World Youth Day 2008 has announced details of its accommodation, meal and transport packages available to pilgrims travelling to Sydney, Australia for the world's biggest youth celebration.

A key feature of the pricing has been the ability to keep package costs for pilgrims from low income countries below the price of the comparable package for WYD 2005.

WYD08 Coordinator Bishop Anthony Fisher OP said the packages were also designed to encourage maximum participation by pilgrims from Australia's neighbours in South East Asia and the Pacific.

"We know that for many people in Oceania, this may be the only chance they have to attend a World Youth Day.

"With this in mind, one of our guiding principles was to ensure that pilgrims from developing nations in Oceania pay as little as possible to attend WYD in 2008.

"In fact, package prices for pilgrims from low income countries will, in almost all cases, be lower in Sydney than they were for World Youth Day in 2005.

"Furthermore, we have managed to keep package prices for pilgrims from lower middle income nations at roughly the same levels as 2005."

Bishop Fisher said organisers also achieved a commitment to keep all packages priced below $AU400.

"The top package includes an extra night's accommodation compared with WYD 2005, 18 meals and bus, rail and ferry transport for registered pilgrims in Sydney across the WYD week.

"Emergency health insurance cover is included for all registered pilgrims and the WYD08 visa will be free of government charges. Registered pilgrims will also receive a WYD08 backpack with program books and the passes required for various services and for preferential access to key event venues."

Sydney is hosting the XXIII World Youth Day and the tenth international WYD from 15-20 July 2008.

World Youth Day, the largest youth event in the world, is expected to attract up to 500,000 pilgrims, including up to 125,000 international visitors.

For more information about the World Youth Day registration packages, see the official Sydney website at  www.wyd2008.org