Hi everyone!

Well, I bet there are some pretty big smiles at Tourism Australia and 20th Century Fox!

Oprah RAVED about "Australia", the movie yesterday and you know what happens when the Big O does that! (a couple of weeks ago she was thrilled about the new Amazon Kindle book and sales shot up).

If you didn't see Oprah, and haven't seen TV or movie ads, here's the link for the trailer.

http://www.australiamovie.com\

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

i read that the tourism board was hoping the movie would have that impact!

i think the greatest obstacle to australia tourism, at least from oprah's market in north america, is not that people don't want to go to australia, it's that the airline cartels have made it prohibitively expensive to get there.

comparitively, airfares to australia are always much higher than those to europe (even from the west coast) or asia. in the case of asia, the travel distance is further, but the prices are always lower than flights to australia. it even "costs" fewer air miles to get to singapore, 24 hours flying from the west coast than sydney, 15 hours from the west coast.

even the best fare sales to australia are still in the $900 range, at best, before internal airfares, which in this economy, times 2 (for a couple) or 4 (for a family) becomes prohibitive. using air miles is close to impossible unless you can plan a full year in advance and have a lot of flexibility.

then there are the hotel costs. sydney hotels seem to have doubled their rates at the same time the aussie dollar increased in value. only now that the aussie dollar has declined are rates falling in line with expensive us cities, with the best locations still north of $200 USD a night and those in the less desirable areas still above $100 USD. for example, i looked into standby pricing for november before school holidays and not a one was available for less than 250 AUD.

at such a far distance, a day or two seems to not do it justice, so you can see where it's just not in the reach of the typical holiday makers from the usa, at least.

i'm sure people already want to go to australia, they need to reduce the fares and people would come.

just a tough sell at this time of worldwide economic misery.

now if the tourism department wants to raise funds, i'm sure they could auction dinner dates with hugh jackman and that would absolutely boost revenue!

kerikeri

Hey Kerikeri!

Oh yes, the Tourism Board is most definately hoping for that outcome, as is 20th Century Fox.

I was at "Corroboree" in LA, which is the Aussie Convention for Premier Agents and Australian suppliers. 150 agents attended from all over the US and Canada, and we were addressed by Rita Drucker, the VP of Sales/Marketing at 20th Century. There projecting/hoping that this will be a blockbuster like "Titanic", which did over 2 billion.

I sent out an email to clients on the promo fare offered by Qantas - $760 roundtrip, SFO to SYD - including fuel surcharges. Granted it was a narrow window - fare was good from Oct. 20 until November 17, 2008 and May 1-31, 2009, had to be booked by 10/31, but still...great fare - no takers.

If Tourism Australia DID auction off dinner dates, I'd have a line of people out the office door (and i'd be first in line)!

Melodie

I'll be in Australia soon. I think it might be fun to see Australia in Australia? It looks fabulous!

wow. $750 is a great fare- they should try again after the movie catches on.

i can't wait to see it - it reminds me of all the stories i've read that were set in australia, especially one that someone on this board posted about years ago - a book i could only find on the internet, but all about a woman coming to live on a cattle station in katherine.

i read it while in nt and it was magical. i can't recall the title, but i do believe it was quite old.

no doubt people will come visit again when the economy improves.

p.s.
i was thrilled when nicole mentioned that MY favorite sydney breakfast place was also hers! (and it's not even expensive or large).

kerikeri

kerikeri - please tell - what is your favorite breakfast place?

it's called bills. i like the one in darlinghurst. i would give the food a 7, but the atmosphere a 10!

they probably have a web site.

for what it's worth, hugh jackman's favorite breakfast spot is speedos bondi beach. i don't like bondi, so i can't comment. that was featured on the show as well.

seriously, though, the food is so fresh and delicious in sydney- definitely get a flat white or other coffee and milk creation and try yogurt...it's like nothing you've had at home (i guess, depending on where home is).

you'll enjoy whereever you eat. there melodie- have i done a good job?

kerikeri

I can see why you like Bills. Ricotta pancakes, homemade toasted coconut bread. Breakfast served all day. Sounds great to me! Thanks!

I've pinched a few of Bill Granger's breakfast recipes too, he's quite a celebrity chef here, google Bill Granger chef if interested in making them at home.

Thanks for posting Melodie, this much anticipated and discussed movie is due for release in Oz on 26th November. What do you think of the Tourism Australia ads though?

Thanks, Melodie.

The $64 question as far as I'm concerned is whether the movie is any good as a movie, as distinct from a 2-hour tourism promo.

I'm starting from a less than enthusiastic position myself, as I have severe doubts about Baz Luhrmann's ability to tell a story straight. I hope I'm wrong in this case.

Come to think of it, I didn't get into "Titanic" either.

And to make matters worse I've never warmed to Nicole Kidman, not even slightly. Hugh Jackman yes - a very versatile performer who unlike Ms K. doesn't give the impression that he's up himself. It will be interesting to see how it pans out.

Kerikeri, the name of the book you read was "We of the Never Never" by
Jeanie "Mrs Aeneas" Gunn. I, too, read it and enjoyed it. There is a re-creation of the house she lived in at Mataranka. (It was made for the movie.)

thank you for that reminder, longhorn!

kerikeri

I met Hugh Jackman when I went to New York to see The Boy From Oz. My travel buddy and I had so much fun that night and meeting Hugh after the show and getting photos and autographs was sensational. My TB and I were the only Aussies there that night (apart from Toni Collette whom we also met and chatted with) so Hugh was up for a bit of a chat.

Dang! He's a nice boy!

Don't care what Australia the movie does for tourism I just know what Hugh Jackman does for me

Stay away from my boyfriend, Stormbird! I saw the Boy from Oz twice and go to Australia every year looking for his twin to come back to American with me. I LOVE HIM. I will see this movie whether or not it stinks. I really don't like Nicole Kidman-what's up with the non-moving/smooth face and her propensity to lie about it still?? Come on! I'd give her more credit for admitting an addiction to Botox.

I think Hugh is the most talented man out there. Did you see him when he hosted the Tonys? Perfection!

skiergirl - I think I saw him first! So he's mine!

Yeah but I saw him TWICE in Boy From Oz so I'm more devoted.

Yeah well, I saw him TWICE also. Once in New York and once in Australia and he was a much better Boy From Oz in the Aussie version. AND is your fridge covered - and I mean covered - in pictures of Hugh Jackman?

I think this makes me the more devoted one skiergirl!!!

Just to put my "2 Bobs worth in"...........we were discussing the movie over dinner the other night and decided it was going to be very 'cringe' worthy. Don't get me wrong, I too like Hugh, Nicole I could live with out but they lost me ( & a lot of fellow aussies I know) purely by calling it Australia. What were they thinking?

I think it will be a lovely rainy sunday afternoon dvd.......but thats all I expect. Kinda hope I'm wrong but.............I don't think so.

I hear you aussiedreamer and Baz Luhrmann can be a little bit out there for sure but I've enjoyed his movies to date.

So, I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt and really at the end of the day ,the fact of the matter is that Hugh bares his beautiful bod in it and maybe that is all that matters.

Stormbird-you win only cuz I feel sorry for you because your fridge sounds freaky! No, mine is not covered because it is stainless steel and does not take magnets! But I do have a friend who flew from Sydney to see Hugh in the NYC version of BFO so that should count for something. In any case let's compare notes after we see the movie. I'm pissed Nicole is the female lead. If it were Naomi or a more non-Botoxed, underhyped, and talented Aussie actress I would be more excited. She bugs me to no end.