Australia to Renew Focus on Indian and Chinese Middle Class Tourists

Australia is set to renew its focus on wooing the cash rich middle class population of India and China at the Australian Tourism Directions conference in Canberra. According to a PTI report, the conference, to be held from tomorrow, will also analyse the progress of plans to double overnight visitor spending to USD 140 billion by 2020.

“Now more than ever we need to remain focused on the big picture improvements that can enhance the long-term competitiveness of the sector,” said Martin Ferguson, Federal Tourism Minister, Government of Australia. He added that the conference will renew the industry's focus on Asia and the rise of China as Australia's most valuable tourism market.

“It will also examine the need for more and better hotel accommodation, for higher investment in destinations and for increasing aviation capacity,” Ferguson said. Andrew McEvoy, Head, Tourism Australia will discuss the challenges of ensuring that Australia creates a long lasting appeal to global travellers.

A new report released by Tourism Research Australia has revealed that tourism's total contribution to the Australian economy in 2009/10 was USD 71.7 billion, or around 5.6 per cent of GDP.

How Visitors Find Their Way Around Sydney (Study Findings!)

Destination NSW and the University of Technology, Sydney have conducted new research on visitor wayfinding in Sydney. Among the findings were that only 20% of visitors used a GPS or app to find their way around Sydney. More than half encountered problems because of high international roaming charges and unreliable guidance amongst tall buildings.

A summary of the research is available on the Corporate website. (http://corporate.tourism.nsw.gov.au/Sites/SiteID6/objLib40/Visitor-Wayfinding-in-Sydney_ResearchFS.pdf )

Other findings included:

Most visitors used landmarks for orientation. The Opera House, Sydney Tower and the Harbour Bridge were the most common, followed by the Queen Victoria Building, Hyde Park and the Art Gallery.

George Street is the main route used to access the key tourist areas of Sydney city.
Walking was the most preferred method of getting around.

Barangaroo Hotel Axed? Sydney Hotel News

The luxury hotel to be built over Sydney Harbour as part of the $6 billion Barangaroo project is doomed after a review of the development ordered by the state government.



The findings of the review into Barangaroo, which will be considered by cabinet today, include a recommendation that the developer Lend Lease be urged to move the hotel to another part of the Barangaroo site as a ''demonstration of goodwill''. The landmark hotel, a cornerstone financial project, was not part of the original concept plan for Barangaroo but was included in Lend Lease's amendment in August last year.



A decision to locate the hotel over the harbour should be reviewed according to the report. ''It is the view of this review that the decision to select Lend Lease's non-conforming bid with the hotel in the harbour was consistent with good commercial practice and probity guidelines,'' the report says. ''But it looked and felt like an ambush to a number of those who had invested in the process leading up to the concept plan.”



The hotel, Sydney's first international premium hotel for more than a decade, was described by Lend Lease as being integral to the vibrancy of Barangaroo.

Metro Hotel on Pitt, Sydney: Winter Warmer Package at Metro Hotel on Pitt @ Metro Hotel on Pitt - Metro Hotels

Metro Hotel on Pitt is offering this Winter Warmer Package for $145.00 per night including:

Accommodation for two occupants staying in a Superior Deluxe Queen Room
One Free Hot Drink Voucher (per guest per day)
One Metro Hotels Travel Mug on arrival
24 Hours Free Internet Access
Sleep in and Relax with a complimentary check out of 12 noon

Read on:

Metro Hotel on Pitt, Sydney: Winter Warmer Package at Metro Hotel on Pitt @ Metro Hotel on Pitt - Metro Hotels

Sydney's Hot New Restaurant Guide

SYDNEY restaurants are constantly evolving. As soon as one disappears, a new one opens: each bigger, bolder and more fun than the last.

After a quiet period in 2009 in the post-GFC gloom, in the past 12 months the city's restaurateurs and chefs have become more adventurous than ever, spending large sums on interior designs and creating sumptuous menus and extraordinary wine lists.

