Backpacker - thUMBRELLA

Opinion
- Another Wicked piece of marketing
  
  I’ve written about this before, but once again I have to confess to a sneaking admiration for the PR and marketing expertise of John Webb and Wicked Campers. Read more »
- Grounds for cautious optimism, but things could get worse before they get better
  
  Just got back from a couple of weeks in London – surely the world’s most depressed capital city at the moment, but more of that later – and everyone I speak to seems to be 20 per cent down. Read more »
- BOA successfully talks up the ‘Gong and south coast
  
  BOA president Katrina Greeves’ wrap-up on last week’s regional meeting in Wollongong.
  
  Over 10 local South Coast tourism operators joined BOA Committee representatives and members at the ‘BOA Talks South Coast’ event in Wollongong last Thursday to engage in lively debate regarding travel and tourism issues affecting the backpacker, student and youth market in the south coast region. Read more »
- What prison taught me about discounting
  
  Founder of Brokepacker.com Kevin Lippy explains there are three types of discounting ahead of the website’s launch tonight.
  
  A prison yard is a tough, volatile, dangerous, cut throat and an extremely unpredictable environment… Kind of like the Australian backpacking industry during low season. Read more »
- How many backpackers does it take to change a lightbulb?
  
  Thumbrella is conducting an exclusive industry survey this week, with just one question. How many of your customers are idiots? Read more »
- How’s business?
  
  So, how’s business? It’s a simple question, but it seems there’s no easy answer. Read more »
- Australian backpacking is the pulse we watch to gauge the health of the industry worldwide
  
  In this guest post, gapyear.com founder Tom Griffiths relects on the recent ATEC Backpacker and Youth Industry Conference and why Australia’s backpacking industry still leads the world.
  
  Like most of the delegates I spoke to, I found the recent ATEC Backpacker and Youth Industry Conference extremely interesting and useful. It’s very easy in these current times to set a safe agenda to cater for an industry licking its wounds, who want to hear good news stories and see rainbows ahead. Read more »
- McEvoy: ‘Put your tourism experiences on the map’
  
  Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy discusses the first stages of the There’s nothing like Australia campaign and urges the industry to get involved. Read more »
- The Cross needs backpackers to thrive
  
  In this guest post, a Kings Cross backpacker operator who wishes to remain anonymous outlines the benefits backpackers bring to the Cross.
  
  Lately there has been a concerted effort to push out the evil doing, backpacking “scum” from Potts Point together with various articles on your website and other media. Read more »
- There’s nothing like Australia’s violence on tourists…at least according to Google
  
  News in Sydney’s media of a young Scottish tourist who had been bashed by a group of youths in Sydney this week got me thinking, is violence in Australia towards foreigners worse than anywhere else or is it just because we’re here that we hear about it? Read more »
- Vote Australia – you know it makes sense
  
  If, as expected, British prime minister Gordon Brown goes to Buckingham Palace later today and asks the Queen to dissolve parliament, there will be a general election in the UK on Thursday May 6. Read more »
- Morrissey was right – life IS very long when you’re lonely…
  
  Last month I faced a classic publishing dilemma. When stories surfaced in the national press that a harvest work contractor in Bundaberg had allegedly sacked backpackers after they asked for water, my colleagues on the Backpacker Tourism Advisory Panel urged me to publish a story in TNT Magazine informing readers of their workplace rights. Read more »

Backpacker Campervans allows travellers to build their own adventure

Backpacker Campervans has launched a new website that uses Google mapping technology to allow travellers to tailor make their own itinerary and share it with others. Read more »

By Martin Lane · March 23rd, 2010 at 8:38 am · Comments: 0

Industry stalwarts call it quits

Three industry stalwarts are calling it quits after racking up nearly 30 years in the industry between them. Read more »

By Martin Lane · March 22nd, 2010 at 9:17 am · Comments: 0

Owner of Panda Motel in Childers reclaims control after allegations former lessees ill-treated backpackers

The owner of the Panda Motel in Childers has reclaimed control of the accommodation from former lessees Calie and Max Posun after allegations the pair ill-treated backpackers. Read more »

By Martin Lane · March 18th, 2010 at 12:25 pm · Comments: 0

MP calls for website to educate backpackers on workers’ rights

A Queensland MP has called for a website to be set up to educate backpackers on their work rights before they enter the country. Read more »

