Traveling Blog: Essentials this week... Coronavirus update | Bring a bit of Australia to your Zoom conference calls | Tourism Australia activity in Italy

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15 April 2020

Coronavirus update

I hope you had a happy Easter. It was certainly a different one this year with all of us unable to visit our extended families, friends – and of course visit our favourite Australian places. That said, it’s wonderful to hear that the self-isolation and social distancing sacrifices we’ve all made by staying at home, appear to be having an impact on the spread of the coronavirus in Australia. As we all know, the sooner we can flatten the curve, the sooner we can go beyond dreaming of Australian adventures to enjoying the beautiful places and spaces right on our doorstep.

Make sure you tune into our next webinar this Friday at 11am for an update from Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Doctor Nick Coatsworth and Jane Whitehead, Tourism Australia’s Regional General Manager for the Americas. We will also be featuring a session on how to communicate on social media during the coronavirus pandemic. Register here.

If you fancy a “pick-me-up” we’re also sharing something to lift your spirits created by Paul Cooper, Marketing and Business Development Manager at Sydney and Melbourne Touring. Thank you so much Paul for uniting our industry and bringing some light in these uncertain times, and for allowing me to be part of something that was a bit of fun in the midst of Zoom teleconferences at home! It was also a reminder that our Aussie optimism and sense of humour is part of what will see us come through this crisis united and stronger. Take care and enjoy this fun video.

Phillipa Harrison

Bring a bit of Australia to your Zoom conference calls

While the coronavirus pandemic continues, and social distancing measures are in place, many people are now working from home and video conferencing has become the new norm. To inspire would-be travellers around the world, Tourism Australia has made 13 stunning Australian landscapes available for use as backdrops during Zoom meetings. Check out the beautiful landscapes here and download them free for your next virtual catch up.

Coronavirus resources

There are a number of dedicated resources available for businesses to access during the coronavirus pandemic:

The Australian Tourism Export Council has developed a 36-week Road to Recovery program for industry. The 45-minute tutorials are free of charge and will be hosted every Thursday at 2pm.
TAFE NSW has launched a suite of 21 short courses which are available for free. Courses include eMarketing for Small Business, Engaging Customers Using Social Media, Computing Skills, Administration Skills for Team Leaders and more.
Wine Australia is hosting a crisis communications webinar on 16 April from 12pm to 1pm AEST. Register here.
Get Your Guide has released a series of guides to support suppliers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Tourism industry activity

Tourism Australia activity in Italy

Tourism Australia recently hosted a series of webinars to keep Italian travel agents inspired and informed. The first webinar featured Premier Aussie Specialist, Paolo Aloe, who took 180 agents from all over Italy on a virtual trip through Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. A second webinar was held for 250 Italian travel agents and was hosted by Aussie Specialist trainer, Valeria Vitale, together with Tourism and Events Queensland, showing agents why Queensland is the perfect destination for honeymooners. The third webinar was hosted by Premier Aussie Specialist, Diana Boncompagni, who updated 231 Italian travel agents about her road trip from Perth to Esperance in Western Australia.

Find out how Australia’s North West is adapting during the coronavirus pandemic

During coronavirus, there have been stories of heartache and loss, but there have also been uplifting stories of communities pulling together and businesses adapting to make the most of a difficult situation. Australia’s North West is home to many operators who are doing it tough at the moment, but this week they shared some good news. SoBroome is streaming the Staircase to the Moon on Facebook, so while no-one can travel to see the phenomenon, viewers all over the world are able to see it live. Award-winning Kununurra rum maker, Hoochery Distillery, has modified their still to produce hand sanitiser and Clinton Walker from Ngurrangga Tours has been providing advice and tips on traditional bushfoods via Facebook.

Twenty activities to keep the kids entertained

Keeping the kids entertained at home for extended periods of time is no small feat. However, there are some amazing experiences and resources out there to give you a helping hand and keep them engaged. Once it’s safe to travel again, make sure you head out and take part in these experiences in real life. But until then, settle in and be inspired from the comfort of your own home. Read more here.

Destination Australia Conference 2020

Videos and photos from the Destination Australia Conference are now available online. The Destination Australia Conference was held on 12 March 2020 at Adelaide Oval. The conference was attended by close to 350 tourism industry from around Australia and focused on the themes of resilience and recovery.

Supporting Australian exporters

Australia’s Minister for Tourism, Simon Birmingham, announced today that Australian exporters impacted by coronavirus may be eligible for business-saving loans between $250,000 and $50 million under a new $500 million capital facility to be administered by Export Finance Australia. The new COVID-19 Export Capital Facility will target loans to established and previously profitable exporters who, due to COVID-19, are unable to gain finance from commercial sources. Contact 1800 093 724 or visit the website for more information.

Australian Stories

Learn traditional weaving at home

Tjanpi Desert Weavers is now offering tutorials along with at-home Learn-to-Weave Kits which are available to order online. Including a needle and raffia hanks, you can learn to weave your own traditional basket with the kick-starter pack and online video tutorial. With the Alice Springs gallery currently closed to visitors, the at-home kits are the perfect way to share in Aboriginal culture while also partaking in a form of meditation. Tjanpi Desert Weavers is a social enterprise of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yakunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council, working with women in the remote Central and Western desert regions who earn an income from contemporary fibre art.

Phillip Island Nature Park podcast series

Phillip Island Nature Parks has launched a new podcast so you can now hear firsthand from those who care for the world-renowned conservation organisation. Each fortnightly episode shares unique and personal stories from Phillip Island such as how saving the island’s little penguins started and how fur seals were brought back from near extinction. Helping to paint an audio picture of what it really takes to work and act for conservation and wildlife, you can find the podcasts at www.penguins.org.au/podcast or on Spotify (Search Phillip Island Nature Parks Podcast).

Yarra Valley Virtual Cellar Door virtual tours

Weekend visits to Yarra Valley wineries may be off for now but that’s no reason not to enjoy the latest drops from this regions’ best producers. Now with virtual cellar door tours held each Thursday afternoon via the @WineYarraValley Instagram, you can get an inside look into some of the Yarra Valley’s most famed cellar doors with video tours which are followed by live streamed ‘Wine Down’ chats with winemakers. Wine lovers also have the option to purchase two different mixed virtual cellar door six-packs on the Wine Yarra Valley website which can be shipped (for free in Australia) to their door so they can taste along at home.

SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast online content

SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast will be continuing to share incredible animal stories and yoga sessions on Facebook Live throughout April. Tune in each Tuesday and Thursday to see the team of aquarists feed all the colourful fish, sharks and rays that live in the Ocean Tunnel or tune in for an educational talk which are specifically curated for kids in Prep to Grade 3. On Mondays, join staff member Chloe for Yoga Under the Sea, which is suitable for both adults and children. To keep up-to-date with future live streams, follow SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast on Facebook and visit www.sealifesunshinecoast.com.au. You can also view all past live stream videos on Facebook and on the aquarium’s website.