But where do visitors to Sydney start on a flying visit to the city? Well, begin by following this guide to the capital's most alluring food hot spots.

1. Ms G's
Surely one of Sydney's most playful venues, this pan-Asian eatery inspired by David Chang's New York venue Momofuku is joyful, robust and fun. Chefs Dan Hong and Jowett Yu have put together a sharing menu that's a bit Vietnamese, a bit Korean, a bit Chinese and more.

Sample nibblies such as mini banh mi (Vietnamese baguettes) and move on to silky egg noodles with XO sauce, shredded duck and duck egg. The fit-out is urban, slick and fun.

More: 155 Victoria St, Potts Point. 8313 1000; www.ms-gs.com

2. Felix
Situated on the ground floor of the fanciful Ivy complex, this French bistro pays homage to the great bistros of not only Paris but Manhattan, including the wonderful Balthazar and Pastis.

The dining room is extravagantly splendid take special note of the tile mosaic on the wall. Chef Lauren Murdoch injects flair into a menu of bistro classics that includes skate with brown butter and flank steak with herb butter and fries, while head sommelier Franck Moreau has hand-picked an exhaustive cellar from his native France. The result is a venue that really sings.

More: 330 George St, City. 9240 3000; www.merivale.com

3. Porteno
If Felix doesn't win best fit-out of the moment, that's only because the title has already been claimed by Surry Hills' seriously cool Porteno. Like Felix, this Argentinean-themed venue is authentic with a capital A, even if it inhabits what was once a Greek taverna. Chefs Elvis Abrahanowicz and Ben Milgate, well-known to food lovers for their work at the South American tapas venue, Bodega, flame meats including suckling pig and saltbush lamb over an asado grill, and the results are spectacular. Be sure to have a drink in the chesterfield-and-chandelier-strewn upstairs bar before your feast.

More: 358 Cleveland St, Surry Hills. 8399 1440; www.porteno.com.au

4. Duke
Young gun chefs Thomas Lim and Mitch Orr have given Sydney dining a shake up at this quirky dining room upstairs at what used to be a little-frequented inner-city pub. The hunting lodge-meets-Shanghai Tang fit-out is matched by an arrestingly unusual menu that includes dishes such as kingfish gin and tonic and tater tots, gravy and endamame. It's mainly a young (read under-25s) scene, so be warned it's slightly too cool for school, but it definitely has an edge.

More: 65 Flinders St, Darlinghurst. 9332 3180; www.dukebistro.com.au

5. The Wine
Library Melbourne used to have the wood on Sydney when it came to wine bars with great food but that domination is long since over. One of the newer, flagship Sydney wine bars is Woollahra's the Wine Library, run by Todd Garrett and James Hird, the same chefs behind the ever-popular nearby Buzo restaurant. Sit at the zinc bar to enjoy glasses of quality Italian wine while nibbling on salumi plates and other Italian-inspired dishes including pasta and ragu.

More: 18 Oxford St, Woollahra. 9360 5686; www.buzorestaurant.com.au

6. Manly Pavilion
This grand 1930s swimming pavilion on the Manly harbour foreshore had a sensitive renovation last year, returning it to its former glory and adding a modern outdoor deck. Chef Jonathan Barthelmess has brought in a much-praised mainly Italian menu, while the wine list is deep and engaging. Catch the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly and walk to the restaurant to enjoy some blissful water views over a glass of very good bubbly.

More: Commonwealth Parade, West Esplanade, Manly. 9948 4999; www.manlypier.com

7. The Cut
Another venue with beautiful design, this steak restaurant resides in the basement of the historic Argyle complex in the tourist heart of The Rocks. But don't think that because the Argyle is in a tourist area the food will be second-rate. Rather, chef James Privett offers a choice of steaks cooked under a 650C grill, as well as a contemporary menu with offerings such as mulloway on sweet corn puree. Also keep an eye out for the four-hour slow-roasted wagyu served from a trolley.

