Should You Travel to Sydney During the APEC Summit Meeting?

For three days in September, the heads of government of 21 nations will be meeting in Sydney at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

There will be stringent security measures enforced, a number of major Sydney streets will be closed at one time or another, some city train stations (Circular Quay, Museum and St James) will be closed, and the Sydney Opera House, Sydney's iconic visitor attraction, will be sealed off.

The APEC officials' and ministerial meetings actually start on September 2 at the Sydney Convention Centre in Darling Harbur but these pre-summit events are not expected to have a major impact on Sydney at large.

September 7-9

The APEC heads of government arrive in Sydney on September 7 when more stringent security measures take effect.

The September 8 summit meeting takes place at the Sydney Opera House, the September 9 meeting at Government House in the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney.

American President George W Bush is expected to arrive two days earlier than the scheduled summit, so certain security measures will be in force from the time of his arrival.

It is likely rallies, demonstrations or protest marches will occur and these could result in violent confrontations.

Tourism concerns

Naturally, Sydney hotels and other tourist industry establishments are worried visitors may avoid Sydney during the time of the APEC meeting.

"There is a growing perception that visitors from interstate or overseas should avoid Sydney when APEC is on," Australian Hotels Association manager Hamish Arthur told Australian Associated Press, adding that security arrangements during APEC would not affect many tourist activities.

"Tourists will still be able to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge and ride a ferry to Manly," he said.

Restricted areas

The fact is: if part of your reason for visiting Sydney is the Sydney Opera House, recently inscribed as a World Heritage site, you will not be able to visit it at the time of the APEC meetings.

• The Sydney Opera House will be closed for public tours and performances from September 3 to 9.
• Government House will be closed to the public from September 2 to 10.
• The immediate surrounds of the Opera House and Government House, including a portion of the Royal Botanic Gardens, will be closed to the public from September 7 to 9.
• Parts of Kirribilli and Bondi Beach have been announced as being part of Sydney's restricted areas. Other areas may also be closed to the public.

While Friday, September 7, has been declared a special public holiday in metropolitan Sydney (including Penrith, Camden and Campbelltown), in order to ease road traffic, it is expected that with several major road closures, traveling in the city would have inevitable problems.

Photo: Sydney Harbour Bridge, open during the APEC summit © Larry Rivera licensed to About.com, Inc