May 2008 Archives

SYDNEY has been eclipsed by Melbourne as the nation's leading tourist destination, new figures show, earning $400 million more from domestic travel than its northern rival last year.

In another blow, the 2008 edition of 100 Greatest Trips, published by the US edition of the magazine Travel+Leisure, features just one city in its list of top trips in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific: Melbourne.

The Victorian Government has increased spending on "marketing Victoria" in this month's budget. The total funding is $79.4 million, compared with $55.9 million in NSW. The Sydney industry, which fears losing even more visitors to Melbourne, is demanding that the State Government increase its funding in next month's budget.