| | | | | | | | |  | | TOURISM AUSTRALIA UPDATE | | Last week our Board met in Hobart, and while we were there, we took the opportunity to host a networking event with our industry friends and partners. The visit coincided with Tourism Tasmania’s launch of the latest iteration of their Tasmania – Come Down For Air Campaign, another clever campaign evolution from the team. The latest figures show that international arrivals numbers for the month of August were at about 77 per cent, compared to the same month in 2019. The return of aviation capacity has been critical to bringing international visitors back to Australia, and with aviation capacity expected to return to 99 per cent of 2019 levels in February next year – we are increasingly confident of the growth for our sector that lies ahead. Our aviation capacity was bolstered over the weekend with Qantas’ announcement of a new service between Perth and Paris, along with the resumption of services between Sydney and Shanghai taking off yesterday morning. Additionally, one of China’s largest airlines, Sichuan Airlines will commence daily flights from Chengdu to Melbourne in September next year, adding an extra 63,000 seats from this key market into Melbourne annually. Brisbane airport also announced last week new services, airlines adding additional flights to existing routes and the upgrading of aircraft capacity, will deliver an extra 1.3 million international seats in and out of Brisbane in the next 12 months. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to register for our next Industry Webinar taking place this Friday, 3 November. Along with an update from me, Tourism Western Australia’s Managing Director, Carolyn Turnbull will give an update on all things Western Australia. We’ll also hear from our Regional General Manager, The America’s, Chris Allison who will provide an update on the North American Market. If you haven’t already, please register to attend here. Phillipa Harrison | | |
| | | | | | Tourism Australia ACTIVITY | | | | | | | | | |  | | Come and Say G’day showcase at the Tourism Expo Japan | | Tourism Expo Japan featuring 1,275 exhibitors took place in Osaka last week, organised by the Japan Travel and Tourism Association, Japan Association of Travel Agents, and Japan National Tourism Organisation. It is one of the largest B2B and B2C tourism conferences, exhibitions and workshop events in the world. Tourism Australia along with Tourism and Events Queensland, Visit Victoria, Tourism Western Australia, and Destination NSW hosted an ‘Australia Stand’ over the four days, visitors had the opportunity to experience Aussie hospitality, Indigenous culture, and food and drink. Australia’s Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Hon Don Farrell, also attended the Tourism Expo and a special stage event by Nishi Nishiyama, a popular acoustic guitar artist who plays an Australian-made Maton guitar. Mr Nishiyama received a certificate from the Minister for his efforts in supporting Australian products and promoting travel to Australia. | | |  | | Tourism Australia attends the TravMedia Summit Asia | | TravMedia’s International Media Marketplace returned to Singapore last week providing the opportunity to bring Tourism Australia and State and Territory Tourism Organisations together, along with our media colleagues from across the Asia Pacific. Headline sponsor, Expedia, presented market trends, while travel editors shared some of the dos and don’ts of pitching in this increasingly digital and video-first mediascape. Keynote speaker Liz Ortiguera, Managing Director of Asia-Pacific and Sr Advisor to the CEO at the World Travel and Tourism Council, called on the travel industry and travellers to make responsible decisions for people and the planet. The team also met with 24 of the region’s top editors, writers and content creators to discuss some of Australia’s hottest new experiences and media stories. There was strong interest from the editors in Indigenous as well as sustainable offerings, especially those off the beaten track. | | | | | | | |  | | Come and Say G’day campaign wins in India | | Tourism Australia’s global ‘Come and Say G’day’ campaign has been awarded a Silver in the Travel and Tourism category in Sabre Asia Pacific’s Awards. The campaign was also recognised at the Campaign India PR Awards coming away with a Gold and Bronze trophy for Best Use of Advocates/ Influencers/ Celebrities and Influencer Marketing, respectively. | | |  | | Registrations are open for Tourism Australia’s Industry Briefings and Networking Events | | Industry are invited to register for Tourism Australia’s 2023 Industry Briefings and Networking Events. The free of charge briefings will take place from 4.30pm to 5.30pm and will include an update from Tourism Australia’s Managing Director, Phillipa Harrison followed by a networking event from 5.30pm to 7pm on the following dates: 10 November - Adelaide/Tarntanya
13 November - Melbourne/Narrm
20 November - Brisbane/Meeanjin
21 November - Perth/Boorloo
