Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

Joel Robinson

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

<h3 data-end="3697" data-section-id="q3n5ak" data-start="3672">&nbsp;</h3>
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Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

A collection of just 25 large-format apartments and penthouses overlooking Goodwin Park is entering the Coolangatta market, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marea-residences-coolangatta-27-27a-dixon-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Maréa Residences</a> combining a low-density, residential-only approach with uninterrupted park and Pacific Ocean outlooks.

Located at 27 Dixon Street, Maréa comprises three and four-bedroom residences alongside a limited number of dual-level penthouses, with the project positioned between Goodwin Park and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/coolangatta-qld-4225">Coolangatta</a>’s coastal precinct.

Construction has commenced, with completion currently estimated for late 2027. Three-bedroom residences are priced from $1.8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374005]

The project has been designed around its northern outlook across the park, with the building’s architecture, landscaping and material palette intended to establish a connection with the neighbouring green space. The residences have been configured to maximise natural light and views across Goodwin Park towards the ocean.

Inside, the material palette incorporates timber, stone and brushed brass, complemented by curved detailing and ambient lighting. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the same natural material approach, while residences also include basement parking, storage and lift access.

Maréa’s penthouses are arranged over two levels and include private pools, adding another layer to the project’s focus on larger-format apartment living. Across the development, residences are configured with three or four bedrooms rather than the broader mix of smaller apartment types commonly found in larger projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374010]

Resident amenity is concentrated at rooftop level, where landscaped entertaining terraces and pools take advantage of elevated views across Coolangatta and the Pacific Ocean.

The project has so far been particularly well received by local owner-occupiers and downsizers, according to Urban Activation Property Sales and Marketing Director Matt George, with the residential-only format, construction quality and northern park outlook among the features resonating with purchasers.

“The uninterrupted northern aspect overlooking Goodwin Park has been a key point of difference, with buyers attracted to the sense of serenity and open space the park provides, while still enjoying easy access to the ocean and being within walking distance of the lifestyle and amenities Coolangatta has to offer,” George said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374002]

“The combination of high-quality construction, a residential-only building, park outlook and proximity to the beach has resonated strongly with the local downsizer market.”

The Dixon Street address is within walking distance of Coolangatta Beach and the broader southern Gold Coast coastline, including the surf breaks at Snapper Rocks and Kirra. Coolangatta’s cafés, restaurants and retail are nearby, while Gold Coast Airport is also within close proximity.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150999]

Maréa Residences brings parkside apartments to Coolangatta

Melbourne developer PDG has secured Victorian Government approval for its $1.5 billion Southbank development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-one-1-queens-bridge-street-southbank-vic-3006">The One</a>, clearing the way for the long-dormant riverfront site opposite Crown to finally be developed.

The Minister for Planning has approved the project at 1-29 Queens Bridge Street, with the Department of Transport and Planning issuing the planning permit following its assessment.

The approval will allow PDG to develop the prominent 5,059 sqm site with a major mixed-use tower comprising premium apartments, including branded residences, a luxury hotel and boutique office space.

PDG acquired the site in late 2024, with its position directly opposite Crown's main entrance and near Melbourne's Arts Precinct making it one of Southbank's most significant remaining development opportunities.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3933013e-6332-4386-b9be-089df05caf17" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sITIgBqDL0N3VNSMwWEmF5UA.uvcsRyu" />

Designed by COX in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the tower's architecture draws on the movement of the Yarra River, with six vertical pleats running the height of the sculpted facade.

The project will also see the heritage-listed Queens Bridge Hotel restored and incorporated into the development&nbsp;with new hospitality and public uses, including a rooftop venue.

A significant component of The One will be its residential amenity.

More than 5,000 sqm of resident facilities will be delivered across a single level, making it one of the largest consolidated residential amenity offerings proposed in an Australian apartment development.

The planning approval also incorporates a major upgrade of Queensbridge Square, which PDG will deliver in partnership with the City of Melbourne.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73167fcd-1031-4b6f-a408-a064cfe45ed1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.17%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Pf1AEWxw6SNmBqR0zQW5lyEze.MtxgFp" />

The existing square will be revitalised as a new civic and pedestrian space along the Yarra River, strengthening the connection between the project, Southbank and the riverfront.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the approval represented a major milestone for a site which has remained largely underutilised for more than 15 years.

“This is the most significant Planning Permit approval Melbourne has seen in recent years,” Giuliano said.