More: 16 Argyle St, The Rocks. 9259 5695; www.cutbarandgrill.com.au

8. Sake
Also in the Argyle complex is this beguiling Japanese restaurant with well-credentialled chef Shaun Presland at the helm. Set in a beautiful heritage building that has lovely exposed bricks and polished timber floors, as well as many Japanese elements including paper lanterns and old sake drums, dining at Sake is a sleek and sophisticated experience. While the menu isn't as adventurous as the design, Presland still does a great line in sashimi, while some of the more exotic dishes include miso-cream scallops, popcorn shrimp and tempura scampi.

More: 12 Argyle Street, The Rocks. 9259 5656; www.sakerestaurant.com.au

9. China Beach
Sydney's Daily Telegraph restaurant critic Simon Thomsen described the interior of this pan-Asian venue at Manly as being "as white as Shane Warne's teeth" and that about sums up the Iain Halliday design.

Not that this is a bad thing in a city obsessed with dark and gloomy interiors. With chef Mai Busayarat at the pans, this sister to Woolloomooloo's ever-popular China Doll serves a variety of Asian cuisines from Thai to Chinese to Korean with panache. All in one, of Sydney's most appealing beachside suburbs.

More: 2/43-45 North Steyne, Manly. 9976 0050; www.chinabeach.com.au

10. Four In Hand Restaurant
This fine dining room located in a historic Paddington pub is not new but is rising to great heights under the steerage of Irish-born chef Colin Fassnidge. On the stylish contemporary menu is Fassnidge's speciality, a 12-hour braised shoulder of lamb served with heirloom carrots, salsa verde and kipfler potatoes (the $84 dish serves two). Enjoy discovering this lovely watering hole, down a back street in among rows of wonderful Paddington terraces, and make sure to have a drink at the bar before settling in.

More: 105 Sutherland St (cnr Elizabeth St), Paddington. 9362 1999; www.fourinhand.com.au

See Original Article

The Rocks Aroma Festival A Divine World of Coffee Chocolate Tea and Spice

EVENT: The Rocks Aroma Festival A Divine World of Coffee Chocolate Tea and Spice
WHERE: The Rocks, Sydney
WHEN: Sunday 31st July 10 AM - 5PM


Wake up and smell the coffee, chocolate, tea and spice in the streets of The Rocks.

Experience the world in a day with divine taste sensations at The Orient, The Continent, The Latin Quarter and The Oasis.

Indulge your senses with freshly ground coffee, delicious baklava, rich hot chocolate and spiced chai as you wander between Aroma's four global regions.

Enjoy free entertainment including lion and dragon dancers, belly dancing, sword dancing, the Sydney French Choir and the Sydney Youth Orchestra; or find out what your future holds with tea leaf readings, for only $10, in Fortune Alley from 11 am to 2 pm.
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This year you can also learn everything you ever wanted to know about coffee, and taste some of the best from around the world, at Toby's Estate specialty coffee masterclasses, Book now.

There's also a chance to win $50,000 to spend on a Ford car of your choice, and a two-night luxury escape valued at up to $4,000.

The Rocks Aroma Festival is proudly produced by Sydney Harbour Foreshore

Download a printable version of the event program

Travel Leaders Summit Provides Sydney boost

Travel Leaders and Qantas Vacations in the United States have reported strong results to date following the Travel Leaders Group 2011 International Summit held in Sydney last month.

Travel Leaders Associates is one of the largest leisure and corporate travel agency networks in the world. Destination NSW assisted in hosting 88 leading travel agents, agency owners and managers for the summit which included activities such as a tour and gala dinner at the Sydney Opera House, BridgeClimb, Sydney Wildlife World an Aboriginal walking tour and a visit to the Blue Mountains. Travel Leaders and Qantas Vacations have reported significant increases in quotes and bookings for travel to Sydney and NSW following the summit.

