Fed: Sydney conference tourism to boom after Olympics

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2000
Fed: Sydney conference tourism to boom after Olympics

By Chris Herde

BRISBANE, April 19 AAP - The perception that accommodation will be too scarce or expensive
in Sydney during the Olympics could spark a post-games tourism boom, a leading industry
group said today.

Inbound Tourism Organisation of Australia (ITOA) managing director Peter Shelley said
the post-Olympic period should not be a let down for the tourism industry, especially
in the conference and convention sector.

"Some inbound tour operators ... believe that the perception Sydney is expensive or
that Sydney accommodation is scarce over the Olympics will catapult post-Olympic growth
due to pent up demand for Sydney and anticipated price reductions," Mr Shelley said.

"One inbound tour operator reported a 30 per cent increase of (visitors) in the UK
and US markets and strong conference bookings immediately after the Olympic Games."

Mr Shelley said Sydney's conference and convention sector had already benefited from
the promotion of Australia generated by the Games.

"The seven per cent growth in overall conference and convention business for the year
ending January 2000 is significant, especially when some European markets have recorded
well over 100 per cent growth," Mr Shelley said.

"Many inbound tour operators have allocated rooms in Sydney pre and post the Olympic
Games for conference and convention business."

However, Mr Shelley warned that the Games had scared some away from Sydney.

He said ITOA members had been promoting the Gold Coast and Cairns as destinations for
the Japanese honeymoon market, leaving their Sydney room allotment for Olympic-specific
groups willing to pay a premium.

"This shift in strategy for the Japanese leisure market to promote ... destinations
such as Cairns and the Gold Coast over Sydney is not just price driven," Mr Shelley said.

"It's motivated by issues concerning the accessibility of Sydney sights due to demands
on transport infrastructure and Olympic Games events."

AAP ch/jhm/cjh

KEYWORD: OLY DEMAND

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