“For more than 15 years, this site has remained underutilised. This approval enables us to deliver a project that will contribute meaningfully to the revitalisation of Southbank, restore and reactivate an important heritage building, and create a new civic and hospitality destination for Melbourne.”

The latest approval follows an earlier planning permit issued by the City of Melbourne covering demolition works across part of the site at 9-29 Queens Bridge Street. Those demolition and early works are already underway.

PDG has also started generating early interest in the residential component from owner-occupiers ahead of a planned public launch in early 2027.

PDG secures approval for $1.5bn Southbank apartment development, The One

Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

Tourism

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iProsperity has officially opened the first phase of a strategic co-operation agreement with “KUR-World Ecotourism Resort Center” in the Cairns region of Australia.
The agreement is the latest sign of iProsperity's continued investment in the Australian tourism market.
Regarding the strategic partnership with KUR-World Ecotourism Resort Center, Mr. Michael Gu, CEO and founder said, “the co-operation between iProsperity and KUR-World will focus on the field of luxury experiential accommodation."
"Simultaneously, this investment will be combined with iProsperity’s existing Australian high-yield return hotel portfolio to deal with the changing commercial property environment.” 
KUR-World, a large integrated resort in the Kurunda tropical rainforest of Cairns, Australia, is a low-density eco-tourism resort located on approx 630 hectares.
It integrates the existing tropical rainforest and Australian pastoral natural resources.
The project is planned to be completed by 2025, with the first phase of “KUR Cow” now open. It combines the Australian tropical rainforest and cultural experience within five themed scenic spots. This has resulted in an exciting experience combining a leading “wagyu” culture and outdoor sporting complex area.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

First phase of new tourist investment collaboration KUR-World opens in Australia 

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ASIC has disqualified Mr Leigh Jorgensen of Cairns, QLD, from managing companies for the maximum period of five years as a result of his involvement in three failed companies.
Mr Jorgensen was a former director of:
<ul>
<li class="null">A.C.N. 156 455 828 Pty Ltd - ACN 156 455 828, formerly known as North Trek Tours;</li>
<li class="null">Cairns Tour Bookings Pty Ltd - ACN 607 849 301; and</li>
<li class="null">Tudoods Pty Ltd - ACN 112 831 124.</li>
</ul>
Mr Jorgensen used the companies to operate a tour business in and around the Cairns region.  The companies were placed into liquidation between 11 April 2012 and 27 January 2017.
The total amount of debts owed by the companies to creditors amounted to approximately $1.1 million.
ASIC found that Mr Jorgensen:
<ul>
<li class="null">Failed to exercise his duties as a director with due care and diligence;</li>
<li class="null">Failed to ensure that proper financial records were kept;</li>
<li class="null">Failed to deliver books and records to the liquidators;</li>
<li class="null">Failed to make the required lodgements with, or pay taxes to, the Australian Taxation Office.</li>
</ul>
In reaching its decision, ASIC relied on reports that were lodged by the liquidators of the failed companies.
Mr Jorgensen’s disqualification took effect from 27 April 2019 and extends to 26 April 2024.
<h2 class="null">Background</h2>
Section 206F of the Corporations Act allows ASIC to disqualify a person from managing corporations for up to five years if, within a seven-year period, the person was an officer of two or more companies and those companies were wound up and a liquidator provides a report to ASIC about the company’s inability to pay its debts.
ASIC also maintains a <a href="https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/RegistrySearch/faces/landing/SearchRegisters.jspx?_adf.ctrl-state=6aemcndcc_4" target="_blank">'Banned and Disqualified Persons'</a> register that provides information about people who have been disqualified from:
<ul>
<li class="null">involvement in the management of a corporation;</li>
<li class="null">auditing self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs); or</li>
<li class="null">practicing in the financial services of credit industry.</li>
</ul>
Following a separate investigation, Mr Jorgensen was convicted of making a false or misleading statement to ASIC (<a href="https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/find-a-media-release/2018-releases/18-044mr-former-director-of-cairns-tour-company-convicted-for-making-a-false-or-misleading-statement-to-asic/" target="_blank">18-044MR</a>) when he lodged a form 6010 to voluntarily deregister A.C.N. 156 455 828 which had outstanding liabilities to the Commonwealth. Due to this conviction, Mr Jorgensen was automatically disqualified from managing corporations, until he successfully appealed the conviction on 10 September 2018.
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