(Source: Insights, 20th July 2011)

More Tourists Heading to Sydney

The latest figures from the Tourism Forecasting Committee were released today. The figures show NSW receives the lion's share of both the international (33%) and domestic (30%) visitor nights in Australia, with 65.2 million international visitor nights and 78.3 million domestic visitor nights in 2010. A large proportion of the visitors to NSW also stop over in Sydney.

Total visitor nights (international plus domestic) are forecast to increase by 18% by 2020 and NSW is forecast to maintain its market share. The bulk of the growth (85%) will come from the international market that is set to climb from 65.2 million nights to 87.1 million nights by 2020.

Visitor nights to regions are forecast to increase by 8% by 2020 and the regions are expected to continue to dominate the holiday market.

Gaga In Sydney For One-Off Gig

US pop star Lady Gaga has arrived in Sydney ahead of a single, invite-only show at Town Hall on Wednesday.

Looking every inch the glamorous misfit, Gaga stepped out of a private jet on Saturday in a floor-length cream dress with ruffled shoulders and adorned with a wide black, Batman-style belt.

Sky-high platform shoes, black elbow length gloves, a black and white coloured hairdo - a crossbred of Princess Leia hair and Mickey Mouse ears - and white reflective sunglasses completed the look.

Gaga entered the international terminal through an entrance reserved for private aircraft travellers before climbing into a black limousine and being whisked away.

Just 1,000 people have scored an invitation to see Gaga's show at Sydney Town Hall on Wednesday night.

Gaga's new album, Born This Way, is the fastest selling album of the year around the word, her minders claim.

Debuting at number one in more than 27 countries, including Australia, the US and UK, it has so far chalked up sales of more than 5 million copies worldwide.

See original source

Singapore TV Series to Promote NSW

As part of the There’s Nothing Like Australia campaign, Tourism NSW has been working with Tourism Australia and travel agency Chan Brothers to showcase Australian food and wine on Singapore’s top-rating travelogue, Food Source.

The program is a series of one hour television episodes featuring famous food and ingredients from various countries. It has consistently achieved a high number of TV viewers since its first season in 2010. It also won awards for Best Variety Show and Best Variety Show Host in Singapore.

The NSW part of the program goes on air from today to 6 July in Singapore, where the host will bring viewers on the food discovery trail of Sydney Fish Market; Montrose Berry Farm, Li Sun Mushrooms and Cedar Creek Juice in the Southern Highlands; Saliba & Bilpin Fruit Bowl and Broken Bay Oysters in the Blue Mountains/Hawkesbury; and Bon Appetitte Snails in the Hunter Valley. Chan Brothers has developed packages for people to book tours to the experiences featured in the program.

Source: Tourism NSW Insights, 22 June 2011

Warm Up This Winter at Metro Hotel on Pitt - Metro Hotels

Treat yourself and your partner or friend to an indulgent break, and unwind this winter at Metro Hotel on Pitt in the heart of Sydney.

As an added bonus during winter, Metro Hotel on Pitt is offering every guest that checks in a complimentary hot drink* from the hotel restaurant. This includes your choice of coffee, tea, hot chocolate and mashmallows, and is valid from July 1 – August 31, 2001.

Whether visiting Sydney to see a show, enjoy a dinner, attend a sporting event or simply to enjoy an overnight stay in a stylish boutique hotel in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, Metro Hotel on Pitt, is an ideal, affordable accommodation choice for business and leisure visitors to the city.

Warm Up This Winter at Metro Hotel on Pitt - Metro Hotels

Katy Perry Set to Play the Logies

THE list of nominees for this year's Logie Awards is pretty bland, but we can reveal that at least the night will start with a bang.
Katy Perry is confirmed to open the awards ceremony at Melbourne's Crown Casino complex on May 1, performing her chart-topping hit Firework.

Perry will be in Australia as part of her California Dreams World Tour, with sold-out performances at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on May 4 and 14.

Classical music superstar Andre Rieu is tipped to attend the Logies, with 'tween heartthrob Justin Bieber also in Australia.

