AUSTRALIAS new tourism marketing campaign
has been banned from British TV because of its use of the term
bloody hell, which British advertising regulators find offensive.
The slang is part of Australias $60 million international tourism
push, which asks prospective visitors Where the Bloody Hell Are
You? in a commercial promoting the countrys beaches, outback and
culture, among other things. In response to the ban, Tourism
Australia took out ads in British newspapers directing readers to
the uncensored version on the Internet at www.wherethebloodyhellareyou.com. Britain is
Australias most lucrative market, accounting for more than 700,000
visitors last year, according to Tourism Australia.
THE
CAMPAIGN, and its controversial invitation, is scheduled
to kick off on TV in the U.S. during an episode of ABCs Lost on
March 22. It also will begin appearing in print media in April. Its
available for viewing now on www.australia.com. The new campaign is
distinctively Australian, said Scott Morrison, managing director of
Tourism Australia in a statement. In an increasingly competitive
and tough commercial environment we must be bold, aggressive and
distinctive to win the business, Morrison added. But we also must
be credible -- we must be true to what we are as a destination and
focus on why the world loves us. Tourism Australia spent $6.2
million testing the new campaign in its top seven tourism markets
through the use of focus groups and market research. The agency is
hailing it as a worthy successor to the familiar TV ads of the 80s
with actor Paul Hogan, of Crocodile Dundee fame, urging viewers to
visit Australia and throw another shrimp on the barbie.
PACIFIC
DELIGHT WORLD TOURS said its pulling out all the stops
with its new 13-night, all-inclusive Vietnam, Cambodia and Bangkok
Gold Vistas package, a fully-escorted tour limited to 16 customers
that visits the major attractions in each destination, includes
opportunities for plenty of interaction with locals and features
the areas top hotels. Twenty-one departures are scheduled between
April 2006 and March 2007, with prices starting at $5,548 per
person, double, including roundtrip air fare on Cathay Pacific from
New York (Kennedy), Los Angeles or San Francisco. Also included are
meals, sightseeing, motorcoach transportation and the services of a
tour guide. For information or reservations, call (800) 221-7179 or
visit www.pacificdelighttours.com.
RITZ
TOURS launched the Grand Yangtze Summer Saver promotion
for select departures in July and August. The promotion is priced
from $1,399 per person, double, including roundtrip air fare from
Los Angeles, hotel accommodations and a nine-day (upstream) Yangtze
River cruise with Victoria Cruises. Following the cruise, customers
spend one night in Chongqing. The downstream version of the tour
features a seven-night river cruise and two nights in Shanghai for
$1,499. All tours include air fare, intra-China flights,
sightseeing, meals, entertainment and the services of a guide. For
information or reservations, call (800) 900-2446 or visit www.ritztours.com.
AIR
BYTES:
" Taiwan carrier
EVA Air said it will boost its summer flight schedule to Taipei
from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle starting later this
month. On March 27, EVA will increase its Los Angeles-Taipei
service from 14 to 17 flights a week; on June 6, EVA will launch a
weekly Seattle-Taipei flight; and on June 14, the airline will
increase service between San Francisco and Taipei from 11 to 12
flights a week.
" China Southern
Airlines said it plans to be more aggressive in selling tickets
through online agencies and will improve its in-house e-ticketing
system this year, with a goal of achieving 100% Internet ticketing
by the end of 2007. The largest airline in China, China Southern
said approximately 15% of its sales were generated online last
year.