ASIC ban former Cairns tour operator Leigh Jorgensen for five years

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Tourism today has a problem and needs an entire rethink. Pundits are debating <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-australia-might-be-at-risk-of-overtourism-99213" target="_blank">overtourism</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/were-in-the-era-of-overtourism-but-there-is-a-more-sustainable-way-forward-108906" target="_blank">peak tourism</a> and <a href="https://medium.com/@BComuGlobal/they-call-it-tourism-phobia-but-that-s-not-what-s-happening-in-barcelona-cb56b02da97b" target="_blank">tourismphobia</a>. Cities such as <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-stop-city-breaks-killing-our-cities-79132" target="_blank">Barcelona</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/06/venice-losing-fight-with-tourism-and-flooding" target="_blank">Venice</a> and <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/dubrovnik-cruise-ship-cap-croatia-overtourism-two-dock-a8565166" target="_blank">Dubrovnik</a> are witnessing a backlash against imposed forms of tourism.
In response, new tactics have been tried, ranging from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/14/venice-stewards-stop-antisocial-behaviour--sandwich-poilice" target="_blank">tourist “police”</a> and <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/edinburgh-city-tourist-tax-scotland-holiday-city-break-a8769141?fbclid=IwAR2q6q9woKiC226mLbvYkhJcFF5dr-7T2BjsGU9NXAgwn9vsz3uerfPyRlM" target="_blank">tourist taxes</a> to entry fees and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/sep/06/mass-tourism-environmental-damage" target="_blank">crowd control</a>. Cities are having to rethink their engagement with tourism if they want to keep the locals from <a href="https://amp.theguardian.com/cities/2019/apr/30/sinking-city-how-venice-is-managing-europes-worst-tourism-crisis?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Twitter&amp;__twitter_impression=true&amp;fbclid=IwAR1DvMXEHG0OFcWeLmuxzd7OBxPbFEGIlO5VDH2Oo--ZhHepL6q3gwVM0-8" target="_blank">rioting</a>.
Fundamental concerns are being raised. If tourism is to have a sustainable future, we need to reorient our focus and put the well-being and interests of local residents at the forefront.
Understanding tourism
Tourism is typically understood from two angles. On the one hand, the focus is on the tourists and the nature of their motivations and demand, in the hope of enticing more. On the other is the business side, focused on developing products and services to provide to tourists.
The industry seeks to grow tourism for profits. Governments support the industry for the jobs and revenues it provides. The result has been a relentless growth in tourism in forms that locals have often not appreciated.
Developments like Airbnb are placing tourists <a href="http://www.traveller.com.au/barcelona-tourism-overtourism-and-bad-behaviour-driving-locals-to-despair-h13vqy" target="_blank">in the heart of local neighbourhoods</a>, disrupting the rhythms of daily life. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261517717301784" target="_blank">Events are imposed on communities</a>, driving out locals or blighting their quality of life. A case in point is the Newcastle 500 Supercars event, which <a href="https://wrongtracknsw.com/" target="_blank">some locals claim</a> has harmed local businesses and disrupted residents’ lives.
Public assets like the <a href="http://www.adelaide-parklands.asn.au/current-issues/" target="_blank">Adelaide Parklands</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/green-light-for-tasmanian-wilderness-tourism-development-defied-expert-advice-104854" target="_blank">Australian national parks and World Heritage areas</a> are being commercialised and privatised for tourism developments.
Shifting the focus to the local community
We could create a different future for tourism if it was reoriented to be centred on the local community. <a href="https://tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09669582.2019.1601732" target="_blank">Our recently published research paper</a> redefined tourism as: "The process of local communities inviting, receiving and hosting visitors in their local community, for a limited time duration, with the intention of receiving benefits from such actions."
Such forms of tourism may be offered by commercial businesses or made possible by non-profit organisations. But in this restructure of tourism, tourism operators would be allowed access to the local community’s assets only under their authorisation and stewardship.