Shane Bourne will be the host, and awards will be presented by Chris Lilley, Karl Stefanovic, Sarah Murdoch, Lisa McCune, Deborah Mailman, Shane Jacobson and Megan Gale.

Sydney Accommodation at Metro Hotels

100 Years of Sydney Airport Flying

It was a flight that lasted less than 10 minutes and reached the not-so-dizzying height of 40 metres, but it marks an important milestone in Sydney Airport's history.

On April 18, 1911, Captain Joseph Joel Hammond flew a Bristol box-kite bi-plane over the site that today forms part of Sydney Airport.

Now, 100 years later, staff at the airport are celebrating the anniversary of that first flight that heralded the start of modern aviation in Sydney.

Advertisement: Story continues below Born in New Zealand, Capt Hammond was an early pioneer of aviation, known to his adoring public as "The Flying Man" and "The Bird-man".

His flights attracted huge public interest, with thousands of Sydneysiders buying tickets to witness the incredible spectacle of a man flying.

Capt Hammond's bi-plane weighed about 500kg and his first journey took him just 40 metres high and 10 kilometres in distance.

Back then, the area he flew over was Ascot Racecourse - today, it forms part of Sydney Airport's east-west runway.

These days, an A380 taking off at Sydney airport weighs 560 tonnes, cruises at a height of about 12km and can travel more than 15,000km.

The first passenger to fly from the site was Capt Hammond's wife, Ethelwyn.

"I always feel quite comfy when I am in the bi-plane with my husband," Mrs Hammond was reported as saying in April 1911.

Today, more than 35 million passengers fly in and out of Sydney airport every year.

Capt Hammond went on to fly as a test pilot in World War I when an aircraft he was flying on a war bonds promotional tour crashed into a tree.

He died just seven weeks before the war ended in 1918.

The next year, flying enthusiast WB Love chose the cow pastures at Mascot as a site to establish an aircraft manufacturing facility and Sydney Airport was born.

It is one of the oldest continuing airports in the world.

On Monday, Sydney Airport staff will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first flight with a barbecue at Hammond Place.

A plaque marking Capt Hammond's achievement will also be unveiled.

"Capt Hammond was obviously a man with an adventurous spirit, but I doubt that he could have foreseen how Australia's aviation industry would develop over the next 100 years," Sydney Airport CEO Russell Balding said.

This would appear to be true.

"What's the use of long flights," Capt Hammond said in April 1911, "unless you're competing for a prize?"

Celebs Turn Heads at Royal Randwick

BLACK Caviar may be making headlines when it comes to racing, but off the track the ladies are worried about much more important things - like what they are wearing and who notices.

The Sydney Carnival at Royal Randwick is one of Australia's most celebrated events on the social calendar and the glamour kicked off on Saturday with celebs Jodi Gordon, Rachel Finch, Tom Williams and R&B; star Tinie Tempah all donning their best traditional black-and-white-themed race attire at the David Jones Australian Derby Day.

"I've noticed all the effort that the girls have gone to and they've tried so hard with the traditional black-and-white theme," Gordon told AAP on Saturday.

The event plays host to what is, arguably, Sydney's most glamorous Fashions on the Field competition and Gordon, former Home and Away beauty and Royal Randwick Carnival Ambassador herself, handpicked the day's best-dressed racegoers.

Gordon and fellow judges - Sea Patrol's Danielle Horvat, milliner Nerida Winter and designers Joe Farage, Gail Elliot and Joe Coffey - named North Bondi's Jane Wilkinson as the best-dressed female for her efforts boasting an impressive combination of a Saba skirt and Alannah Hill top, hat, gloves and belt.

Serial entrant Hal Salter from Melbourne, wearing a grey suit with black-and-white pin-stripe shirt and vintage black felt bowler hat took home the best-dressed male prize.

Gordon stressed the day is all about the fashion and not so much the gambling.

"Black Caviar who?' she asked, laughing.

