The course rebuild has ensured it will provide a world-class experience for the European Tour and Australasian Tour players when they land in Perth in October.

Tickets for the Perth International will be available from July.  For more information visit www.perthinternational.com,

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Chevron City to Surf takes Off in August

The Chevron City to Surf for Activ is the largest community sporting event in Western Australia, incorporating a marathon, half marathon, 12 kilometre and four kilometer runs. 

Boasting Western Australia's largest field and the nation's richest prize pool, the City to Surf Marathon takes in some of Perth's most beautiful sights. 

Starting from the Perth city centre, runners travel along the Swan River banks before entering Kings Park and finishing at City Beach on the beautiful Indian Ocean. Competitors from 16 countries have registered so far. The event will be held on August 26. 

Qatar Airways To Land In Perth Next Week

The inaugural Doha to Perth flight by Qatar Airways will touch down at Perth International Airport on Tuesday. Perth is only the second Australian destination for Qatar Airways, which is the reigning Skytrax Airline of the Year.

Tourism WA and Perth Airport have been involved in discussions with the airline for a number of years about the service. Qatar Airways is currently regarded as the most progressive airline in the world with an aggressive expansion program, and is one of only five airlines in the world given a five-star rating.

It has an international network of more than 110 destinations which will provide WA with a new level of connectivity to the world, and in particular the State's key European tourism markets. The new Doha-Perth service will initially operate three times a week.