Headline: Getaways just got way dearer

The Australian Financial Review, 17 October 2008, Lisa Allen, p.3

The recent drop of the Australian dollar from near parity to just US70 cents has been a boon for inbound tourism operators like Raging Thunder in Cairns and Balloons Aloft, but outbound operators are being forced to add surcharges of between 20 and 40 percent to cover costs. TravelPlan, which books ski tours to Japan and the US, says there have been surprisingly few cancellations and they are asking foreign hotel chains for discounts to help their clients. Creative Holidays is upping prices on new brochures but will honour existing bookings at the old prices.