My favourite ATE exhibitor Number Three – Australia’s Indian Ocean eco, diving, fishing, birding and more capital – Christmas Island…incredible!
While Christmas Island my be in the news right now for all the wrong reasons, that does not detract from the simple fact that this Indian Ocean island paradise is an amazing place to visit and somewhere you have to check out, if you have the slightest interest in diving, fishing, bird watching, the environment in general and the peace and tranquillity of this incredible island!
I meet the bubbly and highly enthusiastic Linda Cash [left] again at ATE this year and she told me even more about this amazing place, with also right after ATE, I was able to visit this island outcrop, located in the heart of the Indian Ocean, a magnet for every kind of wildlife you can think of, including the 90 species of crabs that are reported to live on the island and even more, the reported over 30 million red crabs that migrate to and from the ocean every year to mate!
Christmas Island is without doubt one of nature’s most impressive feats, an island full of natural wonders, from that unique annual red crab migration to rare and unusual birds and glorious deserted beaches where the only footprints in the sand are those made by nesting turtles.
With so many endemic species, the island is also often referred to as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, yet it also displays a curious amalgam of cultures, history and industry, emerging as a place where all these elements create a truly unusual travel experience….experiential tourism at its best!
Christmas Island is not that easy to get to, but that is one of its plusses as it is more than three hours flying from Perth with Virgin Australia, only four times a week, but that also means the island will never become overrun by tourists and end up with masses of those crass glitzy resorts – phew!
To check out what Linda had to say at ATE click on the video box below and also watch out for my reports in the coming week from the amazing Christmas Island right here on Global Travel Media.
For more information the amazing Christmas Island visits http://www.christmas.net.au
John Alwyn-Jones reporting for Global Travel Media TV from Australian Tourism Exchange 2012.