The seeds of such a transition to more sustainable forms of tourism are already growing.
Respect and fairness go a long way
Venice provides a good example. In 2017, the authorities launched a <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/venice-enjoyrespectvenezia-tourism-campaign-paola-mar-travel-campaign-litter-swim-canals-bridges-a7861321" target="_blank">#EnjoyRespectVenezia</a> campaign to overcome problems of poor tourist behaviour.
In 2019, Venetian authorities have gone even further by <a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/venice-biennale-city-access-fee-1535137" target="_blank">introducing an entry fee</a> this year and, later, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/venice-booking-system-entry-fee-reserve-overcrowding-overtourism-a8765456" target="_blank">a booking system</a>. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said: "We intend to guarantee a better liveability for citizens and, above all, for the residents."
But local communities and organisations are not waiting for authorities to act. Community activists are organising to take control of tourism for themselves.
A grassroots initiative from Amsterdam and Venice has resulted in <a href="https://fairbnb.coop/" target="_blank">Fairbnb</a>. It’s a social cooperative designed to challenge the damaging and disruptive model of Airbnb. The new platform “provides a community-centred alternative to current vacation rental platforms that prioritises people over profit and offers the potential for authentic, sustainable and intimate travel experiences”.
Like Airbnb, Fairbnb offers a platform to book vacation rentals. The difference is that 50% of revenues will be directed to local community projects. It also has a “one host, one home” policy – only one property on the market for each host – to limit negative impacts on local residential housing markets.
Meanwhile in Australia …
Australia does not have the same level of <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-australia-might-be-at-risk-of-overtourism-99213" target="_blank">overtourism</a> that places in Europe are suffering. But pressures are building right around the country from Byron Bay and the Great Ocean Road to our bigger cities like Sydney and Melbourne. Locals are complaining about housing affordability, congested roads and badly behaved tourists.
Australia would benefit from strategies to reorient tourism to local well-being and control. Some promising examples already exist.
<a href="https://www.lirrwitourism.com.au/" target="_blank">Lirrwi Tourism</a> in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, stands out. The Yolngu Aboriginal operators have embraced tourism access but only under a visionary set of <a href="https://www.lirrwitourism.com.au/guiding-principles" target="_blank">guiding principles</a>. These declare “Yolngu have a responsibility to care for country” and “Tourism should never control what happens on country”. It’s an example of tourism on the local community’s terms.
<a href="https://www.theurbanist.org/2015/09/16/melbourne-a-case-study-in-the-revitalization-of-city-laneways-part-1/" target="_blank">Melbourne’s laneways strategy</a> has demonstrated one way CBD revitalisation, resident well-being and visitor experiences can be brought together for great outcomes.
Tourists can play their part by meeting local communities halfway. In a resource-constrained world the pleasures of tourism must be balanced with some basic responsibilities.
Tourists must gain some basic understanding of local living conditions and shape their travel plans accordingly. The focus must be to give locals the maximum benefits from the visit with the minimum negative impacts. The recent campaign <a href="https://www.kathmandu.com.au/helpful-or-harmful" target="_blank">“Helpful or harmful: what sort of traveller are you?”</a> provides a place to start.
The long-term sustainability of tourism depends on ensuring visitors do not wear out their welcome. Reorienting tourism to enhance local well-being is the way forward.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/116066/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Freya Higgins-Desbiolles, Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management, University of South Australia
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/rethinking-tourism-so-the-locals-actually-benefit-from-hosting-visitors-116066" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Rethinking tourism so the locals actually benefit from hosting visitors

