Having trouble reading? View online version Essentials 18 June 2025Tourism Australia UpdateLast week, Tourism Australia held its board meeting in Japan. While we were there, we visited Expo 2025 in Osaka, where we hosted two consumer events curated by Tourism Australia and later, Tokyo, where we me
18 June 2025Tourism Australia UpdateLast week, Tourism Australia held its board meeting in Japan. While we were there, we visited Expo 2025 in Osaka, where we hosted two consumer events curated by Tourism Australia and later, Tokyo, where we met many key stakeholders including airlines and key distribution partners. At the meetings we celebrated the great relationship between Japan and Australia in tourism and across so many other aspects of our bilateral relationship. We continue to invest heavily in consumer and partnership marketing activity in Japan based on our global ‘Come and Say G’Day’ campaign and the results of our investment are strong. While overall outbound travel in Japan is soft (only 18% even hold passports), in the past 12 months, almost 400,000 Japanese travellers visited Australia, a rate of growth of more than 15 per cent on the previous year. Our research does show that Australia is amongst the top two destinations considered by Japanese when thinking about an overseas holiday – which is great news. While geopolitical factors globally are creating some uncertainty, international visitation to Australia for now continues to remain steady. The Australian Bureau of Statistics released the latest arrivals numbers last week which show arrivals in April 2025 were up 8.3 per cent on the same month last year. The largest inbound markets remain similar to what we have seen in previous months with the most visitors arriving from New Zealand followed by China, the UK, the US and India. Phillipa Harrison |
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Tourism Australia Activity |
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Showcasing Australia’s Food and Drink experiences at Expo 2025 in JapanLast week, Tourism Australia held a talk show event at the Australia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai in Japan, to promote Australia’s unique food and drink experiences. Japanese actor, Keisuke Minami, and illustrator Enna Yamashiro, both reporters from the most popular TV travel show in Japan ‘Tabi Salad’, shared their stories about Australia’s food culture, people, places, and local produce using their original photography and artwork. They also enjoyed Australian meat pies, lamingtons and flat whites from Café Koko at the pavilion. Tourism Australia’s ‘Come and Say G’day’ campaign ambassador, Ruby the kangaroo, also appeared adding her unique charm to the event. That evening, coinciding with their visit to Japan, Tourism Australia’s board members hosted a business to business networking event at the pavilion. Guests enjoyed a traditional Australian BBQ and fine wines, providing a relaxed atmosphere to strengthen industry relationships and promote collaboration. |
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| Signature Experiences of Australia New Zealand Trade Famil programLast week, Tourism Australia hosted the Signature Experiences of Australia New Zealand Trade Famil Program, in partnership with Tourism Western Australia, South Australian Tourism Commission, Tourism & Events Queensland, and Air New Zealand. The program saw four familiarisations take place across Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland, with a focus on premium and special interest experiences. Following the familiarisations, 36 tourism partners came together in Adelaide / Tarntanya for a 2-day networking gathering, and an opportunity to connect with event partners and representatives from the Signature Experiences of Australia collectives. During an educational workshop at the d’Arenberg Cube in McLaren Vale, attendees heard updates from event partners and shared learnings from the respective famils they attended over the days prior. Across the entire program, the group collectively sampled experiences from more than 20 of the 173 members from the seven Signature Experiences collectives. |
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Tourism Australia hosts media and trade events in Vancouver Last week, Tourism Australia hosted a trade lunch and media dinner at Michelin-starred Burdock & Co in Vancouver as part of its ‘Down Under, Up North’ series. Co-curated by Vancouver’s Andrea Carlson and Barossa Valley-based Chef Clare Falzon, the menus showcased native Australian ingredients and wines. The Tourism Australia team shared insights on Canada travel market and industry trends, as well as highlighting what’s new across Australia. The events included a question and answer session with Chef Falzon which explored the uniqueness of Australian dining. Each event welcomed around 20 guests, including top-tier media, content creators, and key trade partners in the market. |
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| Registrations open for Australia Next 2025 Registrations are now open for Australian industry sellers to participate in Australia Next 2025, Tourism Australia's signature incentive showcase. Australia Next will be held in Melbourne / Narrm from 1 to 3 December 2025. The event provides the Australian business events industry the opportunity to connect with qualified incentive buyers from around the world, while showcasing Australia’s best incentive experiences and products. View the results of Australia Next 2024 here. Registrations close Friday 11 July. |
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Register for Australia's Visitor Economy Annual Benchmark Report 2024 webinarJoin Tourism Research Australia's webinar on Monday 23 June to hear authors share key insights and answer questions on this year's annual benchmark report for the Australian visitor economy. Previously called the State of the Industry report, the annual benchmark report provides evidence and insights into how Australia’s visitor economy performed in 2024, reviews the capacity of providers in the Australian visitor economy and details the trends in traveller demand. Additionally the report highlights challenges and opportunities for the visitor economy arising from these trends and helps the industry and governments understand and adapt to the changing demand and supply environment. For more information on the report and to register for the webinar click here. |
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| Australian Tourism Export Council’s China Host Workshops 2025 in Western AustraliaAfter a brief pause during ATE25, ATEC’s China Host Workshops supported by the National Foundation of Australian-China Relations are back and rolling out across the country with Western Australia up next. Join ATEC at one of two upcoming sessions: WA Workshop 1 on 22 July in Perth / Boorloo and SW Workshop 2 on 24 July in Margaret River. These workshops are tailored to help operators capitalise on the high-value China inbound market by exploring evolving Chinese traveller behaviours, the digital landscape, and effective trade distribution strategies. The workshops offer current market analytics, practical tools and valuable networking opportunities.
