Traveling Blog: Essentials… Applications open for Business Events Advance Program | Australia on show in Japan

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7 June 2023

TOURISM AUSTRALIA UPDATE

With international air capacity and pricing key to our recovery, I thought I’d share some of the latest analysis that has just come in.  It’s looking like inbound capacity is on track to return to 90 per cent by September this year, and capacity has lifted from 71 per cent in January 2023 to 85 per cent this month.  We are also seeing some key markets already well above pre-pandemic capacity, and others steadily growing.  New routes out of India have taken seat capacity from that market to 258 per cent, compared to June 2019, with a total of 21 flights per week, and South Korea is another stand out market with seat capacity at 162 per cent of 2019 levels. Japan and Canada are also either back to or close to 100 per cent.  With capacity continuing to grow at this rate, we should expect pricing to become more competitive for Australia, which is particularly important for a destination like us where time, distance and cost remain hurdles we need to overcome.

In other news, yesterday we opened applications for Tourism Australia’s international business events marketing partnership initiative, the Advance Program for 2023/24. See below for more details.

Finally, this week our Board is in Adelaide/Tarntanya as part of its commitment to meet in destinations across the country, and at the same time connect with industry and operators. The last meeting was in Melbourne/Narrm, and next up will be Sydney/Warrane and then Hobart/nipaluna later in the year.

Phillipa Harrison

Tourism Australia ACTIVITY

Applications are open for the Advance Program  

Applications are open for Tourism Australia’s international business events marketing partnership initiative, the Advance Program for 2023/24. The program provides the opportunity for Australian industry to access financial support and leverage Tourism Australia’s expertise to deliver industry-led marketing or distribution projects, which either increase consideration of Australia for new international business events; or increase international delegate attendance at events already secured for Australia. Supported activity for the 2023/24 program must be delivered by 30 June 2024. For more information, including eligibility, how to apply online, and information on what kind of projects the Advance Program supports, visit the Business Events Australia website. Applications close at 5pm AEST on Monday 31 July 2023. 

Australian major events and air access highlighted at Japanese media event

Tourism Australia held a media event on 2 June in Tokyo to share the 'Come and Say G’day' campaign as well as exciting news and events. Over 60 media and content creators attended the event where they had an opportunity to learn about aviation expansion including Virgin Australia’s new service Tokyo Haneda - Cairns service commencing 28 June, Qantas Airways’ recent announcement of boosting its Japan flights, and also the ‘Decade of Green and Gold’ with Australia hosting many world class events such as FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, the 2025 and 2027 Rugby World Cup and the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games. Wine Australia also attended and shared Australian wine news and trends with the guests.

Tourism Australia partners with Hyatt to offer guests the opportunity to ‘Enjoy the Best of Australia at Hyatt’

Tourism Australia has collaborated with one of the world’s top hospitality brands, Hyatt, to emulate the unique feeling of an Australian taste and experience, through an iconic Aussie brunch. The ‘Enjoy the Best of Australia at Hyatt’ partnership combines restaurant service themes and decorations that present Australian culture as part of the experience on offer at Shenzhen Park Hyatt. Guests can experience the Aussie brunch and also get Australian surprises during their stay at the hotel until 7 July. The kick-off ceremony was held on 6 June, and was attended by over 30 media and key opionion leaders.

Hong Kong TV Travel Program goes live

Hong Kong free-to-air TV channel TVB Jade launched its latest travel program ‘Hipster Tour Australia’ during prime time in the end of May. Over 6 episodes, travel influencer Christy Leung explores Western Australia and Queensland experiencing adventure, luxury, wildlife encounters, food and wine, Indigenous culture, and natural landscapes. Tourism Australia, with support of Tourism Western Australia and Tourism and Events Queensland, hosted the group and showcased why there’s nothing like Australia.