"I'm definitely more about the fashion when it comes to the races.

"It's become more of a woman's day and it's our turn to dress up and enjoy with our friends and the boys can have a punt."

Gordon looked amazing, strutting through the crowd while punters sang the theme tune to Home and Away as she glided past in her black-and-white frock.

"Today I'm wearing Lisa Ho, I've worked with her to construct this, it's elegant and I'm wearing an akubra hat - carrying the Aussie tradition today," she said.

Gordon fulfilled her ambassadorial duties at the end of the day by clinking champagne glasses with some girlfriends in the DJ's tent, while she laughed about her first Royal Randwick experience - a sneaky day out with her older brother's friend just after she turned 18.

The Celebrity Millennium to Visit Sydney

Sydney will welcome more cruise capacity in 2012 when Celebrity Millennium arrives for a brief visit before embarking on Celebrity Cruises’ first foray into Asia.

The Millennium, which was previously based in Australia in the summer of 2008/09, will join Celebrity Solstice in local waters.

Celebrity Millennium will operate eight 14-night cruises from home ports in Singapore and Hong Kong. The Asian season will be bookended by

two transpacific voyages. The first is a westbound voyage from Honolulu to Sydney in November 2012, followed by a 17-night voyage from Sydney to Singapore.

(Source: Travel Weekly 8th April 2011)

Tourism Operators in Sydney

THIRTEEN Whitsunday tourism operators went to Sydney this week to drum up international business at the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) travel trade show. Representatives from Cruise Whitsundays, Fantasea, Coral Sea Resort, Daydream, Hayman and Hamilton islands and Tourism Whitsundays were just some of the local operators that showcased the region in the week-long event. Tourism and Small Business Minister Jan Jarratt said the 140 strong Queensland contingent would be the dominant force at ATE this year. She said it was the perfect opportunity for the industry to show key buyers that Queensland was one of the best places in the world to holiday. “ATE provides an excellent chance for tourism operators to showcase their products, meet with overseas contacts and negotiate deals with airlines, tourism wholesalers and retailers from around the world,” she said. “This is a unique opportunity for Queensland tourism operators to increase their share of the inbound travel market by dealing directly with the world's tourism movers and shakers all at the one time in the one place. “With more than 222,000 Queenslanders owing their living to tourism, the industry is a key economic driver for the State.”

Second Sydney Airport in the Spotlight Again

Federal Transport Minister Albanese has once more raised the issue of a second Sydney airport - while spelling out some non-negotiables.

There's already a joint Federal and State government study into the issue underway, but Albanese obviously felt it important to clarify what is and what is not on the table.

The report from that study is due later this year, but it won't be the best possible result because the committee is constrained from canvassing all possible options.

It can't, for example, decide that there's no need for a second Sydney airport, because the Minister doesn't want to hear that.

It also can't recommend more efficient use of the existing airport, because the Minister has said that, "On my watch, there will be no shift in the curfew or the cap on movements at Sydney Airport".

And it also can't bring Bankstown Airport into the equation as part of a solution, because the Minister has been loudly unequivocal about that airport remaining RPT free.

Despite those constraints, the Minister said this week that, "One of the things that we've done is make sure that we remove the politics from this. In the past it has suffered becaue politics has interfered with good policy making. That's why when we established the committee it was independent of government, at arm's length. There are no politicians on this committee."

Minister Albanese also insisted, at the same doorstop interview, that the study committee has been given "very wide terms of reference".

And, "The committee is examining all of the options. I'm letting them do their work without ruling things in or out. The Government has a position of not proceeding with Badgerys Creek, but otherwise the committee's been allowed to do its work."

On another front, one might hope that such a wide-ranging study would factor in the high-speed rail concept, for which a separate preliminary study is also underway. After all, the location of a second Sydney airport might have implications for such a rail project.

