Fed: Fear latest backpacker death may harm tourism
By Nadine Rofail
BRISBANE, April 12 AAP - Publicity surrounding the brutal murder of a British backpackerin Bundaberg was another blow for Australian tourism, operators warned today.
Bundaberg District Tourism and Development Board chief executive Craig Hodges saidthe tight-knit community, 350km north of Brisbane, was still coming to terms with themurder of 19-year-old Caroline Ann Stuttle.
Police believe she was robbed and then died on Wednesday night after being thrown fromBundaberg's Burnett Bridge.
"I am not one to believe any publicity is good publicity of this kind," Mr Hodges said.
"We have done a lot of marketing campaigns and efforts in the past certainly to pushourselves as a safe destination which is nice and handy to Brisbane.
"Today is a concern and we are taking it as it comes."
Ms Stuttle, from York in England, had been holidaying in Australia over the past twomonths with a female friend.
They arrived at the Riverdale Caravan Park in Bundaberg on Sunday.
Police believe Ms Stuttle walked to the Bundaberg Post Office to phone her boyfriendand was killed on the way back to the caravan park.
"We are still a small and tight community and there's a lot of people shocked by whathas happened," Mr Hodges said.
"Most of us cross that bridge every day to come to work."
Mr Hodges said he did not think Bundaberg was more dangerous than other parts of the world.
"I think everyone should be telling young female backpackers not to go out at nightalone anywhere in Australia or the world for that matter," he said.
"Our message today to people in Bundaberg is to help the police to find these people."
Bundaberg is just north of Childers where 15 backpackers, including six Britons, diedin an arson attack on a hostel in June, 2000.
Mr Hodges said he was concerned by overseas media reports highlighting the Childersfire and linking the latest crime to the Northern Territory abduction of British backpackerPeter Falconio.
"Obviously the Northern Territory is some distance from Queensland," he said.
"People have to use caution in today's times."
Mr Hodges said he was confident the region would come through the tragedy.
"Once we are over the grieving process and the shock of what has happened we will geton again," he said.
AAP nr/jhm/ph/de
KEYWORD: BACKPACKER TOURISM
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