Dfat Reports Latest Australian Tourist Figures

[peter991]

DFAT reports latest Australian tourist figures

By Dennis Shanahan The Australian March 30, 2009 12:01am

* Australian tourists costly - DFAT

* Increase in deaths, arrests

* Australian taxpayers footing the bill

WHINGEING, irresponsible, cut-rate Australian tourists abroad are costing those who stay home millions of dollars and are being arrested more than ever.

The latest figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs show that 2009 is set to become the first year when more than 1000 Australians are arrested and when more than 1000 Australians are expected to die overseas, The Australian reports.

Investigations on cost recovery also disclose huge outstanding losses when those helped in emergencies refuse to contribute to emergency services and flights.

Up until last week, Foreign Affairs has only been able to recover $55,462 of the $32.4 million Australian taxpayers paid in 2006 to evacuate 6500 Australian citizens from Lebanon during the Israeli bombing.

Cheap airfares, the expansion of dangerous "adventure travel" tours, more elderly people going overseas, more tourism to strict religious countries, a drop in travel insurance policies, an increase in the number of mentally unstable people travelling and ignorance of local laws have combined to create a grim toll on Australian tourists.

In 1996-97, there were 2.2 million "resident departures" from Australia; last year it was 5.9 million. The number of consular staff has been cut over that period.

Last year, DFAT officials dealt with 974 Australian deaths overseas but this year there have already been 651 deaths in the first half of the year. In six years, the number of deaths overseas has increased by 44 per cent.

In 2008-09, 970 Australians were arrested abroad.

There have been 790 arrests in the first half of this year. Consular officials cannot provide legal advice nor interfere in legal proceedings overseas.

After the Israeli bombing of Lebanon, the lockdown of Bangkok's airport by protesters and floods in Fiji, Foreign Affairs staff and government members were accused of racism, being too slow, not caring and not "sending planes".

Yesterday, the Foreign Minister at the time of the Lebanon crisis, Alexander Downer, told The Australian he was bitterly disappointed at how Australians were abusing consular services overseas, refusing to take responsibility for their own care, ignoring travel advice and complaining about embassy staff.

[bkkjames]

Wouldn't surprise me to see government's forcing travellers to certain countries to take out 3rd party insurance or something as a way to cover their behinds (to make money).