27 November - Sydney/Warrane Register to attend here. | | | | | | | | | |  | | Cultural Attractions of Australia Spotlights Sustainability Efforts | | Cultural Attractions of Australia is shining a spotlight on sustainability with five new case studies, from its members Fremantle Prison, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Sydney Opera House, and Port Arthur Historic Site. These attractions, steeped in history, culture, and Indigenous heritage, are deeply committed to preserving and promoting eco-friendly practices. Read the case studies here. | | |  | | Sunshine Coast Airport first airport in Australia to install BindiMaps - improving accessibility for passengers of all abilities | | Sunshine Coast Airport (SCA) has achieved a milestone by becoming Australia's first airport to adopt BindiMaps, an inclusive mapping technology. Designed with input from the vision-impaired community, BindiMaps provides real-time guidance through a smartphone app. Users can choose text, map view, or audio directions, benefiting passengers of all abilities. The partnership aims to better cater to all visitors, and this initiative aligns with Queensland's Year of Accessible Tourism. | | | | | | | | | |  | | Discover Aboriginal Experiences welcomes five new members | | Mabu Buru Tours and Kimberley Cultural Adventures, both in Western Australia; Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism in Victoria; Southern Cultural Immersion in South Australia; and Jarramali Rock Art Tours in Queensland have joined Discover Aboriginal Experiences – a collective of quality, authentic, Aboriginal-guided tourism offerings. Mabu Buru Tours hosts several immersive experiences around Broome/Rubibi, while Kimberley Cultural Adventures hosts a three-hour cultural tour on the Dampier Peninsula. World Heritage-listed Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism in southwest Victoria introduces guests to the world’s most extensive and oldest aquaculture systems. Meanwhile, Adelaide/Tarntanya’s Southern Cultural Immersion is a cultural centre offering bespoke experiences exploring the cultural sites on Kaurna Country, while Jarramali Rock Art Tours returns to the Discover Aboriginal Experiences portfolio with a suite of trips exploring jaw-dropping Quinkan art galleries. | | |  | | Waterside fine diner, Bather’s Pavilion, welcomes new culinary reign | | Sydney/Warrane’s famed Bathers’ Pavilion is making waves with a slew of exciting appointments and ventures that will usher the longstanding dining institution into a new era. The team has announced Aaron Ward (ex-Shell House and Sixpenny) as the new executive chef of the restaurant, the acquisition of Rotherwood Estate vineyard and acreage in the Southern Highlands, and one of Sydney’s best Thai chefs, Pacharin “Air” Jantrakool, is taking over the kitchen at Betel Leaf. Following the sell-out L’Enclume Residency earlier this year, co-owners of Bathers’ Pavilion Ian Pagent and Jess Shirvington are continuing to go from strength to strength having also recently opened a new summer pop-up, Eddy’s, just across the road from Bathers’ Pavilion. More details on Ward’s new menu to be announced in the coming weeks. | | | | | | | |  | | Kangaroo Island named one of the world’s best travel destinations | | Kangaroo Island has been named one of the world’s top destinations to visit – and is the only Australian destination to make the list. Ranked as #2 by global travel authority, Lonely Planet, in its 2024 Top Regions Hotlist, Kangaroo Island is recognised as a premier eco-tourism destination which offers distinct local produce, abundant native wildlife, natural experiences, and some of the nation’s most pristine beaches. In taking second place, Kangaroo Island topped globally renowned tourist destinations such as Tuscany in Italy which came in at third place. The global recognition for Kangaroo Island comes as the $55 million Southern Ocean Lodge rebuild on the west coast of the island gets set to open to guests in early December. | | |  | | Interactive Rain Room returns to Melbourne/Narrm | | After a successful season showcase in 2021, contemporary art studio Random International’s interactive Rain Room will return for its third season today, with tickets now on sale. Facilitated by esteemed hotelier, Jackalope Hotels and arts patron, Louis I, as part of the Jackalope Art Collection, the 100 square metre experience will come to life in the Jackalope Pavilion in the seaside suburb of St Kilda in Melbourne/Narrm. The Rain Room invites visitors to take centre stage and control the weather in an interactive art and technological experience that simulates continuous rainfall (rest assured - patrons are protected from the downpour). Open to the public for a limited time, this years' experience includes a limited-edition collaboration with Black Star Pastry and an art-focussed package that offers participants access to prominent art collections across Victoria. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | s |
