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

<main data-perf-region="main">
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>
</main>

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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In the era of Airbnb - and its relatively light regulation - you could be forgiven for thinking there mightn't be a need for so many new hotels however investors appear to be unperturbed by the room-and-whole-property-sharing platform and others like it.

Just this week we've had three hotel reports. It was announced yesterday that the Westin brand will head into <a href="/news/westin-signs-into-adelaides-general-post-office-precinct">Adelaide's GPO development</a>, <a href="/news/little-collins-streets-hotel-precinct-poised-for-another-addition">Little Collins Street in Melbourne</a> could see another hotel, and there are <a href="/news/cromwell-and-pro-invest-refine-their-sydney-hotel-intentions">shifting intentions in Sydney</a> as well.

Hotels are a major piece of a city's tourism infrastructure however they are not the sole accommodation provider - sharing platforms like Airbnb and Stayz, family accommodation and holiday houses all play a part in housing, temporarily, visitors to a city or region.

Sharing platforms increase the size and add competition to the accommodation market however they're likely to face tougher regulation over time.  This <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/councils-scramble-for-new-laws-to-stop-airbnb-pop-up-parties-20180703-p4zp7b">article</a> in The Age is not all that uncommon - short-stay accommodation that disturbs the peace will only go as far as the local community will tolerate it.

The New South Wales Government recently introduced new regulations which among other things limit the number of nights (180 per year) a property can be let out on a short-term rental basis in metropolitan Sydney. Regional areas will have no automatic cap but local councils will be able to impose their own limits, the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-05/airbnb-changes-as-nsw-government-reaches-compromise/9836648">ABC reported</a> last month.

The Victorian Government set up a panel to look at specific short-stay accommodation issues which resulted in a report, and according to the panel's <a href="https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/resources-and-tools/legislation/public-consultations-and-reviews/short-stay-accommodation-panel">website</a>, the government is consulting with stakeholders.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/qf_787_dep_adl_ccbysa.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="More people are coming to Australia and we're all travelling more - tourism is booming. Image: flickr"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/qf_787_dep_adl_ccbysa.jpg?itok=CnPA4cSC" title="More people are coming to Australia and we're all travelling more - tourism is booming. Image: flickr" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>More people are coming to Australia and we're all travelling more - tourism is booming. Image: <a href="/https:/www.flickr.com/photos/100780486@N02/38442428926">flickr</a></figcaption></figure><h2>The bigger picture</h2>

In short, Australia - its cities and regions - are going through a tourism boom.  Both domestic and international tourism is growing 2-3x the population growth rate in many cities and the 'traditional' accommodation providers are simply responding to it.

Data from the <a href="https://www.tra.gov.au/">Tourism Research Australia</a> shows total number of domestic visitors to the major 5 capitals has growth between 20% and 42% over the past ten years.

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%;">
<thead><tr>
<th scope="col">City</th>
			<th scope="col">Number of visitors, year ending December 2017</th>
			<th scope="col">Number of visitors, year ending December 2007</th>
			<th scope="col">Growth</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Sydney</td>
			<td>9,924,000</td>
			<td>7,392,000</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">34%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Melbourne</td>
			<td>9,251,000</td>
			<td>6,509,000</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">42%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brisbane</td>
			<td>6,485,000</td>
			<td>4,931,000</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">31%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Perth</td>
			<td>3,943,000</td>
			<td>3,061,000</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">28%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Adelaide</td>
			<td>2,791,000</td>
			<td>2,324,000</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">20%</td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
International visitor numbers from <a href="http://www.tourism.australia.com/en/markets-and-research/tourism-statistics/international-visitor-arrivals">Tourism Australia</a> also show high growth with the total international arrivals into Australia at the year ending December 2017 sitting at <a href="http://www.tourism.australia.com/en/markets-and-research/tourism-statistics/international-visitor-arrivals">8.8 million representing a 6.6% year-on-year change</a>.

Just as increasing numbers of passengers flying through airports is forcing policymakers to re-think ground transport - Perth has a rail link under construction, it looks like Melbourne will finally get one with the PM chipping in $5 billion - developers also have been busy responding to the continuing growth in tourism numbers right across the country.

To see a list of all hotels on the Apartments.com.au database, click <a href="/developments?rlisting_listing_type_value%5B0%5D=7&amp;items_per_page=10">here</a>.
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Alastair Taylor

Hotels hotels hotels, why so many new hotels?

