Essentials this week... | Latest international arrival stats | Routes Asia 2018 | Tourism Australia wins award | #DestAus16 and China Uncovered |Digital marketing trends | and more...

For the fourth consecutive year, Tourism Australia has been voted the Asia’s best destination marketer at the annual Routes Asia awards, held last night in Manila, Philippines. Routes Asia represents the largest route development event for the Asia region, with the awards giving the airline community an opportunity to vote for which airport or tourism authority they think provides the best overall marketing services. Minister for Tourism and International Education, Senator Richard Colbeck congratulated said the award recognised Tourism Australia’s marketing activities and joint cooperative campaigns, which involve more than 200 industry airlines, state and territory tourism organisations and airports.

Tourism Australia has launched a partnership with BCA Bank in Indonesia, reaching out to the bank’s customers via outdoor media and direct mailers. Exclusive Tasmanian holiday packages, from key distribution partners to the bank’s 15 million credit card holders, are on offer. This is complemented by destination coverage in Clara magazine, a leading lifestyle publication among affluent Indonesians. The partnership will also include the roll out of destination messaging with strong conversion opportunities to potential travellers during the key travel booking period of March-April.

Brisbane is set to welcome more than 1000 airline, airport and tourism delegates from 100 countries when it plays host to Routes Asia 2018, the leading aviation route development forum for Asia. Tourism Australia, Brisbane Airport Corporation, Brisbane Marketing, Tourism and Events Queensland, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre and Trade and Investment Queensland combined forces to bring this coveted conference to Queensland. Minister for Tourism and International Education, Senator Richard Colbeck, said the annual conference is recognised globally for its aviation development work. “Routes Asia provides a valuable platform for a number of our tourism industry leaders, including destination marketing organisations, airports and airlines, to showcase Australia,” Senator Colbeck said.

Being at the forefront of destination marketing to attract more high-yielding international visitors Down Under will be the key focus of the 2016 Destination Australia conference. This year the conference features a second half day, China Uncovered, delving into how to make the most of Australia’s fastest growing and highest-value inbound market. Held in Sydney on 16 and 17 March, the conference features an expert line up of speakers. The conference agenda, speaker biographies and registration are available now.

Tourism Australia is offering a VIP program for Australian tourism industry leaders interested in learning more about the China market and establishing contacts. The VIP tourism stream program running during Australia Week in China (AWIC) from 11 to 15 April 2016, includes a VIP lunch with China Eastern Airlines, AWIC plenary sessions and more. Registrations are open now.

Tourism Australia will hold free half-day industry briefings this week on the Sunshine Coast March 9 and in Brisbane 10 March. The briefings provide market insights, business events activity, networking opportunities and more. Register now.

According to MDG Advertising, there are five key digital trends that will have the greatest impact to businesses in 2016. Among the recommendations include the importance of investing in your business’s website. Consumers are increasingly bypassing third-party platforms and returning to travel brand sites to research and book, with 64 per cent believing they will pay less by booking directly. Given the spike in mobile search across all travel categories in 2015, all material should also be optimised for mobile. For more research and trends related to international and domestic tourism and travel, visit the Insight Files.