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There were a record numbers of tourists visiting Australia last year, according to CommSec.
However, over the year to December, Australia saw its slowest growth rate in tourist arrivals since February 2012.
Tourist arrivals rose by 0.6 percent to 782,700 in December, a 4.9 percent increase over the year.
Tourist departures also rose in December, by 1.2 percent, to be 8 percent up over the year, the strongest annual growth rate in 19 months.
There were more tourists coming to Australia from Greater China, which incorporates China and Hong Kong (mainland China 122,600; Hong Kong 25,900), than New Zealand (115,600).
The increase made China the largest source of tourists to Australia. The 1,444,900 tourist count was up 4.4 percent over the year.
There was also a record number of Indian tourists to Australia, 358,200, up 18.1 percent.
New Zealand tourists also saw a rise, to $1,384,900, an increase of two percent.
The month of December saw record tourist inflows from Canada.
Heading the other way, there were a record number of Aussies traveling to Samoa, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Poland and Indonesia.
There were record figures in the number of permanent and long-term arrivals in Australia in December. Arrivals over the year reached a record high 832,560, a 7.1 percent increase, thanks to a further 62,890 entrants in December.
 
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Australia sees record number of tourists in 2018, but growth slows to six year low

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Tourist arrivals fell by 0.1 per cent in November with Aussie tourist departures down by 0.4 per cent.
Tourists from China hit record highs over the year but annual growth of Chinese inflows is the slowest in 8½ years. 
Winners:
The ACT and Tasmania are attracting a record share of the visitors to Australia.
What does it all mean?
 The number of Chinese tourists is at fresh record highs. But tourist numbers are not growing like they used to – annual growth is the slowest in 8½ years. The slowdown of the Chinese economy and on-going US-China trade dispute is having real consequences for our retail and hospitality sectors.
 It is the spin-off from higher migration – a record proportion of the people coming to our shores are here to see family and friends. This trend has consequences for the accommodation, hospitality and rental car industries.
 The shares are still small – but the ACT and Tasmania are attracting a record share of visitors to Australia. The bad news for the Northern Territory is that its share of visitors is at record lows.
 There is solid growth of Aussies deciding to go overseas for an extended period. But there are also plenty of people from other countries wanting to migrate to Australia or stay for an extended period. In a net sense, over the past year almost 290,000 more foreigners decided to call Australia home – the highest level since mid-2014
 The migrants are here to study and/or work, importantly filling skill gaps in our workforce. The extra number of people need to find accommodation, may buy cars and use public transport. So it is always important that businesses and governments are on top of the trends. What do the figures show?
Tourism 
 Tourist arrivals fell 0.1 per cent to 778,200 in November, only the second fall in seven months. Arrivals are up 2.6 per cent over the year.
 A record 30 per cent of visitors to Australia are here to see friends and relatives. The share of visitors arriving for a holiday is at 3-year lows.
 Aussie tourist departures rose by 2.4 per cent in November but are still up 5.2 per cent over the year.
 Over the 12 months to November, arrivals are up 4.9 per cent and departures up by 4.0 per cent.
 In November, tourists from Greater China (China and Hong Kong) totalled 143,700 (mainland China 117,100; Hong Kong 26,600), ahead of New Zealand (116,500).
 China is the largest source of tourists to Australia. Over the past year a record 1,438,500 tourists came to Australia from China, up by 4.7 per cent.
 Tourists from New Zealand totalled 1,381,600 visitors over the past year, up by 1.6 per cent.
 A record 354,500 Indian tourists travelled to Australia over the year to November, up by 18.4 per cent.
 In November alone, there were record tourist inflows from Belgium, India and Canada.
 In November, a record number of Aussies travelled to New Zealand, Italy, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
 Migration
 In November there were 55,490 permanent and long-term arrivals in Australia. The annual number of permanent and long-term overseas arrivals rose to a record high 828.980 in November, up by 6.6 per cent over the year.
 In November there were 42,170 permanent and long-term departures in Australia. The annual number of permanent and long-term overseas arrivals fell from 541,220 to 540,760 in November but were up by 6.3 per cent over the year.
 Net permanent and long-term arrivals stood at 288,220 in the year to November – a 4½-year high.
What are the implications for interest rates and investors?
 Annual growth of Chinese tourists is now the slowest in 8½ years. If the slowdown continues, it will have implications for airlines, retailers and tourism-dependent businesses.
 The net number of migrants is growing at a 7 per cent annual pace – the fastest growth in 16 months. The growing number of migrants provides all-important momentum to the economy and boosts the outlook for housing and retail sectors.
 Why are the ACT and Tasmanian economies doing so well? One reason is home construction, but it appears tourism is also playing a big role. The two economies are attracting a record share of the visitors to the country.
 CommSec expects the official cash rate to remain steady until later in 2019. 
Craig James is the Chief Economist of CommSec
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cjames-5S2v74qSNK

Chinese tourism growth is the slowest in eight years: Craig James

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A Terrigal restaurant and apartment has been sold for $3.35 million to a Sydney-based investor.
Savills Australia’s Aaron McLean brokered the deal on behalf of the locally based vendor, achieving a rate of $5,135.85 per sqm and an initial yield of 5.15 per cent.
Located at 10 Kurrawyba Avenue Mr Mclean said “we received 66 direct enquiries for this campaign, with a total of nine offers submitted.”
“The buyer’s family regularly visits Terrigal as their favourite ‘Sydney getaway’ destination so they will use the four-bedroom apartment for family holidays, while holding on to the renowned Le Chat Noir restaurant as the retail tenant,” he said.
Last sold in 2001 the property went for $727,500 making this latest sale a 9.4% year on year increase in price.
Set on a 651 sqm block the property has a fully leased rental potential of $173,198pa net.
Situated 100m to Terrigal Beach, restaurants, cars and cafes the building holds a corner position with 58m of frontage.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/11/21/Terrigal%202.jpg" alt="">
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Savills sells Terrigal restaurant and apartment for $3.35 million