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The carbon footprint of tourism is about four times larger than previously thought, according to a world-first study published today in Nature Climate Change.
Researchers from the University of Sydney, University of Queensland and National Cheng Kung University – including ourselves – worked together to assess the entire supply chain of tourism. This includes transportation, accommodation, food and beverages, souvenirs, clothing, cosmetics and other goods.
Put together, global tourism produces about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, much more than previous estimates.
Adding it all up
Tourism is a trillion-dollar industry, and is growing faster than international trade.
To determine the true emissions produced by tourism, we scanned over a billion supply chains of a range of commodities consumed by tourists. By combining a detailed international trade database with accounts tracking what goods and services tourists bought, we identified carbon flows between 160 countries from 2009 to 2013.
Our results show that tourism-related emissions increased by around 15% over that period, from 3.9 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon-dioxide equivalent (CO₂-e) to 4.5Gt. This rise primarily came from tourist spending on transport, shopping and food.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/217900/original/file-20180507-166903-1irt6n0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
World map showing bilateral embodied carbon movements. In 2013, international travel was responsible for 23% of the global carbon footprint of tourism. [The carbon footprint of global tourism] 
We estimate that our growing appetite for travel and a business-as-usual scenario would increase carbon emissions from global tourism to about 6.5Gt by 2025. This increase is largely driven by rising incomes, making tourism highly income-elastic and carbon-intensive.
Whose responsibility is it?
In the study, we compared two perspectives for allocating responsibility for these emissions: residence-based accounting and destination-based accounting. The former perspective allocates emissions to the country of residence of tourists, the latter to the country of destination. Put simply, are tourism-related carbon emissions the responsibility of travellers or tourist destinations?
If responsibility lies with the travellers, then we should identify the countries that send the most tourists out into the world, and find ways to reduce the carbon footprint of their travel.
On the other hand, destination-based accounting can offer insights into tourism spots (like popular islands) that would benefit most from technology improvements and regulations for reducing the carbon footprint of tourism.
Tracking emissions under destination-based accounting over a specific period could help researchers and policymakers to answer questions about the success of incentive schemes and regulations, and to assess the speed of decarbonisation of tourism-related sectors.
So how do countries rank under the two accounting perspectives? The United States is responsible for the majority of tourism-related emissions under both perspectives – many people travel both from and to the US – followed by China, Germany and India.
But on a per-capita basis, the situation looks rather different. Small island destinations have the highest per-capita destination-based footprints. Maldives tops the list – 95% of the island’s tourism-related emissions come from international visitors.
Tourists are responsible for 30-80% of the national emissions of island economies. These findings bring up the question of the impact of tourism on small island states.
Islands as tourist destinations
Small islands depend on income from tourists. At the same time, these very tourists threaten the native biodiversity of the islands.
Small island states typically do not have the capacity to embrace technology improvements due to their small economies of scale and isolated locations.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/217909/original/file-20180507-166903-2md88e.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Sustainable tourism on islands. Author provided
Can we lend a helping hand? Directing financial and technical support to these islands could potentially help with efforts to decarbonise their infrastructure. This support would be a reflection of the share of consumer responsibility, especially from developed nations that are “net travellers”.
Maldives, Mauritius and other small islands are actively exploring ways of building their renewable energy capacity to reduce the carbon intensity of local hotels, transport and recreational spots.
Creating awareness at multiple levels
We hope that our study provides a starting point for conversations between the public, companies and policymakers about sustainable tourism.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/96200/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Ultimately real change will come from implementing regulations and incentives together to encourage low-carbon operations. At a personal level, though, it’s worth looking at the carbon-cost of your flights, choosing to offset your emissions where possible and supporting tourism companies that aim to operate sustainably.
Dr Arunima Malik, Lecturer in Sustainability, University of Sydney
Dr Ya-Yen Sun, Senior Lecturer, The University of Queensland
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-carbon-footprint-of-tourism-revealed-its-bigger-than-we-thought-96200" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

The carbon footprint of tourism revealed (it's bigger than we thought)

