TRAVEL NOTES
Australia to set up marine park bigger than Germany
Australia has agreed to set up the world’s biggest marine park to protect vast areas of the Coral Sea off the country’s northeast coast and the site of fierce naval battles during World War Two. The park will cover almost 1m square km – an area the size of France and Germany combined – and will set up a haven for fish, pristine coral reefs and nesting sea birds.
Flights to Russia just got cheaper
The EU and Russia have agreed to phase out the fees paid by EU air carriers in order to fly trans-Siberian routes, which should mean a reduction in the cost of flying from Europe to East Asia. Any charges now paid by EU airlines to the Russian authorities will have to be cost-related and transparent. The new arrangement will come into force on 1 January 2012.
St Anton ready to open two new hotels
New mountain design hotel The Mooser will open this week in St Anton, one of Austria’s top ski resorts. Surrounded by breathtaking scenery, this stylish and contemporary hotel has eight double rooms, seven suites and two junior suites. Following soon after will be the M3 hotel, with three suites, 15 superior double rooms and seven double rooms.