Traveling Blog: Essentials… Don’t Go Small. Go Australia | Register for Industry Webinar | Spotlight on Singapore | Destination Australia

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16 February 2022

TOURISM AUSTRALIA UPDATE
With Australia’s international borders opening next week on Monday 21 February, a new Tourism Australia campaign has been launched internationally by the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon Dan Tehan MP to encourage travellers to book their next big holiday to Australia. Don’t Go Small. Go Australia is about reminding travellers whether they are dreaming of discovery, or looking for relaxation – Australia is the perfect destination for an epic adventure. Here in Australia, we have amazing icons which are known and loved around the world, and now is the time to remind travellers of these things, and showcase a number of our less known but equally spectacular experiences and destinations. To hear more about Tourism Australia’s plans for the coming year make sure you join us next week for Tourism Australia’s first Industry Webinar for 2022 on Friday 25 February. Read more below. Finally, with just under three weeks until Destination Australia, in line with the theme ‘reimagining the future of tourism’, we can’t wait to meet up in Melbourne to talk about what lies ahead, especially now that borders are opening. Find out more below. Phillipa Harrison

Come and Say G’Day - Don’t Go Small. Go Australia

This week, Tourism Australia launched a new campaign internationally to encourage travellers to book their next big holiday to Australia. With international borders reopening to all fully vaccinated tourists and other visitors from 21 February 2022, the Don’t Go Small. Go Australia campaign is being rolled out to remind travellers of all the incredible experiences that await them in Australia.

To kick off the campaign, Tourism Australia has taken over landmark sites including London’s Piccadilly Circus and New York City’s Times Square this week, inviting international travellers to Come and Say G’day with the message projected on the digital screens until Sunday 20 February. To spark excitement amongst Londoners and New Yorkers about the return of travel to Australia, the bright and sunny creative features a kangaroo on a pristine Aussie beach.

Come and Say G’Day - Don’t Go Small. Go Australia will run in Germany, France, Italy, and Canada as well as the USA and UK.

Tourism Australia Activity

The first industry webinar for 2022 will be held on Friday 25 February at 11am AEDT, the week Australia will open to the world again. Tourism Australia will outline plans for the coming year and be joined by Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment the Hon. Dan Tehan MP and John Hart, Executive Chair for the Australian Chamber – Tourism and Tourism Australia Board member to provide a broader update. Register to attend here.

Hobart Industry Briefing and networking event

Tourism Australia is hosting an industry briefing at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Hobart on Friday 11 March at 9am with a networking function to follow from 10.30am to 11am. Phillipa Harrison, Managing Director at Tourism Australia and other members of the Tourism Australia team will share an update on upcoming international marketing campaigns. John Fitzgerald, CEO at Tourism Tasmania will also share an update. Register to attend.

Spotlight on the Regions – Singapore

This week, ‘Spotlight on the Regions’ features an interview with Ann Lim, Tourism Australia’s Country Manager, Singapore, who shares insights and observations from the Singapore market, as well as updates on key stakeholders and activities to keep Australia front of mind in-market. Read the update here.

Destination Australia

Tourism Australia will host the annual Destination Australia conference on Thursday 3 March 2022 at CENTREPIECE at Melbourne Park. This years’ event is designed to inspire, with high profile speakers discussing lessons learnt, sharing future focused trends and highlighting emerging opportunities. Destination Australia will also be offered online for those unable to attend in person. View the speaker line up and program here.

Australia Innovates

Tourism Australia has launched the latest episode of Australia Innovates featuring Adam Gilmour, CEO and founder of Gilmore Space, an Australian rocket company emerging as a world leader in hybrid rocket technology with a goal to provide more affordable access to space. The documentary-style video series is part of a broader recovery strategy to position Australia as a leading business events destination and will be promoted to association customers in North America, the United Kingdom and Europe. Australia Innovates assets, including videos, images and an infographic, are available for industry to use in their efforts to secure business events for Australia, for more information contact the Business Events Australia team.

Tourism Australia domestic sentiment research

Tourism Australia’s latest wave of domestic research confirms that businesses are largely positive about the future of business events. Sixty-seven per cent of businesses are planning events in the next 6 to 12 months, up five per cent from October 2021. Whilst the proportion of decision makers planning events for the next 12 to 24 months has dropped slightly, it remains strong. These results suggest businesses are increasing focus on the short term, with seven out of 10 corporate decision makers expressing the need to simply ‘get on with it’ when it comes to living with COVID-19 and the challenges it brings. As the rollout of COVID-19 boosters continues, decision makers are mindful of the COVID-19 vaccination policies of venues, citing it to be the main factor influencing their decision making when planning interstate events. Read the latest research on the Business Events Australia Website.