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Big cities and places with internationally renowned attractions have long been the most popular tourist destinations. Even today, Chinese tour companies in Australia, for instance, mostly <a href="https://epubs.scu.edu.au/tourism_pubs/2219/" target="_blank">focus on the biggest cities</a> – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane – and landmarks like Uluru. But modern tourism is starting to take a slightly different path, regional travel, which creates economic benefits for towns and also leaves tourists with a better impression of a country.
Unpublished research undertaken by one of us (Elizabeth Turenko) while working as a tour leader in Ukraine in 2013-2014 confirmed this. Feedback from guests travelling on a group tour to Europe showed 80% preferred to visit “well-known” large cities, mostly capitals, when it came to choosing a tour.
Most of the time, though, these tourists were disappointed because the cities did not live up to their expectations. But, the study revealed, 75% of tourists enjoyed travelling to smaller towns when they did decide to visit them as part of a tour.
<h2>Big cities are losing their local flavour</h2>
There is no doubt the major cities are attractive and are still perceived as the essence of a country for many tourists. Yet the question remains: are these cities actually showing the “real country”? At a time of globalisation and global cities, to what extent do the larger cities still give tourists “the taste” of local culture.
Rural Tourism Marketing Group CEO <a href="http://ruraltourismmarketing.com/" target="_blank">Joanna Steele</a> <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.cfra.org/node/2504" target="_blank">writes</a>:
<blockquote>
In the past five years tourism has seen some big changes. Large numbers of travellers have lost interest in cookie-cutter restaurants, lodging and attractions. Instead, they want local food, local attractions and connection to the lifestyles of local people.
</blockquote>
The best places to experience that are often small local towns and villages. Here life hasn’t yet been adapted to tourist needs and the authenticity feels right.
Turenko also investigated the tourists’ preferences during a group bus tour in Europe. The main program involved a one-day visit to Amsterdam and a second day on which tourists could spend their free time in Amsterdam or go on a group trip to <a href="https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/plan-your-trip/day-trips/old-holland/smalltown-harbours/volendam" target="_blank">Volendam</a>, a small town 20km away. The 90% of the group who opted for the town visit were very satisfied with their decision.
So, was there anything special about Volendam? Not really.
Much like many small towns in the Netherlands, Volendam has limited tourist attractions, these being mostly its built heritage (wooden buildings) and cultural assets (a museum and a cheese factory). When surveyed, the visitors explained they enjoyed the glimpse into the local culture and the routine life of the locals.
The tourists appreciated going to local shops and eating at local restaurants far away from standardised brands and international franchises. They felt they could feel the “soul” of the country.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198072/original/file-20171207-31532-jx8b4o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198072/original/file-20171207-31532-jx8b4o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
What does Volendam have that Amsterdam doesn’t? It probably comes down to everyday local character.
At the time of this 2014 survey, cities and holidays at the coast were the <a href="https://www.nbtc.nl/web/file?uuid=7361722f-011d-4714-b98b-8ced3eee1bb2&amp;owner=388ad020-d235-4624-86a4-d899f855a216&amp;contentid=48712" target="_blank">main attractions for visitors to the Netherlands</a> (36% and 22%, respectively). But interest in the countryside and touring the Netherlands (12% and 10%, respectively) has been increasing.
<h2>Finding a local tourism niche</h2>
Let’s be frank: smaller towns and villages have not been dormant, and many have jumped at the opportunities offered by tourism. We all have heard about farm holidays, horse riding, wine tasting tours, nature guided walks and so on.
Building on this, innovative regional tourism practices have been recognised worldwide for displaying a breadth of approaches and end products. A good example in Ireland is <a href="http://visitballyhoura.com/" target="_blank">Ballyhoura</a>, “a world where the little pleasures of sharing everyday things with the locals in Ballyhoura – talking with them, walking with them and sharing a joke – is possibly the greatest attraction of them all!”
Despite a lack of outstanding tourism resources, the area became a successful tourism destination thanks to a very personalised marketing method. Visitors even received a welcoming letter. The focus on “<a href="http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/%24Department/deptdocs.nsf/all/csi13476/%24FILE/Rural-Tourism.pdf" target="_blank">promoting a genuine rural experience and warm welcome</a>” creates an incentive for more local start-up enterprises and for a co-operative, closing-the-loop process of quality control.
Longreach and Winton are Australian towns that have taken advantage of distinctive local histories and features such as old mines and fossil beds. Longreach has the <a href="http://outbackheritage.com.au/" target="_blank">Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame</a> and the <a href="https://qfom.com.au/" target="_blank">Qantas Founders Museum</a>, while Winton’s <a href="http://www.australianageofdinosaurs.com/" target="_blank">Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum</a> offers “products” of the natural environment such as dinosaur stamps and bones.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/196454/original/file-20171127-2004-xmtv11.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Nowhere else has one: the Stockman’s Hall of Fame in Longreach, Queensland. James Shrimpton/AAP
Yet all attempts have not been met with success. Many smaller towns are slowly disappearing in Australia. Main streets with closed shops and abandoned business are not uncommon.
The combination of lack of employment and population ageing and loss is a chicken-and-egg situation. The various levels of government are acutely aware of this, and tourism offers a possible way out of the dilemma facing these towns. Several recent initiatives have shown how tourism can contribute to the development of these areas when innovation, expertise and community participation are brought together.
Charleville in far west Queensland offers a great example of this, with the outback town working on making the most of its clear nighttime skies, far from the city lights. An extension to the <a href="http://www.cosmoscentre.com/" target="_blank">Cosmos Centre and Observatory</a>, <a href="https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/index.php/regional-development/regional-economic-development/building-our-regions/remote-communities-infrastructure-fund/1385-charleville-cosmos-centre-planetarium-stage-1" target="_blank">funded by state and local governments</a>, has boosted visitor numbers in just one year. The extension displays fun and serious facts about planets and life in space, enhanced by interactive media.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/87997/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">For the town of fewer than 4,000 people, the growth in tourism is like a nice spring rain after a long dry season. It’s another reminder of why rural tourism can be “<a href="https://www.conversational.com/rural-tourism-the-perfect-small-town-business-idea/" target="_blank">the perfect small town business idea</a>”.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/elizabeth-turenko-424627" target="_blank">Elizabeth Turenko</a>, PhD Candidate, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828" target="_blank">Griffith University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/karine-dupre-252059" target="_blank">Karine Dupré</a>, Associate Professor in Architecture, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828" target="_blank">Griffith University</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/tourists-are-happy-when-taken-off-the-beaten-track-and-smaller-cities-and-towns-can-tap-into-that-87997" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Tourists are happy when taken off the beaten track

