Hospitality giant Australian Venue Co has backtracked on its announcement to ban Australia Day celebrations at over 200 of its pubs and bars after massive backlash and calls for boycott.

Initially, Australian Venue Co had informed its managers not to permit flagwavers to celebrate Australia Day in its establishments on Jan. 26.

The company's spokeswoman had said, "Australia Day is a day that causes sadness for some members of our community, so we have decided not to specifically celebrate a day that causes hurt for some of our patrons and our........

© International Business Times