European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 4, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine the wonder Down under Australia tourism by Stewart Slavin United press International a Australia once considered a Price Outback of beaches kangaroos an deserts on the global tourist map is no bracing for a visitors Boom led by streaking Comet a yacht race and a Bicentennial birthday party. A continent roughly the size of the United states but with Only 15.5 million people. Australia has Lor decades been just a dream Lor most travellers because of the sheer expense of getting to the land Down  it succeeded in attracting Only 0.4 percent of the world s tourists in 1984 and received Only two cents of every tourist Dollar spent worldwide. But australian tourism officials say the tables Are turning thanks in Large part to the slide of the australian Dollar which now makes the country 30 percent cheaper to Visil than in november 1984. Tourism minister Bob Brown now predicts that the number of tourists entering Australia each year will double from 1 million in 1985 to 2 million by 1988. Brown recently unveiled a Survey showing that americans listed Australia As their no. 1 Holiday destination. In a Simitar Survey three years ago Australia ranked 49th. Much of the credit for the swing is being Given to a $6 million advertising Blitz in which australian comedian Paul Hogan tells Yonks with a Grin if anyone asks you where Australia is. Tell pm it s where the America s cup  though a year away America s cup Ever already is gripping the City of Perth where Australia will defend the yachting prize it won from the United states off Newport. R.i., in 1983. Preliminary races and other events will fill the 1986 Calendar As a prelude to the cup races in january and february 1987 off Freemantle the port of Perth on the Indian Ocean. Eight Ocean liners including the qe2, will Oiler grandstand views of yachting s most frenzied and spectacular show while seven new hotels one of them floating Are being built around Perth to accommodate v a celestial extravaganza is set to unfold in australian skies when Halley s Comet makes its closest approach fourth in april giving the Southern hemisphere ,1. To 1962 Perth gained tame by turning on its lights so that american astronaut John Glenn could see the City who Zintak no the first Earth orbit by an amen can. Nov Sydney is planning to switch off its lights in Panl for a Ballf period to give its residents a View of the Comet freeform the Glare of the City s lights. Towns in Australia seem Fen loved rom More and More american Are travelling Down under to experience the australian lifestyle. Astronomer on Board for about $70 an hour. Noted . Astronomer Carl Sagan is among 750 people who have booked berths on the Viking Star Ocean liner for a Halley s Comet South seas voyage from Auckland new zealand to Sydney in late March. But Australia is saving its most lavish tourist event Lor 1988 when the country celebrates its Bicentennial. Unlike the 1976 . Bicentennial marking Independence from Britain the australians will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the colonization of the country by English convicts and other settlers in 1778. The highlight of the Celebration will be the re enactment of the voyage from London to Sydney Cove of the 11 tall masted ships of the first Heel six of them carrying convicts. All of the 1,400 berths Are being filled by people who will pay $35,000 for the Chance to relive capt. Arthur Phillips s historic journey from Plymouth via the Canary islands Rio de Janeiro and Capetown. There is one catch everyone aboard the Square riggers Brigantine and Barques must work doing everything irom the cooking and mending of sails to keeping watch. The promoters say More than 200 men and women aged 18 to 65 have already put Down deposits Lor the working voyage to begin in april 1987 and end on Jan. 25. 1988 in Sydney Cove. Another Bicentennial event still in the planning stages is a race irom Sydney to Hobart capital of the Southern Island state of Tasmania by 17 tall ships of different nations. The United states the soviet Union. India and Brazil Are among the nations that have indicated they would provide tall masted ships Lor the event. Tuesday february 4, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 13