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The residents of idyllic Hyams Beach, the NSW South Coast town, are unhappy with the torrent of summer tourists drawn to their picturesque beach.
"We need to close the village when the village is full," Lois Sparkles, a committee member of the Hyams Beach Villagers Association told Fairfax Media.
<div>
"We need a system to limit the number of cars coming in," she says.
Tourism and infrastructure spending has helped make Hyams Beach one of the hot spots of the NSW tourism industry, if international tourists can't get to Whitehaven in Queensland.
Recently it was declared Hyams didn't have the whitest sand in the country, it was likely a beach in WA.
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A NSW tourist campaign has promoted the beach on the back of Sydney buses while false claims spread on the internet suggest that Guiness World Records had declared it the whitest beach in the world.
The permanent population of 112 jumps to 4000 people some summer evenings, and the streets become overwhelmed with traffic, according to residents.
This Australia Day weekend could be its busiest ever.
The lobby group got <a href="http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/5153312/popularity-of-hyams-beach-hideous-for-residents/" target="_blank">local Fairfax Media coverage</a> in the South Coast Register, with four articles early in the new year including <a href="http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/5159181/hyams-beach-traffic-debate/" target="_blank">pictures of the traffic</a> after rangers were forced to turn visitors away, some of whom had travelled three hours for a Hyams Beach experience. 
Then the issues appeared on the Domain website, without reference to Fairfax's South Coast Register, and has since escalated nationally after the CommBank chairperson Catherine Livingstone and her husband, Michael Satterthwaite were smartly spotted amid a nondescript photo of the annoyed activists by the Australian Financial Review's<a href="http://www.afr.com/brand/rear-window/livingstone-maybe-and-choueifate-try-new-roles-20180115-h0inwy" target="_blank"> Rear Window column</a>.
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<div>
"She's here quite a bit," said Morgan Sant, the president of the villagers association advised. "Like everybody else she wants to enjoy the ambience that Hyams Beach has most the year all year around."
They paid $940,000 in 2002, securing a $200,000 renovation approval in 2005.
It had previously been a rental known as Watermark.
</div>
<div>
Amanda Findley, the local mayor, said the Shoalhaven City Council hopes to find a solution by Easter.
Mayor Findley recommended Callala Beach and Bay, which has the same white sand, and peaceful bay without the congestion, with plenty of parking spaces.
Ms Livingstone suggests a shuttle from a carpark outside the village, which is hemmed in by pristine bushland. 
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<div><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/2018/1/19/hyams3.jpg" alt=""></div>
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<div>Commonwealth Bank chairman Catherine Livingstone wore dark glasses for a photograph of Hyams Beach residents upset with congestion.</div>
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Offering direct beach access to Hyams Beach from its exclusive position, nearby <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-hyams+beach-125796122" target="_blank">94 Cyrus</a> recently sold for a record $3.5 million.
The home was only completed in June and was built and fully landscaped by Tim Clout, one of the best builders in Jervis Bay.
<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/2017/11/28/Hyams2.jpg" alt="">
It last traded for $1.7 million in 2014 as a vacant 880 sqm land parcel.
The home has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a large front deck, covered walkways and a swimming pool.
Comparable homes in Hyams Beach would generate over $110,000 per annum, with a peak weekly rate of around $6,500, according to the marketing.
South Coast Properties agent Craig McIntosh sold the home after $3.5 million hopes.
Cyrus Street is the localities millionaire's row. The top 10 most expensive homes in the area have sold on the street.
94 Cyrus would set the price record that has barely been challenged since 2007 when Elandra, a seven bedroom home seven doors down sold for $3.44 million.
It was bought by former bankrupt Keddies partner Scott Roulstone and wife Kathryn.
Last year another Cyrus Street home fetched $2.86 million. 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Mayhem at Hyams with CommBank's Catherine Livingstone turning activist

