VOA常速英语2007-Australia Welcoming More Arab Gulf Tourists
时间：2018-12-17 作者：英语课 分类：美联社新闻一分钟2013(七月)
Sydney, Australia
01 October 2007
Tourism officials in Australia say the number of visitors from Arab Gulf 1 nations is increasing. Airlines are scheduling more flights between the Middle East and Australia to accommodate the rising popularity. Phil Mercer reports from Sydney on where the Arab tourists are going and why.
Australia's tourism authority says arrivals from Arab Gulf states have increased by 25 percent so far this year - mostly from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
The northern Australian state of Queensland is a top choice for many Arab travelers.
Paul Buggy from Tourism Queensland says they are headed to the state's beach resorts.
"They are stopping off in Sydney and Melbourne and having a couple of days there, but primarily their number one destination is the Gold Coast. They like staying in apartments, of which the Gold Coast has plenty to offer," Buggy said. "You have theme parks and shopping centers who have put in prayer rooms. The access to Halal food is a lot greater."
Looking after the cultural needs of Arab visitors also includes placing arrows in hotel rooms that point toward Islam's holy city of Mecca. Facing the city during prayers is essential for Muslims.
Arab vacationers like to escape the scorching 2 summer heat of their homelands, visiting Australia most in July and August - winter in the southern hemisphere.
Tourism officials here expect the strong growth in the Arab market to continue.
Etihad Airways 3 - the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates - plans to increase the number of weekly flights to Sydney early next year and introduce new services to Brisbane.
The number of Arab visitors has been rising sharply since 2002, as many abandon destinations such as the United States and Europe.
Arab tourists have complained of hostility 4 in the United States and are wary 5 of tighter U.S. visa restrictions 6 imposed after the attacks in New York and Washington in September 2001.
Travel agents say Australia's reputation as a safe and friendly alternative is growing.
It's estimated that tourists from the Arab Gulf states spent more than $12 billion last year on overseas vacations.
- The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
- There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。
- a scorching, pitiless sun 灼热的骄阳
- a scorching critique of the government's economic policy 对政府经济政策的严厉批评
- The giant jets that increasingly dominate the world's airways. 越来越称雄于世界航线的巨型喷气机。
- At one point the company bought from Nippon Airways a 727 jet. 有一次公司从日本航空公司买了一架727型喷气机。
- There is open hostility between the two leaders.两位领导人表现出公开的敌意。
- His hostility to your plan is well known.他对你的计划所持的敌意是众所周知的。
- He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
- Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。
- I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
- a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制