Departure tax backflip boosts Australian tourism
The Australian
TOURISM operators are set to win a battle over planned regular hikes in departure tax and will get access to a new fund to promote regional Australia.
In a major win for the tourism industry, the Federal Government has been forced to dump plans to increase the passenger-movement charge in line with inflation every year after a controversial $8 hike to $55 from July 1.
And the industry will also see its amount of government funding raised by the departure double from 10 per cent to 20 per cent.
The win came after the Gillard Government backed down on its departure tax plans to avoid an embarrassing loss of a Budget Bill on the floor of the Parliament.
London Hotels Have Slashed Prices To As Little As £10 A Night Post Olympics
Daily Mail
Tourism bosses fear London will be left deserted in the weeks immediately following the Olympic Games.
The influx of athletes and spectators during the Games, which run from July 28 to August 12, is expected to push the capital’s infrastructure to near breaking point.
But ‘normal’ visitors are staying away from London this summer because of concerns over congestion.
This has resulted in hotels slashing their prices to as little as £10 a night the weekend after the Olympic party comes to a close.
Greeks look to tourism to bolster a crumbling economy
USA TODAY
While this weekend’s election results may have temporarily eased fears that cash-starved Greece would exit the “eurozone” – and leave chaos in its wake – skittish travelers are still steering clear.
According to one Greek official, tourism income could plunge as much as 15% this year, while some European travel agencies report that bookings have slumped by nearly a third.
Ryanair Bids for Aer Lingus
Wall Street Journal
Irish budget airline Ryanair Holdings PLC said Tuesday it is making a €694 million ($873 million) bid to buy the shares it doesn’t already own in rival carrier Aer Lingus Group PLC, in a push to create a single Irish airline.
The offer comes after Ryanair bid unsuccessfully to acquire Aer Lingus in late 2006 and was blocked by the European Commission on antitrust grounds. Ryanair still holds 29% of Aer Lingus from that bid and has been fighting efforts by regulators to force it to dispose of the stake. British competition authorities recently announced an inquiry into Ryanair’s continued holding.
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