Investing in regional tourism

Investment opportunities in Australia’s regional tourism destinations are showcased in a suite of new marketing tools released last week by Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon Steven Ciobo MP. Developed by Tourism Australia and Austrade, the new investment and marketing collateral provides a snapshot of key tourism information such as visitation, airport infrastructure, accommodation and the investment landscape for eight iconic regional destinations: Whitsundays, Katherine, Margaret River, Kangaroo Island, East Coast Tasmania, Canberra, Great Ocean Road, and Snowy Mountains. Each region was nominated by its respective state or territory government and is indicative of the tourism investment opportunity across regional Australia. Last year Minister Ciobo launched the Regional Tourism Investment Strategy which seeks to spread the benefits of tourism beyond the major Australian gateways.

Visitor arrivals reach nine million

Australia welcomed 9.02 million international visitors in the year ending March 2018, an increase of 7.7 per cent on the last 12 months. Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, The Hon Steven Ciobo MP, said Australia was welcoming record numbers of international tourists who are staying longer and spending more.

Outdoor experiences showcased in Hong Kong

More than 80 media attended an event in Hong Kong this month promoting outdoor experiences including ‘glamping’ (glamourous camping) BBQing, kayaking, bushwalking and horse riding. The event was hosted by one of Tourism Australia’s key distribution partners, YMT travel, which recently launched a new glamping experience in Australia that brings together a range of outdoor experiences that appeal to the Hong Kong market including star gazing from the tent. The media event kicked off an advertising campaign through social media activities along with travel offers. The activity is supported by Tourism Australia, Destination NSW, Tourism and Events Queensland, Tourism Tasmania and Visit Victoria.

What’s happened to video on Facebook?

Following Facebook’s announcement in January that it would be altering its Newsfeed algorithm "to drive more meaningful social interactions", the platform’s prioritisation of video appears to be over according to Nick Henderson, Tourism Australia’s head of social media. Since January the average organic reach of images Tourism Australia has posted on Facebook is up by more than 50 per cent whilst video is down, meaning for the first time in years video and image posts are now reaching a similar number of people. In light of the changes Nick has published advice for Australian tourism businesses using the popular social network to attract international visitors Down Under.

Gold Coast welcomes largest ever Chinese incentive group

Over 7,000 top achievers from direct selling company Infinitus China arrived on the Gold Coast last week as part of a one-week incentive program taking in the sights and experiences of the city. Destination Gold Coast Business Events helped to arrange an action-packed week of activities for the delegates including visits to Warner Bros Movie World, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Sea World as well as an evening carnival on the streets of Surfers Paradise. The trip concluded with a gala dinner hosted at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. Infinitus Jiyang Incentive Group is the largest ever Chinese incentive group to the Gold Coast, secured with support from Tourism Australia.

10th anniversary of Vivid Sydney

The world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, Vivid Sydney, will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year. The 23-day festival running from 25 May to 16 June will feature an expanded footprint including Luna Park as a new precinct. Other highlights this year include the Lighting of The Sails on the Sydney Opera House, Bangarra Dance Company’s takeover of the southern pylon of Sydney Harbour Bridge and a massive light art sculpture last seen at Burning Man, Aqueous.

Wine & Wildlife in the Yarra Valley

Healesville Sanctuary is teaming up with Yarra Valley icons to create Wine & Wildlife, a weekend (9 to 11 June) of food and wine against the backdrop of the Sanctuary's bushland setting. From 11am to 4pm each day, six event spaces will showcase a line-up of local wineries, craft breweries and hearty winter food to sample and purchase. All event proceeds directly support Zoos Victoria’s efforts to fight the extinction of 21 local threatened species.

Greyhound launches Australia’s first unlimited coach travel pass

Greyhound Australia has launched an Australian-first unlimited coach travel product, Whimit, a travel pass which is sold per number of days, not by distance or destination. Aimed at international backpackers aged 18 to 30, Whimit allows passengers to travel on a whim without limit on any route, in any direction on the Greyhound network.

Hibernian Place – Perth’s latest destination

Hibernian Place is the latest destination precinct to open in Perth’s city centre. Located in the city’s historic East End, it is home to the new 368-room five-star Westin Hotel. The precinct also includes a number of hospitality operators including Garum restaurant by Guy Grossi, Offshoot coffee roastery by Mary Street Bakery, Huxtaburger from Melbourne, and rooftop bar Hadiqa by Andy Freeman, and Bodhi J Wellness Spa.

World Youth and Student Travel Conference

Registration is open for the World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) to be held in Edinburgh from 18-21 September. Australian operators who register for WYSTC will automatically be added to Tourism Australia’s ‘Australian Village’ saving operators the cost of a booth at the event. WYSTC is the leading trade event for the global youth, student and educational travel industry attracting over 600 delegates from around the world. Tourism Australia will also host a roadshow for Australian operators attending WYSTC with details to be announced through Essentials once confirmed.

India Travel Mission 2018

Seller applications are open until Thursday 31 May for the India Travel Mission 2018 in Jaipur from 20 - 23 August. ITM is an opportunity for the Australian tourism industry to establish business relationships with key qualified travel agencies and tour operators in India. The travel mission includes pre-scheduled meetings between buyers and sellers as well as opportunities to network at official functions. In 2017 India was Australia’s eight largest inbound market for visitor arrivals, seventh largest market for total visitor spend and third for visitor nights.

Australia won The Gold Award for Content Marketing and International Tourism Destination at the Travel Awards by Sina Travel, a popular online Chinese travel site.

Tourism and Events Queensland has announced dates and locations for it's latest series of Conversations with Industry events around the State.

Tourism Research Australia (TRA), in partnership with the Tourism, Events and Visitor Economy branch of the Victorian Government, and Tourism and Events Queensland, has released a study
into accessible tourism in Victoria, Queensland and Australia.

Regional Tourism Organisations representing Cairns, Townsville, Whitsundays, Mackay and Bundaberg have partnered on a social media promotion aimed at extending visitor dispersal along the Great Barrier Reef and further leveraging campaign activity being undertaken by Tourism Australia and Tourism and Events Queensland.

Destination NSW has released a new factsheet on domestic caravan and camping visitors to NSW.

Nominations are open for tourism awards around the country: New South Wales; South Australia; Queensland; Victoria; Tasmania ; Western Australia; Australian Capital Territory ; Northern Territory.

Applications are open until Sunday 29 July for the NT Government's new Recreational Fishing Grants Scheme. One million dollars has been set aside for the scheme with $500,000 available in both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 financial years.

Applications are open until Friday 29 June for the Queensland on Tour Japan 2018 roadshow visiting Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo from 12-14 September.
Applications are open until Friday 6 July for Tourism Australia’s Advance Program to increase international visitation to confirmed business events being held in Australia.

Registration is open for ATEC Meeting Place 2018 which will take place from 19-21 November in Darwin.

Nominations are open until Monday 28 May for the Queensland Young Tourism Leaders program.

Registration is open for the VIC Tourism Conference to be held on 30-31 July at the RACV Cape Schanck Resort.

Applications are open until Wednesday 30 May for the Queensland Destination Events Program.

Expressions of interests are being sought from potential delegates, speakers, exhibitors and sponsors for the Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference to be held from Tuesday 30 October to Friday 2 November in Lorne, Victoria.

Applications are open until Saturday 30 June for one-off support funding of up to $5,000 under the Northern Territory Government's China Ready Program.

Tourism Australia has published recordings of presentations from the Destination Australia Conference held in Melbourne on Thursday 15 March. Industry are also invited to register interest for next year’s conference to be held on Thursday 14 March 2019 in Brisbane.