01 September 2008

Gold Coast-themed café to reignite Japan's passion for Australia's playground

A Gold Coast-themed café is due to open in one of Japan’s busiest train stations in Tokyo in an attempt to reignite Japan’s passion for visiting Queensland and Australia, reports Australia.to.

The Gold Coast Travel Café is a joint venture between Tourism Australia, Tourism Queensland and Gold Coast Tourism, which will feature a uniquely Australian menu, destination displays and information for prospective visitors to Australia.

"We are on a mission to promote the ever-evolving Gold Coast experience, with new and rejuvenated products, a focus on our natural assets and the ease of direct access into the destination which many Japanese have a great desire for," said Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter. 

The Travel Café will host a series of events including a media launch, celebrity event, the Aussie Beer Party and the Gold Coast Wine Party. 

Around $1 million will be invested by the three groups to encourage the Japanese market to start travelling to Australia in higher numbers again.  In the year March 2007-08, the number of Japanese tourists in Australia decreased by 25 per cent and spent $106.5 million dollars (down 22 per cent on the previous twelve months).

International tourists to Australia, including Japanese tourists, need an Australia travel visa, except for New Zealand passport holders.  Visitors wishing to travel the country can apply for a short-stay tourist visa, or ETA, which is valid for three months.  The conditions of the visa mean that tourists cannot work at any time during their stay in Australia.

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The Australian Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people apply for an Australia visa.

Article by Jessica Bird, Australian Visa Bureau.