Air Fares

[Guest guest]

I would like to point out that air fares are not only expensive for India and

other Asian countries but also for people living in developed countries. I know

of some Australians that have for the last few years, tried to attend this

conference but have found air fares, accommodation, visas, and all the extra

costs too much.

If I had wanted to go to this conference I would not have been able to even if

partially sponsored because of the costs.

 

I never count on going to any overseas conferences even if the conference would

be a great benefit to the work I do, because of the costs. If I do go to an

overseas conference it is because someone else has paid my fares and I count

myself as being very lucky in those circumstances and I enjoy every moment of it

knowing it may be some time before it happens again. I use that time to also

build up contacts and to network.

 

Even conferences in one's own country can be expensive with air fares, costs of

conferences etc. The belief that everyone from Western countries can afford to

go to every conference they want to go to is wrong. Other costs are costs

getting to airports if living in a country area like I do. If the plane leaves

early extra accommodation in Sydney as there is no way I can get from my place

to the airport early in the morning, costs of having to pay someone to mind my

animals whilst I am away, travel insurance, meals on the run, airport taxes etc

etc.

 

Also I find that many conferences I am invited to do not address many of the

issues I am working on so there is no point in spending money on the conference.

There is 2 Australian animal related conferences I try to get to every year but

some years only get to one of them. I may only attend one because the other is

not addressing issues I am working with, it is at the wrong time of the year for

me, the cost of the conference (the one I do attend most years in Australia, is

very reasonable as far as costs go) is too expensive etc. Conferences are a

luxury for many of us.

 

Airfares from Sydney to Bali at the moment are

Malaysia airlines approx $800

Garuda airlines approx $900

Qantas approx $950

 

An airfare from India at $1250 is only $300 extra so I find it very believable

that it could be $1250.00 from India.

Conferences are a luxury that many cannot afford and that is people from all

countries. Even $100.00 is a lot of money if you don't have it.

Organisers of confrence should do everything they can to keep costs down but the

cost of airfares is out of their control.

 

Lyn