Brisbane campaign with Korean Air and Tourism and Events Queensland

To celebrate the return of Korean Air’s resumed flight between Seoul and Brisbane/Meeanjin, Tourism Australia in partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland and Korean Air have integrated Tourism Australia’s ‘Come and Say G’day’ on Korean Air’s various media channels including its website, social media and frequent flyer members. The partnership aims to increase the awareness of the returned service and to introduce one-of-a-kind, world-class visitor experiences. To further stimulate the number of bookings, Korean Air created a special discounted booking code for the campaign.

TOURISM INDUSTRY NEWS

State of Industry 2022

Toursim Research Australia (TRA) has published the State of the industry 2022 report. This annual report presents a snapshot of Australia’s visitor economy in 2022. The pandemic had a major impact on the visitor economy and in 2022, the recovery gained momentum and broadened across a wider range of segments. International visitation increased strongly, off an extremely low level. Domestic travel demand also improved, and domestic visitor spend rose above its pre-pandemic level. 

Fraser Island officially reinstated as K’gari

The Queensland Government today announced the official name change of one of the State’s most treasured and culturally significant destinations to its Traditional name ‘K’gari’ (formerly Fraser Island). The announcement formally recognises the Butchulla People’s connection to the island and the creation story that has been passed down for generations. In traditional Butchulla culture, the island holds immense history in its lakes, waterways, coastline, skies and rainforest. Gaining UNESCO World Heritage Area status in 1992, it was formed from sand accumulation over 750,000 years - becoming the world’s largest sand island.

AUSTRALIAN STORIES

Adelaide/Tarntanya to host global beach volleyball tournament in 2025

Beach volleyball’s biggest global tournament of the year is coming to Adelaide in November 2025. Around 1000 cubic metres of sand brought in to turn famed tennis venue, The Drive into a beach volleyball colosseum for the Beach Volleyball World Championships. An Australian first, about a thousand athletes, staff, officials, media and volunteers will converge on Adelaide for the event, which is likely to feature 192 players, with the event expected to attract more than 11,000 spectators from interstate and more than 6,000 from overseas.

Tasmanian Walking Company partner with WWF in support of regenerative travel

The World Wide Fund for Nature Australia (WWF-Australia) and Tasmanian Walking Company (TWC) are teaming up to raise funds for Regenerate Australia. After raising $115,000 for wildlife and landscape regeneration in 2022, the return of the Walk for Wild event offers hikers the opportunity to leave a positive legacy on the places and communities visited by TWC. The World Wide Fund for Nature Australia (WWF-Australia) and Tasmanian Walking Company (TWC) are teaming up to raise funds for Regenerate Australia. After raising $115,000 for wildlife and landscape regeneration in 2022, the return of the Walk for Wild event offers hikers the opportunity to leave a positive legacy on the places and communities visited by TWC

Explore the history of Ancient Egypt at WA Museum Boola Bardip

From 10 June, visitors to Perth/Boorloo will be invited on a journey of a lifetime at WA Museum Boola Bardip’s new Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition. In this must-see exhibition, discover the ancient Egyptian culture, how they lived and their beliefs surrounding the afterlife. Focusing on new insights made possible through excavation, 3D- scanning and recent research, richly decorated coffins and mummified remains will be displayed alongside over 240 objects on loan from the RMO’s treasured Egyptian and Nubian collections. Running until 8 October 2023, the exhibition includes digital experiences and hands-on activities, with plenty to explore for all ages

Iconic Newcastle venue ushers in a nostalgic new era

Inspired by Aussie milk bars of yesteryear, Larrie’s is now open at The Beach Hotel in the coastal town of Newcastle, two hours north of Sydney/Warrane. Setting out to be a true community hub, from chicko rolls to Golden Gaytimes Larrie’s serves up modern twists on nostalgic takeaway and features a curated design by local architects EJE Interiors which nods to the 70s and 80s. Under the lead of owner, Glenn Piper, who acquired The Beach Hotel in May 2022, Larrie’s represents a first chapter in a new era for the precinct which will include a revitalised main bar, as well as a new coastal dining experience on the first floor later this year.