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With “schoolies” celebrations now over and New Year’s, spare a thought for the challenges faced by children and young people growing up in popular tourism hot spots.
Let’s take the beautiful northern New South Wales coastal town of Byron Bay as an example. At the end of each year, young school leavers flood Byron Bay in pursuit of a rite of passage experience that many of their parents would prefer not to know about.
But there is another story here that is often overlooked. How do young residents of these places negotiate the challenges of growing up in a community widely acclaimed as a “party” destination? And how do the very public narratives portrayed in the media shape the experiences of young people growing up in a place like Byron Bay?
My recent <a href="https://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/542/" target="_blank">doctoral research</a>, in which I interviewed 74 young people in Byron shire aged between 10 and 24, sheds light on young residents’ views and experiences.
It is estimated that an annual average of 1.7 million tourists <a href="https://www.tra.gov.au/research/regional-tourism/local-government-area-profiles/local-government-area-profiles" target="_blank">visit Byron Shire</a>, with 704,000 being domestic overnight visitors. While the party reputation of Byron Bay and its popularity with young backpackers and schoolies is now a given, there is little consideration about the impact of this on <a href="http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/LGA11350?opendocument" target="_blank">the 2800</a> young people who <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317281509_Growing_up_in_a_tourist_destination_negotiating_space_identity_and_belonging" target="_blank">live there</a>. Some of the issues and concerns raised in this research include safety, belonging and the environment.
<h2>Safety</h2>
The biggest concern raised by young residents is the perceived lack of safety that they often feel at times like schoolies and New Year’s Eve. The “demonstration effect” of alcohol and drug consumption, which is sensationalised in <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/schoolies-2017-hits-byron-bay-and-prompts-enormous-police-presence/news-story/672d3ea70d68bb0c357cd42de60fd7ff" target="_blank">the media</a>, has widespread implications.
Children and young people growing up in these communities are witnessing a holiday lifestyle on a regular basis, including the party frenzy and alcohol and drug-fuelled behaviours that are on display at times like schoolies.
This is confusing: they see people having fun all the time, but don’t consider that these same tourists go home to a seemingly normal life after the holiday. This may have important implications for their wellbeing in the long term, particularly when they are drawn to join the celebrations.
Isabella, 15, said:
<blockquote>
I don’t feel safe due to intoxicated people. I know that because of the reputation that it’s a party town, I’m not allowed to come to Byron at night, which I don’t want to because there are just too many people that are passing through.
</blockquote>
<h2>Belonging</h2>
The other concern raised by young people in Byron Shire is the shrinking sense of community as more and more places become overcrowded and commercialised. Young people’s sense of belonging is challenged at peak tourist times, when crowded spaces and unfamiliar faces contribute to feelings of alienation and displacement.
Many also worry about their future. Tammy, 24, said:
<blockquote>
It kind of scares me because it means that people can’t live here anymore as they can’t afford the rent and things like that! I suppose that’s just tourism, that’s how it works, it’s for the privileged.
</blockquote>
The rise of holiday-letting and AirBnb have also led to a lack of affordable housing in the area. As more and more families are forced <a href="https://www.echo.net.au/2017/06/holiday-letting-byron-councils-sights/" target="_blank">to move out of the region</a>, the social structure of the communities in the Byron Shire region is changing.
For young people still living in the area, usual neighbours are replaced by a continuous flow of visitors who book through platforms such as AirBnb. This only adds to feelings of anxiety and alienation.
<h2>The environment</h2>
Children and young people growing up in the region are also acutely aware of the impacts of tourism activity on the environment. Young people are concerned about the visible effects of tourism and the lack of respect that travellers, and in particular young school leavers, have for the environment.
Littering on the beaches, streets and parks in Byron Bay is a common problem at peak party times.
Young residents argue that these behaviours are frustrating. They actively take up stewardship of the natural environments in the community by participating in beach clean-ups and awareness campaigns to educate the visiting tourists. As 21-year-old Jack said:
<blockquote>
It’s disappointing to see people come to supposed paradise, the place where they’re expecting to be clean and beautiful and pristine, then they leave it in such a state. It’s just disrespectful.
</blockquote>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/88315/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Like other areas such as the Gold Coast, Byron Bay is a popular destination with young school leavers who consider it their “party town”. But let’s not forget that it is also the home of many young locals. More education and awareness is needed about these important issues which significantly shape young people’s lives.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/antonia-canosa-426625" target="_blank">Antonia Canosa</a>, Research Associate, Centre for Children and Young People, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160" target="_blank">Southern Cross University</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/your-party-our-home-the-challenges-of-growing-up-in-a-tourist-destination-88315" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Our home, your party: the challenges of growing up in a tourist destination