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Many who fear Australia’s population boom believe we should be cutting down on immigration. They blame immigration for congestion and expenditure of environmental and other vital resources. They say Australia’s cities are becoming overcrowded and cannot sustain more people.
But if Australia were to cut down on immigration, it would also then make sense to introduce policies that limit numbers of international tourists and students. Why single out one group of people? If any person living in Australia drains a certain amount of resources, it stands to reason this is also the case with short-term visitors arriving year after year.
Not only do tourists and international students add to crowded trains, trams and buses, think of all the environmental resources they consume – such as the water hotels spend on frequently washing their sheets.
Just as with migration, tourist numbers are on the rise in Australia. The number of international tourists (blue line) increased from just over four million in 1997-98 to nearly 8 million in 2015-2016. Settler arrivals (people living in Australia who are entitled to permanent residence) increased from 81,000 in 1998 to 135,000 in 2016.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/231867/original/file-20180814-2909-2cu3qc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Tourist numbers are on the rise in Australia. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Author provided
My crude calculations show that if Australia were to allow zero tourism, it could accommodate roughly 900,000 more migrants. As a comparison, Australia’s total migration intake is around 190,000 per year.
But of course curbing tourism, or immigration, isn’t a feasible option. Tourists, international students and migrants all add positive value to Australia.
Our calculations
As a general rule, the monetary amount spent across a group of people in a population is considered a rough approximation of the amount of resources that have been used. So, to get an idea of the resources short-term visitors to Australia (which includes tourists and international students who stay for less than a year) might use, I extracted data on how much they spend on goods and services.
Then I calculated the approximate number of migrants who would be spending the same amount of money. This gave me a rough indication of how many extra migrants we could let into the country per drop in tourist numbers.
I was a bit generous in terms of working off the assumption that migrants spend the same amount on goods and services as “native” Australians. I used ABS data for my calculations, which were:
<ul>
<li>First, I subtracted the amount international tourists spend (which includes students who stay less than a year) in Australia (this was A$33,917 million in 2015-16) from the total spend in Australia (A$940,822 million in 2015-16). This gave me an idea of the amount spent by Australian residents only (A$906,905 million in 2015-16).</li>
<li>I then worked out the average consumption of residents per capita by dividing it by the population (around 24 million in 2015-16). This came to A$37,680 million for every 1,000 people.</li>
<li>Then I divided the total spend of international tourists by the per capita amount (per 1,000 residents) spent by residents. This came to 900,213 in 2015-16.</li>
<li>I also did similar calculations assuming tourists consumed 10% and 20% more than migrants.</li>
</ul>
The fact we could have 900,000 extra migrants if we had no tourists is a very rough number. The point is not the exact number. Even if the more accurate number was 400,000, that number is large. The purpose of this exercise is to show that migrants, as one group of people, don’t pose the most significant risk to our population in terms of resources drained.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/232008/original/file-20180815-2900-1aokyfp.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
These numbers are based on crude calculations, and assume that migrants spend the same way as Australian-born residents. CC BY-SA
It’s a rough guide
As already mentioned, my calculations were crude. More detailed calculation of resources consumed by both groups (immigrants and international tourists) would compare the different impacts on growth and employment of immigration. But for the purposes of this exercise, I’ve carried out more limited calculations.
The demographic profile of immigrants is also different from that of international tourists. And the spending patterns of immigrants would be very different from those of the tourists. Immigrants would be buying white goods, for instance, such as refrigerators, vacuum cleaners. Tourists would be buying these services indirectly through renting rooms in hotels, Airbnb and the like.
But we wouldn’t shut down tourism, as we know it has a positive impact on our economy. And research generally shows that immigration has a slightly positive effect on Australia’s employment rate and gross domestic product (GDP). A recent government report also shows that cutting Australia’s migration rate would cost the budget billions of dollars, lower living standards and reduce jobs growth.

