Traveling Blog: Essentials… Register for Tourism Australia’s Industry Webinar | Europeans enticed to Australia | November Hot List

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7 December 2022

TOURISM AUSTRALIA UPDATE

Last week we saw more evidence of recovery continuing, with the November ABS Visitor Arrivals data hitting 65 per cent of 2019 volumes, and whilst we are still facing challenges such as staffing and aviation, there is plenty to celebrate as the world continues to open up.

This was great context for Tourism Australia’s annual board strategy meeting in Sydney/Warrane, as we reflected on the launch of our ‘Come and Say G’day’ campaign and planned for the year ahead as we continue to drive international demand back to Australia from our key markets around the world. And a big shout out to our industry partners in Tasmania that we caught up with this week at MONA – it's great to see the Tasmanian tourism industry doing so well.

This Friday, 9 December at 11am AEDT we will be holding our final Industry Webinar for 2022. I will be giving an update on some of our latest activities, and we will be talking with Andrew Hogg, Tourism Australia’s Executive General Manager, Aviation and Eastern Markets and Eva Seller our Regional General Manager for Continental Europe. Also joining the webinar will be the CEO of Ecotourism Australia, Elissa Keenan to talk about the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard partnership we launched recently. Register to attend here.

Phillipa Harrison

Tourism Australia Activity

eDreams goes Australian in Europe

Tourism Australia recently launched a campaign with eDreams/Odigeo to complement the ‘Come and Say G’day’ brand campaign across Europe. The campaign will run in Germany, France and Italy until the end of June 2023. Elements of the campaign include a dedicated microsite, newsletters, Instagram stories, postings on social media as well as digital out of home advertising. The campaign is the second campaign with eDreams/Odigeo following a successful campaign earlier in 2022 to welcome back tourists to Australia.

Le Figaro Voyage Australia Special Issue

Tourism Australia is encouraging French travellers to ‘Come and Say G’day’ with a 128 page special issue of the Figaro Voyage. Including 73 editorial pages on Australia, a unique pull-out map designed by Le Figaro’s creative team, plus seven advertising pages the special highlights Tourism Australia’s new campaign ‘Come and Say G’day’. The magazine also features partners such as Tourism NT and contributions from Luxury Lodges of Australia and Australian Wildlife Journeys in cooperation with Australie à la Carte. The special issue is the ultimate inspirational magazine for the French to plan and book their next Australian adventure. The magazine is available throughout France and has a circulation of 50 thousand. Content will be extended by an online content partnership with Le Figaro in spring 2023.

Photo credit © Le Figaro

New National Experience Content Initiative assets

Tourism Australia’s National Experience Content Initiative (NECI) features new experiences from Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory and Western Australia. These include Bike and Hike Whitsunday, Helicopter Corp, Iltja Ntjara Many Hands Art Centre and Helispirit Lake Argyle. Follow #neciaus on Instagram for a behind the scenes look at the NECI shoots as they take place throughout the country.

The November Hot List

Tourism Australia has released its latest travel 'Hot List' for December 2022, available now on its corporate website. The guide to the latest news and tourism offerings across the country is updated monthly. The 'Hot List' contains a wrap-up of new places to stay and experiences to enjoy around Australia. Check it out here.

Tourism Industry News

National Banksia Sustainability Awards

Tourism Businesses are encouraged to enter the ‘Sustainable Tourism Award’ category in this year’s National Banksia Sustainability Awards. The ‘Sustainable Tourism Award’, sponsored by Tourism Australia, recognises outstanding achievements by an organisation or organisations in collaboration in championing the protection, conservation, and regeneration of the environment, nurturing and supporting the economic and physical wellbeing of community and culture, both Indigenous and local. Entries close on 13 December 2022. National winners will be announced in March 2023.For more information about the awards, including how to enter, visit the Banksia Foundation website.

Expressions of interest Working Holiday Maker campaign

There are currently over 74,500 Working Holiday Makers (WHM) with issued visas who have not commenced their travel to Australia. The Australian Chamber of Commerce (ACCI) Tourism Committee are proposing an industry based visa rebate scheme, funded by members across the visitor economy. There is an opportunity for Tourism Accommodation Australia, Australian Hotels Association and Accommodation Association of Australia Members to work with ACCI to approach these offshore WHMs directly. Members interested in attracting Working Holiday Maker Visa holders who are willing to refund visa fee (AUD$510) if they are employed by your organisation register your interest here.

Australian Stories

CABN launches suite of sustainable properties in Mount Lofty Ranges

South Australian based off grid accommodation operator, CABN, has opened three new cabins in South Australia’s 3,600 hectare Kuitpo Forest in the heart of the beloved Mount Lofty Ranges. The CABN Kuitpo Forest site provide three independent cabins, Jarrah, Nala and Bambra, with each separated by native pine trees. Each timber cabin sleeps four people, with a luxury queen bed and an adult sized bunk bed, and houses kitchen and dining space and spacious bathroom beneath gorgeous large-scale windows.

Moreton Bay to hold 35th Woodford Folk Festival

Combine colour, creativity and good vibes to see out 2022 and welcome the new year at the Woodford Folk Festival. An estimated 132,000 revellers make the annual pilgrimage to Woodfordia, located just over an hour’s drive northwest of Brisbane/Meeanjin, for six days of music, performances, arts and workshops. The 35th Woodford Folk Festival kicks off on 27 December 2022 and parties through to New Year’s Day. With more than 2,000 creatives converging on Woodfordia, the festival is the largest gathering of musicians and artists in the country.

Western Australia welcomes two new luxury beachside getaways

Two beautiful brand-new luxury beachside properties are available in coastal Western Australia. Bookable through Private Properties, the new beachside escapes are at Marmaduke in Margaret River, and Oceanic in Dawesville. While the abodes are located 200kms apart, they each offer views of spectacular sunsets over the Indian Ocean from sweeping verandas and living spaces. Exhuming a sense of costal calm, Marmaduke sleeps up to eight guests, meanwhile Oceanic, and its earthy tones, has been designed with family getaways in mind.

Beloved Sydney CBD pub set to reopen with 36 hour party

The Solotel hospitality group is breathing new life into a Sydney/Warrane city nightlife icon, The Abercrombie. Set to reopen on Friday 23 December, the multi-level heritage-listed space has undergone an sizeable transformation, with a ground floor hub now housing a performance and club space, public bar, and beer garden. Meanwhile the rooftop is now home to Casa Rosa, a playful late-night Italo-disco cocktail lounge. Licensed for 24-hours, the venue will host a suite of curated events including a 36-hour, non-stop, launch party.