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/83424/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Australians have been fascinated by “Big Things” since the 1960s, when statues such as Adelaide’s Big Scotsman and the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour were opened to great fanfare.
These super-sized structures can be found in other countries, too. The United States is known for its Big Donut, Canada has the world’s largest fiddle, but the attachment to Big Things here has an almost patriotic quality.
Many will recall childhood road trips punctuated by such highlights as a giant Merino sheep or a towering rocking horse, or an assortment of fruits – the Big Avocado, the Big Orange and the Big Mango. When the latter was reported “missing” in 2014, the news made national headlines, only to be later revealed as a publicity stunt.
But in a nation now littered with at least 200 Big Things, there is a sizeable problem. What to do with them as they age and wear out? Many Big Things were built cheaply from concrete and fibreglass – materials that inevitably fade and decay. 
Some structures — such as the Big Pineapple, the Big Macadamia Nut, the Big Orange and the Big Prawn — have, in recent times, either fallen into disrepair or struggled to bring in much income. Then there are others, such as Cairns’s Big Captain Cook, which invite controversy.
The Big Captain Cook stands in a vacant lot on the side of the Cook Highway; its legs show signs of concrete cancer and its paint job is flaky. The hotel that once accompanied Cook is long demolished, and the local community is divided over the appropriate fate of its landmark. 
Should he be repainted, or dismantled, or relocated to a place such as James Cook University where, in 2006, students petitioned for his adoption? (Since the university is named after Cook, they thought it would be a good match.) Earlier this year, he was draped with a large Sorry sign to coincide with Australia Day. Indigenous artist Munganbana Norman Miller has proposed the Cook statue be given a Big Boomerang to hold.
Then there is South Australia’s “Larry” the Lobster. Created in 1979, the 17-metre fibreglass crustacean has been on the market intermittently since the late 1980s and reportedly needed repairs. The state government offered A$10,000 to help in late 2015. 
The Lobster was recently the subject of a nationwide fundraising campaign #PinchAMate led by radio hosts Hamish and Andy. Earlier this month, Larry, who comes with a restaurant attached, failed to draw a bid at auction. But its owners said they were still hopeful of selling Larry, which recently had a A$50,000-plus makeover.
Yet while some Big Things, such as the Big Orange (Berri, South Australia) and the Big Macadamia Nut (Nambour, Queensland), sit abandoned, communities continue to build new monuments to attract tourists to remote corners of Australia. The Big Golden Gumboot in Tully, the Big Bogan in Nyngan and the Big Meat Ant in Augathella are examples of the new generation of local symbols. 
On the one hand, we can hardly begrudge a community that wishes to unite around a wonderfully kitschy piece of public art. On the other, we have to question why local authorities allow new structures to go ahead when these same local authorities may be asked to take on their upkeep in 30 years’ time.
One of Australia’s most beloved Big Things, the Big Pineapple in Nambour, was built in 1971. It was once a necessary pit-stop on the Queensland coastal tourist trail. In 1983, even Prince Charles and Princess Diana visited it. But in recent years the number of visitors to the Big Pineapple has fallen dramatically. It has been for sale several times since 1996, and even closed for a period during 2010-2011. 
In 2009, the Big Pineapple was added to the Queensland State Heritage Register, giving it some legal protection. This move also imposed an expectation that the owners would maintain the structure for future generations. Some saw this as a victory, but for others — including the owners at the time — the listing was a burden that limited opportunities for commercial success. 
In 2017, the Big Pineapple is in the news again. A proposal for a multi-million-dollar overhaul is before the local council, with the aim of converting it into an “extreme tourism” attraction with adventure tourism, music, a water park, camping, a brewery and winery. This is clearly another attempt to bring life (and income) back to the ageing icon.
The sheer volume of Australia’s Big Things makes it impossible to guarantee that all will survive. More local authorities will inevitably face emotive public debates, akin to the furore over the Ballina council’s threatened demolition of the Big Prawn in 2009. (In that instance, the crustacean was bought by Bunnings, which kept it as part of a redevelopment of the property it was attached to.) 
One man’s trash is another man’s Big Pineapple. These are undeniably public landmarks of socio-cultural significance, and some — like the Pineapple — warrant preservation. 
Still, heritage bodies and governments will need to make difficult, and probably unpopular, decisions that may likely send some of our Big Things to the scrap heap. At the time they were built, it was already clear that Big Things typically have an expiration date.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amy-clarke-248726" target="_blank">Amy Clarke</a> is lecturer in History specialising in built heritage and cultural/identity politics, University of the Sunshine Coast and author for <a href="https://theconversation.com/au" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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Australia’s ‘big’ problem – what to do with our ageing amusing super-sized statues?