Both tourism and migration make a positive impact to our economy, and no one group should be blamed for draining our resources.
Raja Junankar, Honorary Professor, Industrial Relations Research Centre, UNSW
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-could-house-around-900-000-more-migrants-if-we-no-longer-let-in-tourists-101457" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Australia could house around 900,000 more migrants if we no longer let in tourists

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The Hilton Surfers Paradise, comprising the Hilton Hotel and the management rights for the Hilton Residences, is being marketed for sale with a price tag of about $80 million after its Chinese based investors decided to sell.
The privately owned company Ji Feng bought the five star hotel from Brookfield in 2011 for about $37 million.
It is reported the vendor has no other commercial property interests in Australia.
The hotel, once part of the failed Raptis company, comprises 169 guest rooms, four food and beverage outlets, conference facilities, pool deck, two gyms, a day spa and 89 undercover car parks.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/7/24/HILTON%202.jpg" alt="">
A strong rebound in tourism and hotel occupancy sees the Gold Coast market recording revenue growth per available room in the year to date up 15.6% on the same comparative period last year.
The listing agent Sam McVay said the new owners had the opportunity to replace Hilton as the manager.
The hotel spreads across two towers and is offered with the associated management rights for the Hilton Residences.
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Hilton Surfers Paradise listed with $80 million price tag

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GUEST OBSERVATION
John Briggs, a 40-year-old on holiday, texted his wife Shirley: “Look at the glacier out there.” He waited for the reply, which came through on his mobile. At the time they were sitting next to one another on board the deck of their small cruise ship, along northern Alaska’s icy shores.
This interaction was reported to us during our research on digital behaviour. Results to date show that for many people digital communication now trumps natural conversations – and the appreciation of the present scenery has begun to elude many online devotees.
A corrective to this addiction has now emerged: the digital detox holiday.
Depending on which country you’re in, the experience might be labelled variously as “black hole resorts”, “offline escape retreats”, or “dead zone holiday options”. At its core, this emerging holiday trend is defined by disconnection from the usually omnipresent online and social media.
The concept of digital detox has changed
To assess attitudes toward this rising trend, we conducted a range of focus groups in Australia. We also plotted the changing ways the idea is being presented in the international media, analysing several hundred articles and documents from the past ten years.
Aside from some early references in 2009 and 2010, serious media coverage of digital-free holidays began in 2011. The experience was first offered as an elite product targeting the wealthy few. By 2016 and in 2017, digital-free holidays went from a niche product to one that appealed to a broader consumer base.
Even more interestingly, the kind of value sought in such an experience has also shifted over time. In the early years, these holidays were discussed as a means of escape and a way to de-stress. Last year, the emphasis was much more about building skills and attributes which could endure beyond the holiday.
The next phase of the work is to examine these skills more closely. Early indications suggest that couples and families use these experiences to learn to engage more fully with one another, undertake joint challenges. They appreciate that holidays offer bigger screen shots of the world than the view available on the mobile phone or laptop.
Australia’s remote geography is ideal
In Australia, where connectivity in remote locations is still a challenge, the digital detox holiday style may be a building block in the design of engaged, intimate holidays.
The opportunity to be offline will likely need to be coupled with a new suite of activities for tourists to enjoy. These may include photography, astronomy tourism, wildlife viewing, dancing and competitions, night treks and cooking classes.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/99740/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">But these skills may be secondary to the chance of immersing oneself in conversation and joyous moments with travel companions. In the near future, there may indeed be a growing number of options for people like John and Shirley, our cruise holiday texters, to enjoy a retro holiday style where connectivity is an afterthought, not a central plank underpinning life and relationships.
Philip Lovell Pearce, Foundation Professor of Tourism, James Cook University
Li Jing, PhD Candidate, James Cook University
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/more-of-us-are-opting-for-digital-detox-holidays-99740" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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More of us are opting for 'digital detox' holidays