By Martin Lane · March 17th, 2010 at 9:16 am · Comments: 3

Website Travel purchases Backpackers World Travel

Website Travel has announced the purchase of Base Tourism Group retail arm Backpackers World Travel for an undisclosed sum (BWT). Read more »

By Alice Terlikowski · March 16th, 2010 at 1:01 pm · Comments: 7

Fraser Island campgrounds closed due to backpackers taunting wildlife

Backpackers visiting Fraser Island are under fire for taunting and harassing dingoes forcing the closure of Eli and Maheno campgrounds. Read more »

By Alice Terlikowski · March 16th, 2010 at 12:06 pm · Comments: 0

Kingfisher Bay Resort Village on Fraser Island up for sale

Kingfisher Bay Resort Village Pty Ltd has announced its Fraser Island products Kingfisher Bay Eco Resort, Eurong Beach Resort, Fraser Island Barges and Fraser Explorer Tours are up for sale. Read more »

By Alice Terlikowski · March 15th, 2010 at 4:14 pm · Comments: 1

Harvest work contractor ’sacked backpackers after they asked for water’

A harvest work contractor in Bundaberg who allegedly deprived his workers of water has attracted substantial media attention over the weekend, shining the spotlight on Australia’s backpacking and working holidaymaker industry again. Read more »

By Alice Terlikowski · March 15th, 2010 at 1:54 pm · Comments: 2

Tourism Australia survey finds would-be youth travellers have cash but need more information

Would-be youth travellers to Australia are cashed up experience seekers who know less about the destination than the rest of the population, according to research by Tourism Australia. Read more »

By Martin Lane · March 12th, 2010 at 9:30 am · Comments: 0

Aggressive expansion on the cards as Craig Ross takes sole ownership of Koala Adventures and Koala Adventure Island

Craig Ross has said he may make further acquisitions after taking sole ownership of Koala Adventures and Koala Adventure Island earlier this week. Read more »

By Martin Lane · March 11th, 2010 at 5:40 pm · Comments: 0

Greyhound hails success of Expo adventure zone

Greyhound Australia has hailed the adventure zone concept at Melbourne Expo a success and will repeat the excerise at the Sydney Town Hall event in November and again in Melbourne next year. Read more »

By Martin Lane · March 11th, 2010 at 12:03 pm · Comments: 1

Tourism Australia’s latest International Visitors Survey shows increase in backpacker numbers year on year

Tourism Research Australia’s latest International Visitors Survey has reported an increase in backpacker numbers to Australia, a longer length of stay and larger average spend in 2009 compared to 2008. Read more »

By Alice Terlikowski · March 10th, 2010 at 12:25 pm · Comments: 0

Apollo expands fleet by 1500 vehicles worldwide

The Apollo Group is investing A$100 million expanding its wordwide campervan and motorhome rental fleet by a projected 1500 vehicles over the next 12 months. Read more »

By Martin Lane · March 10th, 2010 at 10:06 am · Comments: 0

TNS Global launches blog with travel industry commentary and opinion

Leading research agency TNS Global has launched it own blog, with opinion, data and commentary from industry experts including director of tourism and leisure research division Carolyn Childs. Read more »

By Martin Lane · March 10th, 2010 at 9:28 am · Comments: 0

Young ATEC to hold networking session on backpacker and youth sector

The Young Australian Tourism Export Council (YATEC) will be holding an educational and networking session on the backpacker and youth sector later this month. Read more »

By Alice Terlikowski · March 9th, 2010 at 12:53 pm · Comments: 0

Travellers Auto Barn gives charity cyclist a helping hand

Travellers Auto Barn is providing charity cyclist Geoff Dittrich and his team with a support vehicle during their 80-day bike ride from Sydney to Perth to raise money for the fight against poverty. Read more »

By Martin Lane · March 9th, 2010 at 12:04 pm · Comments: 0

Sleepmaker recalls Lodger and Village bunk beds

Bedding brand Sleepmaker has recalled its Lodger and Village bunk beds due to a risk of structural welds failing. Read more »

By Alice Terlikowski · March 8th, 2010 at 1:03 pm · Comments: 0

Hingerty: ‘Things can only get better’

Short-term visitor arrivals in January increased by nearly five per cent year-on-year according to latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Read more »

By Martin Lane · March 5th, 2010 at 5:05 pm · Comments: 1