Find Sydney Accommodation at www.MetroHotels.com.au

"New Sydney" Showcased at ATE

Domestic and international travel media attended a press conference hosted by Tourism NSW at ATE today. Patricia Forsythe, Chair of the Greater Sydney Partnership, spoke about the “new Sydney” outlining the many exciting developments and billions of dollars worth of investment in the pipeline for this city.

The developments include:

- Redevelopment of UTS Business School featuring a breathtaking new Frank Gehry designed building
- Redevelopment of Star City
- The new multipurpose Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
- $6 billion development of Barangaroo
- $26 million new wing of the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Lyndel Gray, Executive Director and General Manager, Tourism NSW spoke about key experiences in Sydney that set the city apart from other cities in the world including beaches, food and wine, nature and events. Attendees were shown a new short film which highlighted the developments planned and underway. To see the film click here. The press conference also featured a 'hype reel' with amazing images showing the vibrancy and beauty of Sydney and NSW.

(Source: Insights, 4th April 2011)

Discover the Wonderful World of Bees

These school holidays we’re going bee-zerk about bees and want all of our visitors to bee-lieve in the global importance of bees and bee-aware of the possible bee crisis the world is currently facing.

Sydney Wildlife World is the home to a wild colony of European Honey Bees. The bees travel freely in and out of the attraction via a tunnel in the wall and go about their daily work in the city before returning to their hive which is one of the many displays within Sydney Wildlife World.

Over the April school holidays running from April 9 to April 24, 2011 we’ll be highlighting the Native Australian Bee and the European Honey Bee and the differences between species - the two different hives will be displayed side by side. Native bees have no sting and are vital pollinators for our native plants but most people wouldn’t even know one when they saw one!

View the hives up close and see the bees going about their daily work. Can you find the Queen? Learn about the complex behaviour of bees and their important role in our world. Our bee exhibit will have to bee seen, to be bee-lieved.

Kids will love all the fun bee activities they’ll find on site at Sydney Wildlife World and children will also receive a showbag (while stocks last). The Sydney Wildlife World bee exhibit can be experienced by all Sydney Wildlife World visitors.

A report put out by the United Nations Environment Programme on March 10 of this year says: “Scientists are warning that without profound changes to the way human beings manage the planet, declines in pollinators needed to feed a growing global population are likely to continue.” and “An estimated 20,000 flowering plant species, upon which many bee species depend for food, could be lost over the coming decades unless conservation efforts are stepped up.”

The main issue is that demand for animal pollinated crops for human consumption is increasing while in many countries the population of bees is decreasing. Animal pollination is essential for nuts, melons and berries, and plays varying roles in citrus fruits, apples, onions, broccoli, cabbage, sprouts, zucchini, capsicums, eggplants, avocados, cucumbers, coconuts, tomatoes, broad beans, as well as coffee and cocoa, and 80% to 90% of all crop pollination by animals is carried out by domesticated honey bees.

WHAT? Bee Exhibit – immersive and educational, discover the very important world of bees up close, and learn about the difference between our Native Australian Bees and the European Honey Bees + goodie bags.

WHERE? Sydney Wildlife World

WHEN? April 9 to April 24, 2011

HOW MUCH? Included with entry to Sydney Wildlife World. Single entry $35 for adults and $18 for kids …OR combine with our other great Sydney attractions and save up to $45.

www.sydneywildlifeworld.com.au

(Source: TravMedia.com)

Sydney Streamed 33 million Times on YouTube

On 20 March the Grand Finale of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra 2011 was held at Sydney Opera House and live-streamed to the world on YouTube. More than 100 musicians from 33 countries joined together for the first time in Sydney.
The Grand Finale was streamed 33 million times around the world to 189 countries. This included 2.8 million mobile live-streams, making it one of YouTube’s biggest ever streaming events to date, on mobile and desktop. That means the event was streamed to nearly one-and-a-half times the entire population of Australia including external footage of the Sydney Opera House and the orchestra inside.
The top 10 countries viewing the performance online were the United States, Germany, Italy, France, Poland, Russia, Australia, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Taiwan.