Olympics in the backyard

HE Pacific region should ain tremendous economic enefit from the tourism spin [f associated with the 2000

ydney Olympic Games,

ustralia’s Minister for De

flopment Cooperation and

acific Island Affairs, Gordon ilney, says. He was com icnting on the success of

ydney’s Olympic bid an

aunced on September 24.

“In addition to the tremen aus benefits to Australia in rms of eco-tourism the flow i effects will be enormous for ie tourism industry in the gion,” Mr Bilney said. He id he believed that with the recast figures of 250 000 vititors coming to the ames, large numbers of

these would include swim; through the Pacific on theii itinerary. The Cunard Line has already booked the Inter national Terminal for the QE2 for the period of the games and it was anticipated that there would be similai plans made by other shipping companies.

“The harbour can berth 10 cruise liners and there would have to be fairly good odds that some of these will con tinue their trips on through the Pacific after the Games,” the minister said. However it would not be just a one-ofi concentrated period after the Games. Experience from pre vious Olympics indicates that the Games are a huge tourism

drawcard for a period of 10 years. Reports indicate that an Olympics in Australia will attract more than one million extra visitors, who would spend more than US$l.4 billion over a 10-year period.

“It would be fair to anticipate that many of those will wish, having come so far, to visit the

nearby South Pacific region,”

Mr Bilney said. ® Reproduced with the permission of Australian Information Service, Australian Embassy, Fiji.

Artist’s impression: Sydney’s Games Village