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Australia’s tourism sector continued to thrive over the 12 months to June 2017 despite a moderation of global economic conditions, says Deloitte Access Economics’ latest report on the sector.
International visitor numbers to Australia increased 8.9% over the past year to 8.5 million, according to The Tourism and Hotel Market Outlook.
Chinese visitors eased over the first half of 2017, but was still up 9.9% over the year.
“Continuing growth in visitor arrivals and expenditure highlight tourism is among the fastest growing sectors in the Australian economy,” said Adele Labine-Romain, Deloitte national Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure leader.
Deloitte's previous report in February had said international visitation to Australia was growing at nearly three times the rate of global travel.
Commenting on the Chinese arrivals, Labine-Romain said while it was less impressive than recent years, the number still more than doubled in the last five years and now represents 15% of all arrivals into Australia.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/28/Aug30CommPropChart1.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/28/Aug30CommPropChart1.png" alt="">
India continues to gain market share on the back of exceptional economic performance, recording growth of 8.9%. Also significant, the US, which for the second year running recorded arrivals growth of around 14%, beating the UK as Australia’s third largest international market.
“Growth of this magnitude in the face of slowing arrivals from China signals a healthy diversification of Australia’s international growth profile,” said As Labine-Romain.
“Visitors from Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Hong Kong also chalked up double-digit growth in arrivals in a further indication of the broad-based underpinnings of this current wave of international tourism.” 
International visitor trips continued to grow across all states and territories. 
Tasmania retained its position as Australia’s fastest growing stopover destination for international travellers, growing at 15.8% and the only state to post double-digit growth over the year. New South Wales, buoyed by solid demand across all major visitor segments, also outperformed the national average, growing 9.9% over the year. Western Australia came in third overall, with 8.7% growth over the year, but topped the destination growth for international holidaymakers, posting a 16.8% gain.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/28/Aug30CommPropChart2.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/28/Aug30CommPropChart2.png" alt="">
On the domestic front, growth in trips at home has slowed since the 2017 February Outlook (down to 3.1% from 4.8%), with an uptick in corporate travel insufficient to counter the stalling of growth in domestic leisure travel.
“In part, this reflects a pattern of generally weaker spending by Australian households,” explained Labine-Romain. “As growth in household incomes has slowed, so too has consumer spending and with that, spending on leisure travel.
“Growth in outbound leisure travel has also slowed from 4.5% to 3.7% over the year to June 2017. So it’s not the case that Australians are substituting international holiday destinations for Australian ones.  Rather, they are travelling a bit less overall.”
The performance of Australia’s hotel sector was modest in the first half of 2017, with room occupancies averaging 68% on the back of 0.3% growth.
“National performance was weighed down by weaker growth in Melbourne, Perth, Darwin and Brisbane. Melbourne is working to absorb recent additions in supply in the market, while Perth, Darwin and Brisbane are contending with additional supply and softer demand conditions due to exposure to the mining sector. Together, these markets represent 45% of capital city markets and 17% of aggregate hotel revenue nationally. Hence their lacklustre performance was reflected in the national figures, and ultimately weighed on performance relative to expectations,” added Deloitte Access Economics’ Bryon Merzeo.
Leisure travellers and people visiting friends and relatives continued to substitute traditional accommodation for sharing economy options. The growth in private rental nights is more than double the growth in nights in traditional short-term accommodation (9.2% vs. 3.7%), though from a much smaller base. Holiday travellers, in particular, look favourably upon private rentals with use of private rentals by Australian holidaymakers growing at nearly double its five-year average.
<h2>Highlights:</h2>
<ul>
<li>Highest year-to-date growth in average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR) was seen in Tropical North Queensland (TNQ), Sydney and Canberra</li>
<li>TNQ was the standout as ADR grew 4.2% over the first half of 2017 and RevPAR jumped 8.5%</li>
<li>Canberra was another standout with 3.7% room rate growth and 6.6% RevPAR growth in the year.</li>
</ul>
“Global economic conditions remain favourably orientated for Australian tourism,” said Labine-Romain. 
“Yes, travel costs are expected to increase as oil prices continue to rebound. But global output and income growth are expected to maintain momentum over the next three years. Asia’s large and fast-growing economies are forecast to largely continue the growth that has underwritten the tourism boom experienced by Australia over recent years.”
Deloitte Access Economics forecasts international visitor trips to grow by 6.9% p.a. and visitor nights by 6.4% p.a. on average over the next three years – a strengthening of growth expectations. The visitor growth will be led by India at 12%, closely followed by China and Indonesia at 10%.
“The realisation of this growth will see visitor arrivals reach the 10 million milestone in 2020 and international visitor nights overtake domestic visitor nights in 2023,” said Labine-Romain.
For domestic tourism, the recent slowdown in holiday travel by Australians points to a broader slowing of discretionary income and consumer spending. As income growth picks up, so too will discretionary expenditure and hence leisure travel. The stalling witnessed over the last 12 months is not expected to persist with domestic trips forecast to grow by 3.4% p.a. and visitor nights to grow by 3.3% p.a. on average over the next three years. 
While demand for hotel accommodation is projected to grow at 3.2% p.a., supply is also forecast to expand solidly, growing by 2.8% p.a. nationally. Although the number of new hotel rooms added to the market slowed during the first half of 2017, with 1,418 rooms added across 10 projects, another 1,407 new rooms have opened in July and August alone.
“This represents a further narrowing in the supply-demand growth differential and hence a further easing of occupancy growth expectations,” Merzeo said.
“The spread of individual market performance outlooks continues to widen. Tropical North Queensland and the Gold Coast are forecast to lead the key markets in terms of RevPAR growth over the medium-term. While Perth and Brisbane are still working through booms in their respective supply pipeline, and will struggle to realise improvements in performance over the next three years. Relative to previous editions of the Outlook, the largest movers in expected performance are Melbourne and Hobart, which have fallen away considerably on the back of greater expected supply.”
Overall, the national trend occupancy rate is forecast to grow by 0.3% p.a. over the next three years to reach 68.5% in 2019.
“This represents a softening compared to previous forecasts, clearly impacted by the significant strengthening in national supply pipeline,” added Merzeo.
Room rates are forecast to steadily grow over the next three years, increasing by 2.8% p.a. to reach $171 in 2019, while RevPAR will show healthy growth of 3.1% p.a. to reach $117 in 2019.
 
