British sports fans have a ball downunder
In the wake of the latest English victory over the Aussies in the rugby, British sports fans are flocking to Australia and New Zealand to witness more potential triumphs, according to Austravel.
The Australasia specialist has seen a marked increase in bookings Down Under in time for the Ashes this winter. Despite many families tightening their belts, it seems the sports enthusiasts won't to be denied their moment of glory in the sun.
This surge of interest has also been inspired by legions of golf fans keen to see world-class golfers compete in the Australian PGA Championship being held 9-12 December 2010 on the spectacular Sunshine Coast.
2011 will bring the Rugby World Cup to New Zealand (9 September 2011) and with it, an estimated 35,000 extra tourists from Europe heading to the home of the haka.*
"The enthusiasm for sport has definitely not waned this year and Brits are flocking to book flights downunder to see their favourite game," says Ben Briggs, Brand Manager for Austravel.
"While these additional bookings are a real bonus, we're also excited about the additional attention Australia and New Zealand will gain over the coming year due to the high-calibre sporting events that are taking place. With games happening all over the country, it's not just the usual suspects in the spotlight and it's a great demonstration of how these destinations have so much more to offer than the iconic attractions we're used to."
The Australasia experts are also predicting a rise in interest in sports-themed tours as more attention is turned on events Down Under. One of the current most popular options, according to Austravel, is the Melbourne Sports Lovers Tour.
Melbourne Sports Lovers Tour
Visit some of the more popular venues, such as the Commonwealth Games Athletes Village, Albert Park (home to the Grand Prix) and Flemington (home of the Melbourne Cup horse race). Include either a behind the scenes tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground or an insider's view of the Rod Laver Tennis Arena.
Sports lovers tour with MCG or Rod Laver Tennis Arena from £65 per person.
For more information or to book flights to Australia, visit: austravel.com
*Tourism New Zealand.