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Recently, some of Europe’s most-visited cities have become surprisingly inhospitable to tourists. Barcelona residents have been openly hostile to visitors and officials are now cracking down on Airbnb rentals. Venice has been overrun with daytrippers and recently instituted tourist-only diversion routes. Dubrovnik has put a cap on the number of cruise ship passengers that can enter the city at any one time.
These destinations are suffering from what people in the travel industry call “overtourism.” The numbers speak for themselves. Europe was the most frequently visited region in the world in 2016, accounting for close to half of the 1.24 billion international tourist arrivals. Spain, a nation of 46.5 million people, welcomed a remarkable 75.3 million visitors in 2016. Croatia, population 4.2 million, saw more than triple the number of tourist arrivals.
Australia hasn’t yet experienced visitor numbers quite this large – there were just 8.24 million tourist arrivals in 2016 – but overtourism is becoming a concern here, as well.
What exactly is overtourism?
The awkward term overtourism describes a situation in which a tourism destination exceeds its carrying capacity – in physical and/or psychological terms. It results in a deterioration of the tourism experience for either visitors or locals, or both. If allowed to continue unchecked, overtourism can lead to serious consequences for popular destinations.
The situation has gotten so bad in certain locales in recent years, media outlets have started publishing lists of the “travel destinations you should avoid” and new terms like “anti-tourism” and “tourismphobia” are entering the travel industry lexicon. Tourist sites have even occasionally been targeted with violence, such as the string of attacks that took place in Spain last year.
<iframe src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Gc8g3/2/" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="100%" height="332"></iframe>
The causes of overtourism vary according to the destination. Recently, the disruptive agents of the sharing economy, like Airbnb, have been blamed for bringing more tourists into the heart of communities instead of just tourist sites. Cheap travel and package holidays are enabling more people to take short city breaks and cruises, particularly in Europe. Social media also plays a role in popularising places like Myanmar, which go from being off-the-grid to “must-see” destinations overnight.
The shifting focus of governmental tourism agencies play a role in overtourism, as well. Many agencies are now almost exclusively marketing-focused and their singular goal is promoting growth. For instance, Tourism Australia’s “Tourism 2020” strategy is clearly growth-focused. Its goal is stated simply on the website - to achieve more than AU$115 billion in overnight spending by 2020 (up from AU$70 billion in 2009).
Sustainable tourism strategies, once heavily promoted in the 1990s and early 2000s, no longer seem to be as high a priority.
Is Australia really in danger of overtourism?
Australian tourism sites like Kangaroo Island aren’t seeing visitor numbers anywhere close to Venice and Barcelona just yet. However, poor tourism policies may still lead to a form of overtourism if locals perceive their quality of life is being damaged by tourists.
For instance, the 2011 Kangaroo Island Pro-Surf and Music Festival faced considerable community opposition for its proposal to bring 5,000 visitors to the small hamlet of Vivonne Bay (population 400). Recently published research examining the policy process indicated it was a push by tourism authorities to boost tourism on the island that led to the event being imposed on the community. The backlash was so severe, organisers abandoned plans to host the event again in subsequent years.
However, this hasn’t stopped other tourism development schemes from being proposed. And the state Economic Development Board has recommended doubling the numbers of tourists on the island by 2020.
Tasmania, too, has experienced a tourist backlash in recent years. Most recently, thousands came out to protest a proposed cable car for Mount Wellington near Hobart. With claims by critics that the cable car would draw upwards of 1 million tourists per year, one can readily see the seeds for overtourism.
Another site that could be in danger is the Great Barrier Reef. Agricultural run-off, climate change and a crown-of-thorns starfish outbreak are currently posing grave threats to the reef, which could spark a phenomenon known as “last-chance tourism”, – a rush to experience a place before it’s gone for good.
What can be done?
Most experts agree government regulations are key to addressing the threats from overtourism. Many cities, for instance, are following Barcelona’s lead to tighten restrictions on Airbnb. The Thai government is closing popular Maya Beach on Phi Phi Island for four months every year to allow the sea life to recover. Creatively, Copenhagen is promoting a tourism policy based on “localhood”:
"A long-term vision that supports the inclusive co-creation of our future destination. A future destination where human relations are the focal point. Where locals and visitors not only co-exist, but interact around shared experiences of localhood. Where our global competitiveness is underpinned by our very own localhood. And where tourism growth is co-created responsibly across industries and geographies, between new and existing stakeholders, with localhood as our shared identity and common starting point."
And in New Zealand, the tourism board is actively promoting tourism visits outside of peak season. This is a good example of how government agencies can use “demarketing” strategies, or deflecting interest in places, to address rising tensions over tourism. Similarly, Majorca’s authorities have tried to rebrand it as a winter destination in an effort to reduce overcrowding in the peak season.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/99213/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">With its “Tourism 2020” strategy, Australia is focused instead on growing its visitor numbers. The national and local tourism bodies should take a more sustainable and holistic approach to their tourism planning to reflect the values and desires of local communities. That will ensure visitor numbers remain in check and tourism remains an enjoyable experience – for tourists and residents alike.
Freya Higgins-Desbiolles, Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management, University of South Australia
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-australia-might-be-at-risk-of-overtourism-99213" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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