Brazil to drop visa requirement for US, Canada, Australia, Japan tourists

RIO DE JANEIRO, March 20 — In an effort to boost tourism numbers, Brazil has announced plans to lift visa requirements for citizens of the US, Canada, Australia and Japan beginning this summer. 

Effective June 17, travelling to Brazil will be a lot easier for the aforementioned countries. The visa-free access will be valid for stays of 90 days and extendable for another 90 days under certain conditions.

The move is aimed at bolstering international tourist arrivals and filling empty hotel rooms which were originally built to accommodate visitors during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. 

It's hoped the relaxed visa rules will increase tourist traffic with each country by up to 25 per cent.

The new measure builds on last year's creation of an e-visa platform, which allows travelers to apply for visas online. Brazil's tourism office says they saw a 35 percent increase in visa applications following the implementation of the e-visa platform, from 169,910 visas issued in 2017 to 229,767 issued last year. 

The US, Canada, Australia and Japan are described as "strategic" markets for the development of tourism in Brazil. 

"This is one of the most important achievements of the Brazilian tourism industry in the last 15 years and we are confident that it will be extremely beneficial to the country," said Minister of Tourism Marcelo Alvaro Antônio in a statement. 

"This decision of the Brazilian government proves that we are living a new moment and that tourism is being seen as a vector of economic and social growth of the entire nation." 

Visitors arriving before June 17 will be required to obtain an e-visa. — AFP-Relaxnews

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Gallipoli tourism operators play down Australia-Turkey tensions

Battlefield tourism operators do not believe the escalating war of words between the Australian prime minister and the Turkish president over inflammatory comments following the Christchurch terrorist attack will have any bearing on Gallipoli commemorations on Anzac Day.

Scott Morrison is furious about Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s comments invoking Gallipoli to denounce anti-Islamic sentiment in the wake of the Christchurch terror attack.

Morrison announced on Wednesday that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is reviewing Australia’s official travel advice to Turkey.

Erdoğan suggested that anyone who travels to Turkey with anti-Muslim sentiments would be sent back in coffins, “like their grandfathers were” during the Gallipoli campaign.

He made the comments in Turkey’s north-western Çanakkale province, which is home to the historic battlefields, on the anniversary of a first world war Turkish naval victory.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is continuing to make plans to conduct the traditional commemorative services at Anzac Cove on 25 April.

“The Australian government is closely monitoring the security situation in Turkey and regards the safety of Australians who plan to visit the Gallipoli Peninsula as its highest priority,” veterans affairs minister Darren Chester said.

The tour company Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours played down the row between the two leaders.

“People are smart enough to realise the president doesn’t represent the view of all of Turkey,” general manager Matt Masson said told the Guardian.

“There is a strong spirit of camaraderie between Turkey and Australia. The Turks often stand side-by-side during the dawn service.”

There is a long tradition of mutual respect between locals in the towns around the battlefields and visiting Australians.

Masson said the camaraderie transcends any religious issues and there are no indications from their Turkish partners that there is any increased risk involved.

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A spectacle of nature: Tourism Australia showcases its candy-coloured lakes in Insta-worthy rosey pink hues

Tourism Australia is hosting a spectacular natural event this season. In the heart of Melbourne, a salt lake in Westgate Park has turned an Insta-worthy rosey pink hue, delighting tourist and locals alike.

A beautiful example of mother nature, the phenomenon is being leveraged to showcase a range of candy-coloured lakes across Australia.

A dramatic example of Australia’s natural beauty, the phenomenon only occurs intermittently during the warmer months, after a perfect cocktail of high salt levels, high temperatures, increased sunlight and low rainfall turn the lake pink when algae living in the salt crust at the bottom of the lake produces a red pigment (beta carotene) as part of its photosynthesis process. 

The lake started to turn pink last week, and is expected to stay that way until later in autumn. The lake previously turned pink in 2014 and 2017, and will return to its normal colour as the weather cools and rainfall increases. 

Located along the eastern banks of the Yarra River, under the West Gate Bridge, travellers can drive over the bridge to see the lake, or to get up close, limited parking is available within the park off Todd Road, or along Lorimer St, Port Melbourne.

Australia is home to many candy coloured lakes across its vast landscapes – all year round:

1. Westgate Park is not the only colourful lake in Australia — there is a range of candy-coloured Australian lakes that are reliably pink all year round.

Hutt Lagoon, near Port Gregory Credit Tourism Western Australia

2. At Murray-Sunset National Park, in Victoria's far north-west corner, find the picturesque Pink Lake, which changes in colour from a deep pink to a glistening white throughout the year.

3. Lake Tyrrell is Victoria's largest salt lake, covering over 20,000 hectares. It attracts visitors from around the world who come for the striking scenery and the stunning sunsets and sunrises.

Pink Lake, Geraldton, WA

4. Head to South Australia’s west coast to find the vibrant pink hues of Lake MacDonnell. A spellbinding contrast of a pink waterscape separated from a neighbouring blue-green lake by a straight dirt road this natural wonder is a magnet for road-tripping travellers.

5. Less than two hours’ drive from Adelaide, Lake Bumbunga’s bubble gum shores draw an eclectic crowd from casual photographers to high-end fashion brands. Located in Lochiel, the lake is known to change colour from pink, to white, to blue, depending on the salinity of the water throughout the year.

Southern Coral Coast

6. Head to West Australia’s Esperance to see the bubble gum pink Lake Hillier. Best seen from above on a scenic flight, Lake Hillar is located offshore on Middle Island, part of The Recherche Archipelago.

7. Watch the mesmerising Hutt Lagoon, located on Western Australia’s Coral Coast change through a spectrum of red to bubble-gum pink to a lilac purple. Hutt Lagoon can be easily accessed by road along the George Grey Drive, between Geraldton and Kalbarri, or seen from above on a scenic flight.

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Australian Tourism Awards 2018 being held in Launceston

More than 800 of the nation's top tourism identities will be in Launceston tonight for the 2018 Australian Tourism Awards. 

The awards are being held at the Cataract Gorge, with a specially-built marquee constructed over the pool. 

The Examiner will be onsite for the event, and will be bringing the winners to you as it happens.

Launceston praised 

Attendees have dubbed the Australian Tourism Awards in Launceston last night as one of the best events yet. 

More than 800 of the nation's top tourism identities flocked to a makeshift convention centre at the Cataract Gorge.

Guests said they had not seen the level of effort put into the awards before.

Australian Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the council had made the right choice by coming to Launceston. 

"You have turned a lovely location into a great experience for us … and that's what tourism is," he said.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania's chief executive Luke Martin said it was really great to show off the region to the nation. 

"This is really two-year vision and a lot of work by a lot of people. What a special way to showcase Tasmania," he said. 

The weather was perfect for the event, with the temperature reaching 34 degrees throughout the day. 

"It was warm too, so we going dealt with a few misconceptions about Tasmania's climate for some of those Queenslanders and Northern Territorians," he said. 

The opportunity was a great way to re-package and show Tasmania to the tourism industry and shine a spotlight on Launceston in particular, he said.

"These awards attract operators from every part of the country. All the who's who and a lot of these people it'll be their first time coming to Tasmania and if not, their first time to Launceston," he said. 

"At the end of the day we're going to have 840 advocates and the most influential tourism people in praise of Tasmania and Launceston. 

"It's already happening, even my colleagues from around the country have never seen the effort that has gone into hosting these awards like there is in Launceston."  

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