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prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

Tourism sector posts another year of remarkable growth: Deloitte Access Economics

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Caldermeade Dairy Farm &amp; Cafe, a dairy and tourist attraction in Victoria has been sold through Colliers, price undisclosed.
The property fronts the South Gippsland Highway an features  182 ha - 451 acres freehold and 145 ha - 359 acres leasehold with a 50 unit modern rotary dairy and 82Ml of bore water, 50+ Ml of C Class water plus connection to farm effluent system and an additional 50Ml of temporary bore water.
The site previously had a permit to develop a cheese factory.
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Victoria's Caldermeade Dairy Farm & Cafe sold

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The Mayfield Garden near Oberon in central west New South Wales, one of the region's most popular tourist attractions, will "most likely" close if a nearby quarry is expanded.
Oberon Earthmoving, which processes organic materials like rock and mulch, has put in a development application to expand its operations. 
The application, which is with the Oberon Council and will then go to a Joint Regional Planning Panel, is seeking to expand operations from two hectares to 15.
Sydney millionaire, Garrick Hawkins, who owns the Mayfield Garden has indicated it may have to close down the 160 acre family project, should the expansion be approved given concerns about increased traffic, dust and visual and noise impacts which would deter tourists from visiting. 
The garden's commercial director Amy Collins said it would be detrimental to the operations. 
"There is going to be an extensive impact on the gardens," Ms Collins said noting it draws thousands of visitors a year.
Oberon Earthmoving manager Zac Rowlandson told the ABC the potential impacts had been "overstated".
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Garrick Hawkins might close Mayfield Garden, Oberon over quarry expansion

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A property syndicate is seeking offers for a renovated beachside motel in Yamba.
It has been fully leased to workers connected to the $4.36 billion Woolgoolga to Ballina motorway upgrade through to 2020 and beyond.
The West Wing property, located at 2 Coldstream Street, comprises 14 lettable rooms across two levels, complete with shared kitchen and living facilities.
The property is currently enjoying 100 per cent occupancy.
The property sits on a 1,005sqm freehold lot, which has current approval for a four bedroom dwelling in addition to the motel, with the potential for further development under the site's medium density residential zoning.
The property is being marketed by Darrell Irwin and Geoff Lamb of Colliers International with an asking price of $1.725 million.
Mr Irwin says the property will attract purchasers looking to capitalise on the reliable tenancy provided by some of the 2,500 workers engaged to complete Australia's largest regional infrastructure project, in the North Coast's growth corridor.
"This is a rare opportunity to secure a property with multiple revenue streams in a tightly held location," he said.
"Yamba will surge in value once the motorway access is complete providing quicker access to Yamba for the South East Queensland population.
"There is a virtually guaranteed income through current worker occupancy and beyond that there is strong demand from tourists looking for convenient coastal accommodation in the popular Yamba village.
"During the holiday season Yamba's resident population of about 7,000 people virtually doubles as people from across New South Wales and South East Queensland visit for an affordable and family-friendly getaway.
"There is capacity for the land to be subdivided to add a four bedroom dwelling, or the purchaser could potentially redevelop the site to deliver new residential apartments or a boutique hotel.
The property is located on Yamba hill  with panoramic views of the ocean and hinterland.
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