| | | | | | | |  | | TOURISM AUSTRALIA UPDATE | | It’s happening! We are sure you all shared the elation we felt following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday that Australia is reopening its borders to fully vaccinated travellers from around the world from 21 February 2022. With travel to Australia on pause for nearly two years, at Tourism Australia we are excited to be welcoming international visitors and business events delegates back, and we are ready to kick off campaigns and activations to drive the world’s tourism and business events demand back to Australia. Pre COVID-19, Australia welcomed 9.5 million visitors spending $45 billion annually, so the businesses and communities who rely on visitors and delegates from overseas now have a date, and a more certain future, to plan for. The Destination Australia conference being held on Thursday 3 March 2022 at CENTREPIECE, Melbourne Park, with a theme of “Re-imagining the future of tourism”, is now more relevant than ever. Register and find out more about the event here. We are also hosting our first industry webinar for the year on Friday 25 February at 11am AEDT, a week when we will be open again to the world. We will outline Tourism Australia’s plans for the coming year; and will be joined by some relevant guests to provide a broader update. Register to attend here. Phillipa Harrison | | |
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| |  | | Spotlight on the Regions – India | | This week, ‘Spotlight on the Regions’ features an interview with Nishant Kashikar, Tourism Australia’s Country Manager, India & Gulf, who shares insights and observations from the India market, as well as updates on key stakeholders and activities to keep Australia front of mind in-market. Read the update here. |
|  | | ‘Couleurs Australie’ brightens Paris’ iconic BHV department store | | In partnership with the Australian Embassy in Paris, Tourism and Events Queensland and Destination New South Wales, Parisians can experience ‘Australia Now’ at the iconic lifestyle department store BHV Marais located in the centre of Paris. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the ‘Colours of Australia’ in a 130sqm area showcasing Australian products, an Australian café, 8D video experiences, and an exhibition showcasing Aboriginal contemporary fashion, Piinpi. Visitors also have a chance to win four tickets to Australia sponsored by Singapore Airlines. |
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| | |  | | Working Holiday Maker campaign launched in Japan | Tourism Australia has kicked off its Working Holiday Maker campaign ‘Work and Play the Aussie Way’ in Japan with a focus on social media and partner activity. Webinar events have taken place in partnership with the Japan Working Holiday Association and WISH International, with World Avenue and STA Travel to follow. A series of live Instagram events and media partnerships with social media influencers are also planned to reinforce Australia’s positioning as a friendly and easy destination for working holidays.
In 2019 almost 500,000 Japanese visitors arrived in Australia, including 30,800 Working Holiday Makers, contributing $307 million to Australia’s visitor economy. |
|  | | New Sustainability Storytellers | | Tourism Australia has recently curated a second chapter of Sustainability Storytellers, which can be used to assist in planning, promoting or selling travel to Australia. These storytellers are champions of the industry and allow people to learn more about sustainable Australian travel products and experiences, to be included in itineraries. With a total of 40 different storyteller profiles available, you can learn more about the range and scale of sustainable practices that they approach, and how you can participate or achieve a similar outcome. Read more here. |
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| | | | | |  | | Ecotourism Australia’s new CEO announced | | Elissa Keenan has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Ecotourism Australia. Ms Keenan said “Australia has iconic regions focused on the natural environment. Delivering value to communities through sustainable nature-based tourism is more important than ever before. As our international visitors return, the interest in nature-based and cultural experiences will continue to grow. It is an exciting time to join Ecotourism Australia.” |
|  | | Leverage Queensland’s Days Like This campaign | | TEQ’s aspirational ‘Days Like This’ campaign has now launched into Queensland’s two biggest interstate markets, New South Wales and Victoria, for the first time. Tourism and events businesses in Queensland are encouraged to leverage the campaign with resources available here. |
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| | |  | | Destination Food Conference 2022 | | On 23 February, Destination Food 2022 will bring together industry leaders and colleagues to network, share ideas and be inspired to take marketing and the development of culinary experiences to the next level. A dynamic line-up of panels and presentations has been announced, with a host of engaging speakers set to take the stage. |
|  | | Tourism Tasmania Off Season Industry Workshop | | Industry are invited to Join Tourism Tasmania Industry Manager Sam Denmead and BMF Australia Group Planning Director Thomasine Burnap for a state-wide trade and industry webinar to prepare for Tasmania’s Off Season marketing campaign. |
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| | | |  | | Adelaide’s Restaurant Botanic unveils hyper-seasonal set menu | | Produce-led Adelaide eatery, Restaurant Botanic is now offering guests a single hyper-seasonal Tasting Menu designed by Executive Chef Justin James. Featuring 20 flavour combinations with ingredients foraged from the surrounding Botanic Gardens, the new menu adapts weekly. Guests are encouraged to spend up to four hours feasting on the tasting menu which is partnered with one of three beverage package pairings. Since reopening in late 2021 under James’ guidance, Restaurant Botanic has become one of the most lauded venues in the country. |
|  | | Airbnb launches the Bluey Experience in homage to the hit children’s show | | Fans of the children’s program Bluey are being invited to spend a weekend in the character’s fictional Brisbane home thanks to Airbnb. Sleeping two adults and two children, the Bluey Experience brings the cartoon family’s quintessential mid-century Brisbane home to life. The experience also includes: a tour of the Ludo Studio, where Bluey is created, a Chinese takeaway feast and a puppet making class. The two-night stay, from 18 to 20 February, is available on a first come, first served basis, with eager fans able to request to book from 8am (AEDT) 15 February. |
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| | |  | | Beloved tradition returns to Australia’s oldest steam railway | | The time-honoured tradition of sitting on the carriage stills of the Puffing Billy has returned. Guests are once again able to take the three-hour journey on Australia’s premier preserved steam railway through Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges from Belgrave to Lakeside with their legs dangling over the train’s edge. Since 1900, the family led experience has allowed guests to become immersed in the sights and sounds of the Dandenong Ranges’ diverse ecosystem of forestry, rolling hillsides and open farmland. |
|  | | NGV and Melbourne Art Foundation launch inaugural Melbourne Design Fair | | The inaugural Melbourne Design Fair has been announced as part of Melbourne Design Week. Running from 16 to 20 March, the fair will be a commercial showcase of limited-edition collectable items from Australia’s leading designers. Held in Abbotsford, the fair offers an unrivalled opportunity to view, discover and purchase collectible contemporary designs. The Fair will be split into two showcases: PRESENT, where thirteen of Australia's leading galleries will highlight their work and SELECT, a curated exhibition of 35 emerging and established designers. |
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