Tourism Industry News

Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Conference

The annual Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Conference in the Asia-Pacific (AITCAP) event will be held on 17, 19, 24 and 26 May 2022. The conference will share how catering to the accessible and inclusive market promotes sustainable growth and creates great opportunities for the travel and tourism industry in the region.

National Visitor Survey for November 2021

The National Visitor Survey snapshot for the month of November 2021 is now available. The report provides statistics on how Australian residents travelled in each state or territory and nationally during this period.

Extra support for Tasmanian businesses

The Tasmanian Government offering the small business sector a new round of COVID-19 Business Impact Support grants. Funding available through the new COVID-19 Business Impact Support Program provides support for businesses that are experiencing reduced trading caused by a loss of staff due to COVID-19 that has affected the business’ ability to operate, or loss of business due to significantly lower than usual customer demand.

New South Wales businesses are encouraged to register for the Stay NSW voucher program. Accommodation, recreation and entertainment businesses such as cultural institutions, live music and arts venues can benefit from the support. For help with business registration call Service NSW on 13 77 88 or book a call with a Business Concierge.

Expressions of interest open for ATEC’s Market ‘Host’ Series

The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) supported by Tourism Australia are preparing to launch the 2022 ‘Host’ market specialist training series. Industry is invited to complete an expression of interest to provide feedback on priority markets and preferred learning style. For further information contact development@atec.net.au.

Corinne Goodman recognised as top travel advisor by prominent US magazine

North American ‘Travel + Leisure’ magazine has revealed the top travel advisors in the world, including Corinne Goodman from Down Under Endeavours, a member of leading travel network Serandipians by Traveller Made®. Corinne is an Australian native and founded Down Under Endeavours in 1998 with a vision to help travellers experience the real Australia through the eyes of a local. Corinne is one of only 149 top travel agents selected by Travel + Leisure editors, who evaluated thousands of candidates for this highly selective guide.

Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour tenders now open

Tenders for the 2022 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour are now open. The Cup Tour will be celebrating its 20-year anniversary in 2022 and you are invited to help celebrate what will be a momentous lead up to the 162nd Melbourne Cup. Community leaders are encouraged to get involved in the iconic community event which includes be a chance to win $50,000 for a registered charity connected to their town. Tenders close on Wednesday, 13 April. Find out more here.

'How to make sustainability your business' live Q&A.

The Australian Tourims Export Council (ATEC) and Ecotourism Australia will present a 'How to make sustainability your business' webinar on Thursday 24 February at 2pm EDST. Industry members will share their business sustainability initiatives and top tips to assist attendees on their sustainability journey. Find out more and secure a place here.

australian stories

Kimpton Margot Sydney opens with Luke Mangan restaurant and bar

The art deco style Kimpton Margot Sydney has opened its doors in the Sydney CBD. The first Kimpton to open in Australia, the luxury hotel brings a modern touch to a heritage listed Pitt Street building. Fitted with 172 spacious rooms, the property includes 1930’s design elements, around 600 pieces of bespoke art and a rooftop pool. Revered chef Luke Mangan will be heading up fusion restaurant, Luke’s Kitchen and an indulgent wine bar, Cellar By Luke. Both of Mangan’s new offerings will highlight local produce with stylistic nods to Kimpton’s retro flair.

AAT Kings unveil cross-state guided tour of South Australia

Guided holiday operator, AAT Kings, has launched an epic new bush journey, the South Australian Outback Adventure. The eight day return guided trip from Adelaide will allow guests to bathe in the diverse landscapes and iconic South Australia travel landmarks. Taking in a range of locations across the state, key experiences on the tour include wine tasting in the Barossa, the vivid wonders of Wilpena Pound, a 4WD journey on Ridgetop Track and seven nights in quality accommodation, including an underground stay in Coober Pedy.

Christmas Island to host an exclusive eight-night festival

From 21 to 28 June 2022, Christmas Island will host the inaugural Indian Ocean Fest. Over seven days, the Fest is inviting 30 people to enjoy the remarkable vistas and marine parks of the remote island alongside a full suite of events. The immersive range of exclusive festival offerings include freediving, snorkelling and diving amidst the unique oceanic ecosystems, eating locally foraged produce at a pop-up diner run by Fervor and wilderness walks through the 85 square kilometre Christmas Island National Park. Applicants must register online to be part of the exclusive experience.

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival returns for its 30th anniversary

After multiple years of interruption, the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival returns to the city from 25 March to 9 April 2022. In celebration of the festival’s 30th anniversary, organisers have secured high profile talent to facilitate public events, including Nigella Lawson who will host the Sunday Lunch. Other key experiences across the fortnight include The World’s Longest Brunch hosted in the Treasury Gardens, the Flinders Lane Crawl and The Convenient Store, a pop-up at Queen Street Station where artisanal produce will be showcased to the masses. Tickets can be purchased for all events from this Thursday, 17 February.