Traveling Blog: Essentials this week... Applications open for the Business Events Australia Advance Program 2020-21 | $95 million for zoos and aquariums

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29 April 2020

Tourism Australia update

This week we have seen a number of Australian states and territories start to ease social distancing restrictions. While this news is very much welcomed, it is just the first step in a long road to recovery.

Over the next few weeks, Tourism Australia will be launching new initiatives designed to encourage Australians to start dreaming about their next domestic holiday. With international borders likely to remain closed for some time, we will be increasing our focus on the domestic market. Domestic tourism contributes about two-thirds of the visitor economy: last year Australians spent more than $80 billion on overnight trips and more than $26.3 billion on day trips. Whilst domestic tourism alone won’t fill the vacuum of lost international business, more Australians travelling domestically has the potential to deliver much needed revenue to our industry.

This Friday, 1 May at 11am, I will be joined by Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator the Hon. Simon Birmingham for our weekly webinar. I will also be joined by our Regional General Manager, for South and South East Asia, Brent Anderson to give an update on the region. Register here.

Phillipa Harrison

Support available for industry-led business events marketing and distribution activities through the Advance Program

Applications are now open for Tourism Australia’s Business Events Australia Advance Program 2020-21. The Advance Program is a partnership marketing initiative that provides financial assistance to support marketing and distribution projects aimed at driving business events visitation to Australia. This year, to help support industry recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Tourism Australia has made some revisions to the program to increase industry's access to available funding. This includes lowering the minimum project request amount to $10,000 to support smaller projects, offering two rounds of applications per year, and streamlining the application process. A webinar explaining the Advance Program will take place on 30 April 2020 at 2pm (AEST). Register for the webinar here. For more information see the Advance Program Prospectus. Applications for round one close on Monday 1 June 2020.

New resources and industry support

In the past week, more resources and funding opportunities have been made available to support Australian businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s a summary of some of the latest:

Australia’s ‘Big Four’ banks are prioritising and accelerating JobKeeper applications. Find out more here.
To help the Australian arts sector deal with the impact of COVID-19, the Government has committed $27 million in targeted support. Find out more here.
A Digital Training Program for the South Australian tourism industry kicks off this week. Find out more here.

Funding lifeline for Australian wildlife

Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator the Hon. Simon Birmingham has announced that Australia's zoos, aquariums and animal sanctuaries will receive a $94.6 million support package to help them get through the coronavirus. This funding will assist exhibiting zoos and aquariums with the fixed operational costs associated with the caring of their animals, while also helping to ensure Australian zoos and aquariums can remain viable and ready to welcome visitors when restrictions are eased. More information is available here.

Tourism industry activity

Australia Marketplace 2020 North America and India

Both Australia Marketplace North America 2020 and Australia Marketplace India 2020 have been cancelled due to the current coronavirus pandemic. However, Tourism Australia is investigating alternative virtual options and details will be communicated when confirmed. Australia Marketplace North America 2020 was scheduled to take place from 3 to 6 August 2020 and Australia Marketplace India 2020 was scheduled to take place from 10 to 14 September 2020.

Tourism Australia activity in the United Kingdom

Tourism Australia’s Aussie Specialist team in the United Kingdom (UK) has been hosting a series of Facebook Live webinars in partnership with industry publication, TTG. The first of these attracted more than 7,000 views. The UK team has also been busy promoting positive Australian stories to media to keep Australia top of mind. The recent release of Anwen, the koala, from Port Macquarie Koala Hospital was widely covered in the UK press, even in British Vogue – proof that koalas are on trend. Today, a 12-page supplement dedicated to Australia has been published in the Daily Mail, offering tips for experiencing Australiana during lockdown and inspiration for readers considering a trip to Australia when it is safe to travel once again.

Tourism Australia activity in France

Tourism Australia’s Aussie Specialist trainer in France, Adil Hmami, organised seven webinars, each co-hosted with state tourism organisations to showcase the different regions and experiences available in Australia. The first sessions about Tasmania, Queensland and Victoria took place throughout April and each were attended by more than 100 travel agents, tour operators and trade media.

Northern Territory Parks re-open

Some Northern Territory National Parks and reserves will re-open from midday 1 May 2020 for camping, swimming and hiking, following coronavirus closures. Local operators will be able to recommence tours provided they ensure effective hygiene and physical distancing precautions are in place. Accommodation providers will also be able to accept bookings. Find out more here.

Australian Stories

Visit ‘Sculpture by the Sea’ from your armchair

Following an early closure due to the coronavirus, Western Australia’s annual Sculpture by the Sea exhibition held at Cottesloe Beach has re-opened online. More than 50 sculptures by local and international artists can now be visited by armchair travellers and art-lovers around the world set against the backdrop of WA’s spectacular Indian Ocean coastline. View the exhibition here.

Zoom with one of Sydney’s best Sommeliers

Double Bay’s award-winning Bibo Wine Bar has launched ‘Bibo at Home’. Stay-at-home diners can choose from an extensive takeaway menu, including an eight-course chef’s menu; or opt for a personalised Sommelier’s Choice wine box and receive six wines handpicked to their palate, paired with a one-to-one Zoom consultation with Head Sommelier Louella Mathews. To find out more visit the website.

Have an Indigenous experience in your own backyard

Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council has developed a series of short “postcard” stories about the lifestyle and creativity of Aboriginal guides in Western Australia. With the launch of Postcards from our Backyard, viewers can learn to make fire with Josh Whiteland from Koomal Dreaming in the Margaret River region, go on an adventure with Darren Capewell from Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Adventures in Shark Bay, and catch bush tucker with Johani Mamid from Mabu Buru Broome Aboriginal Tours in the Kimberley. Head to Facebook or YouTube to learn more.

Passion of Paradise use staff and vessels for coral restoration

Passions of Paradise have been repurposing their idle vessels for coral restoration missions along the Great Barrier Reef. Giving our ocean some extra tender loving care, the family-owned company has dedicated its state-of-the-art catamaran to transporting crew and scientists to Hastings Reef where they’ve set up nurseries to plant and harvest coral. While the Cairns based company has stopped running tours for now, when tours resume passengers will be able to snorkel over the site which boasts healthy marine life and corals near the nursery. You can read more about Passions of Paradise eco-tourism initiatives online.