Essentials this week… | be.australia.cn | International visitor survey | Malaysia Travel Fair | Friends of Australia activity highlights | and more…

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25 July 2018     New Australia website for Chinese business events planners Tourism Australia has launched a redesigned version of its Chinese-language website for business events, be.australia.cn, to help grow international visitation for the sector which was worth $4.75 billion to the Australian economy in 2017. Australia’s natural beauty is one of the key drivers of visitation from China and visitors to the new site will see more images and videos of Australia’s business events offering and destinations, event delivery, incentive programs, and testimonials from incentive planners. Users can also access sources of inspiration and information on holding a business event in Australia. Importantly, the site has also been built to ensure the best user experience and integration with Chinese social media platforms. The website was launched this week by Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon Steven Ciobo MP.     25 July 2018     International visitor survey results The International Visitor Survey released last week revealed spending by international visitors for the year to March 2018 has grown by six per cent to a record $42.3 billion. Tourism Australia has updated its popular international tourism snapshot, an infographic showing spend, arrivals and aviation data from Australia’s key inbound markets.

TOURISM AUSTRALIA NEWS  Showcasing Australia to travellers from Northern Malaysia Tourism Australia recently participated in the Penang MITM Travel Fair to increase awareness of Australian experiences with a specific focus on self-drive itineraries. The fair saw more than 62,000 visitors over two days. Visitation to Australia from Penang continues to grow with a general trend away from group tours toward free and independent travel. Australia’s presence at the event was supported by Visit Victoria, South Australian Tourism Commission, Tourism & Events Queensland, Tourism Tasmania and Tourism Northern Territory. There was also a 45% increase in the number of Aussie Specialist travel agents who participated in this year’s event. Friends of Australia activity highlights Tourism Australia has published a report on the latest Friends of Australia activity highlights from April to June 2018. The Friends of Australia program helps to harness the power of globally influential individuals who have a genuine affinity with Australia. Formed in 2010, the program is designed to allow both Australian and international opinion leaders to share their own personal and authentic Australian stories to their networks as well as through Tourism Australia’s networks. The program involves a range of influential people including sports stars, fashion designers, celebrity chefs, environmentalists, entrepreneurs and artists along with some of Australia’s most influential high-achievers and opinion leaders.

AUSTRALIAN STORIES  Surry Hills welcomes new boutique hotel 8HOTELS has opened Little Albion Guest House in Surry Hills, offering a ‘live like a local’ accommodation experience in one of Sydney’s most vibrant inner-city suburbs. The 35-room boutique hotel features a knowledgeable guest service team to provide the warmth of a local guest house with a hint of luxury through thoughtful interior design and up-market amenities. New superyacht added to Ocean Alliance portfolio The 105-foot Akhir motor yacht MOHASUWEI is now available for charter via superyacht management and marketing organisation Ocean Alliance. MOHASUWEI has accommodation for eight to ten guests in four cabins, all with private ensuites, with the Owner and VIP staterooms enjoying a full beam expanse. Like many of the superyachts available for charter in Australia, MOHASUWEI’s homeport is Sydney and the yacht will be available in the Harbour, Pittwater (north of Sydney), the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef. Dedicated events venue opens on the Great Barrier Reef The first dedicated events venue on the Great Barrier Reef has been launched in Cairns offering bespoke corporate events and private parties in the middle of the Coral Sea. Sunlover Funlover is an innovative event and entertainment product incorporating a high-speed catamaran and outer Great Barrier Reef pontoon which can be customised for any function and cater for more than 300 guests. New Pearl Oyster Hatchery in Broome Autore Pearls and Willie Creek have collaborated on a new Pearl Oyster Hatchery, located at Willie Creek Pearl Farm. The hatchery is the only one of its kind operating in Broome, and one of a few in Western Australia. Guests can participate in a pearl farm tour to discover the journey of a pearl from shell to showroom and how the entire spawning process is undertaken in the hatchery.

INDUSTRY NEWS AND EVENTS  Internationale Tourismus Börse 2019 Applications are open until Friday 21 September for Australian tourism businesses to join to the Australia stand at the Internationale Tourismus Börse 2019 (ITB19) in Berlin from 6 to 10 March 2019. A wide range of participation options are available, such as sole and share booth options, and day passes for the trade days. ITB 2019 is a five-day event, open to trade and consumers. Wednesday 6 March to Friday 8 March are trade and press-only days. Saturday 9 March and Sunday 10 March are open to the general public. In 2018 ITB hosted 10,000 exhibitors and attracted 196,000 visitors of which 120,000 were trade.

NEWS IN BRIEF    Virgin Australia will operate three return services per week between Newcastle in NSW and Auckland from 22 November 2018 to 17 February 2019. The new flights will make Virgin Australia the first airline to provide an international service from the upgraded Newcastle Airport terminal. Submissions are open until Friday 31 August for the Queensland Tourism Industry Council's Prize for Innovation in Tourism. Tourism Tasmania is calling for Expressions of Interest from Asia-ready tourism businesses to participate in its Asia Mission 2018 to China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore in September.     Registration is open for ATEC Meeting Place 2018 which will take place from 19-21 November in Darwin. Recordings of the presentations from ATEC and Tourism Australia’s China Payments Opportunity Forum have been published on Tourism Australia’s website. Industry are invited to register their interest for the Destination Australia Conference 2019 to be held on Thursday 14 March in Brisbane.

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