The Australian government has unveiled plans to roll out a series of eco-accommodations in Queensland in a bid to boost the state’s tourism economy. However the plans have sparked criticism from environmental groups who argue that allowing tourism infrastructure into national parks was crossing the line.

Ireland’s young population are decamping for Australia in their thousands, with statistics from the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship showing an increase of 33 per cent in Australian Working Holiday visas for the Republic of Ireland nationals.

Thanks to the recession here in the UK (along with the weather) many people are packing their briefcases and leaving the country for a life down under. Global Visas, who provide immigration and visa advice for professionals, have seen a 123% increase in the number of British customers seeking to acquire an Australian work visa in the past year.

New forecasts indicate that the contribution of tourism to the Australian economy is forecast to increase from $84 billion in 2006 to just over $100 billion in 2016 in real terms, underpinned mainly by growth in inbound tourism.