Tasmania open for business

Australia’s Tasmania region is open for business despite bushfires in part of the county, tourism officials have said.

Roads, accommodation, attractions, tours and restaurants in most of the state have been unaffected by the blazes, as the fires are in just one area.

“It is important for those people with plans to visit Tasmania, or still holidaying here to know that we are absolutely open for business,” said John Fitzgerald, Tourism Tasmania’s chief executive officer.  “We acknowledge that it will still be some days before the Tasman Peninsula in Southern Tasmania will be accessible and back in operation for residents and visitors alike, but across the rest of the state our tourism operators are welcoming visitors as usual during this peak holiday season.”

Fires broke out in parts of Tasmania after temperatures soared to record levels in Australia.  Wildfires are common in the country’s summer. 

By Amanda Greenwood, 9 January 2013, Wednesday 12:46 PM