Western Australia Workshop 1 – Register here
South-West Workshop 2 – Register here |
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A croc-buster exhibition announcedA jaw-snapping exhibition, ‘Croc! Lost Giants to Living Legends’, will premiere at the Queensland Museum Kurilpa in Brisbane / Meanjin this year. It dives into the savage beauty and ancient power of this extraordinary creature, taking visitors on a journey from prehistoric super crocs to the living legends in our waterways today. Developed in partnership with the Australian National Maritime Museum and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, ‘Croc!’ Brings together cutting-edge science, First Nations knowledge, cultural stories and pop culture icons. It blends blockbuster visuals with hands-on experiences, including life-sized models, immersive storytelling, rare specimens, and cutting-edge research. The exhibition also explores the creature’s place in modern conservation efforts and its iconic status in movies and music. Following its Brisbane premiere, ‘Croc!’ will tour nationally to Sydney / Warrane, Darwin / Garramilla and Townsville. |
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| It’s official, Sydney / Warrane is the Best Steak City in the WorldSydney has been officially named the Best Steak Destination in the World by World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants. This year’s ranking celebrates Sydney’s extraordinary presence on the international stage, with a number of its premier steak restaurants securing top positions in the globally recognised Top 101 list. At the forefront is Margaret by Neil Perry, which earned the No. 2 spot in the 2025 ranking, showcasing the very best of Australian produce, craftsmanship and refined hospitality. Sydney’s recognition reflects a city-wide culture of innovation, sustainability and excellence in meat preparation. From great pasture-raised cattle, in-house dry-ageing programs to world-class cooking techniques, the city has redefined what it means to serve a world-class steak. |
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The launch of Loco Markets, a new winter tradition in the heart of Sydney / Warrane Get ready for a vibrant winter in Sydney / Warrane as suburb, South Eveleigh launches its inaugural Loco Markets, running from 19 June to 27 July. Inspired by European street markets, this six-week event offers a rotating lineup of themed experiences, from Artisan Design to a special NAIDOC Week celebration and a festive Christmas in July. Each week brings new energy with unique stalls, live music curated by an ARIA-award nominee, Stu Hunter, and hands-on workshops. Shop handmade goods, savour delicious food, and enjoy family-friendly activities. Immerse yourself in South Eveleigh’s rich industrial heritage with guided tours and blacksmith demonstrations. The Loco Markets promise a dynamic fusion of creativity, community, and culture. |
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| Hamilton Island Race Week Turns 40 Hamilton Island Race Week celebrates 40 years this August – marking four decades of world-class sailing, exceptional food and wine, and sun-soaked revelry on Australia’s tropical island. Presented for the first time by American Express, the 2025 regatta runs from 16 to 23 August with a lineup of unmissable world-class experiences and events on water and on shore. While the regatta remains the focal point, guests can wander the buzzing marina village, relax with a picnic on Catseye Beach, or indulge in an array of ticketed events including beachfront garden parties, superyacht cruises, wine masterclasses, world-class musical performances, and long island lunches curated by some of Australia’s most celebrated chefs—all set against the stunning backdrop of the Whitsundays. The complete Race Week program of ticketed events will be available for sale on the official website from 23 June 2025. |
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