| | | | | | | | | | TOURISM AUSTRALIA UPDATE | | Today marks 100 days to go until the opening of Sydney WorldPride! The full Sydney WorldPride Festival Guide was released today and to celebrate this milestone Australia’s first ever Rainbow Sand Sculpture was unveiled at Sydney/Warrane’s iconic Bondi Beach. Featuring over 300 events, the Sydney WorldPride program will be the largest international event held in New South Wales since the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and promises to reintroduce international audiences to the unique breadth and depth of tourism experiences around Australia. Over the last week, members of the TA team have been lucky enough to attend state tourism award events across the country, and it is very apparent that as an industry we are well and truly back in business - and with a lot to celebrate. I was on the Gold Coast on Friday night and joined over 1,000 people to watch some incredible operators accept awards, an achievement made even more impressive when looking at the calibre of all the nominees and finalists. As we prepare to farewell the fabulous Leanne Coddington, it was wonderful to see first hand the legacy she leaves behind for Queensland, and more broadly Australian tourism here and internationally. Tasmania also took the opportunity to farewell John Fitzgerald at their awards, and once again acknowledge all that he achieved in his ten years at the helm of Tourism Tasmania, positioning their experiences and operators front and centre around the world. With Rod Harrex's departure earlier in the year, there certainly is a changing of the guard in state leadership! Click on the following links to see more about the winners and finalists from Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. Our industry has shown such incredible resilience over the past few years, and I would like to congratulate you all on behalf of myself and the TA team for your continued efforts. We will be holding our final Industry Webinar for the year on Friday 9 December, at 11am ADT where we will be joined by some of our international team for a deep dive, as they provide an update on what we all think about what lies ahead in 2023. You can register to attend here. Phillipa Harrison | | | | |
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| | | | | New video explains the Reconciliation Action Plan program | | Tourism Australia is a passionate supporter of the reconciliation movement and the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Program. We are currently on our fourth RAP which is at the Innovate level. Our RAP has assisted us in guiding our work as we continue to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and tourism experiences are at the heart of the Australian story. The video provides industry with an understanding of the Reconciliation Action Plan program. Highlighting: the different RAP levels key steps what is important for businesses to consider the value and impact a RAP can bring Watch the video here. |
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| | | | Australia on Tour in New Zealand | | Tourism Australia is on the road in New Zealand this week hosting trade partners across the country in partnership with all eight state and territory partners and Air New Zealand. The ‘Australia on Tour’ roadshow kicked off in Auckland on Monday with an Industry Partner & Media lunch on the Viaduct Harbour, followed by a cinema-style event in the evening with more than 100 Auckland-based travel agents. Guests of the evening event heard the latest updates from all State and Territory Tourism Organisations and watched an exclusive viewing of the new G’day animated short film. The tour continues this week in Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch. |
| | | Hong Kong agents and media wowed at Melbourne Cup 2022 | | Tourism Australia together with Visit Victoria joined the Melbourne Cup Long Lunch at the Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong. This event, organised by the Australian Association of Hong Kong, immersed more than 20 management executives from top travel agents and media into the world-renowned Melbourne Cup tradition of sharing unique Australian food and wine, and having a bet on the ponies with your Aussie mates on the first Tuesday in November. A truly authentic experience of why 'There's Nothing Like Australia'. |
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| | | | | Spotlight on Malaysia | | This week, ‘Spotlight on the Regions’ features a video update from Karen Saw, Tourism Australia’s Acting Country Manager, Malaysia. Karen shares her insights and observations from the Malaysian market, as well as updates on key stakeholders and activities to keep Australia front of mind in market. Watch the update here. |
| | | Business Events Australia in New Zealand | | Tourism Australia’s specialist business unit, Business Events Australia, hosted a lunch in Auckland to provide 20 key New Zealand incentive customers with an update on Australia. The lunch, which aligned with the Australia on Tour Roadshow in New Zealand, forms part of Tourism Australia’s business events distribution activity in New Zealand to keep customers up to date on Australia’s business events offering, including new accommodation, venues and experiences. During the event, Australian convention bureaux had the opportunity to present to and network with customers while they dined on an Australian inspired menu matched with Australian wine. |
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| | | | | | Exhibitor Applications Open for ATE23 Media Program | | Exhibitor applications are now open for the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE23) Media Program. The ATE23 Media Program will be held on the Gold Coast by Tourism Australia in partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland and supported by Destination Gold Coast from 28 April to 1 May 2023, bringing together key international media from Tourism Australia’s key markets around the world with Australian tourism businesses, special interest operators, attractions, and accommodation providers at the International Media Marketplace, powered by TravMedia. Tourism Australia invites industry to apply here by Friday, 2 December 2022. |
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| | | | | | | Year of Accessible Tourism | | 2023 has been declared the Year of Accessible Tourism in Queensland. The Year of Accessible Tourism will work to change the perception of what it means to be an accessible tourism business; with tourism businesses supported to develop a wider range of accessible tourism itineraries and promote accessible tourism destinations and experiences in Queensland. |
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| | | | | | | Broome voted Australia’s top town by Australian Traveller readers | | Broome on Western Australia’s Kimberley coast has topped the list of Top 50 Aussie Towns according to the country’s leading domestic travel magazine, Australian Traveller. The magazine asked readers to share the five towns they love most to visit, with more than 1,500 readers made more than 5,000 nominations. Co-founder and Managing Director, Quentin Long said that the initiative is “all about inspiring Australians and making it easier for them to get out and see their own country.” Port Douglas, Noosa, Cairns, Mudgee, Port Fairy, Bright, Orange, Margaret River and Echuca made up this year’s top 10 Aussie towns. |
| | | Discover the unique nature & wildlife of Lake Macquarie with new tour | | Newcastle based operator CoastXP has launched the all-inclusive Nature and Wildlife tour. The $140 per person experience includes a cruise of Lake Macquarie and guided nature walk overlooking the largest saltwater lake in the southern hemisphere. The experience involves an adventure boat tour of Lake Macquarie, a 2km guided bushwalking tour and a catered lunch. Guests can discover Lake Macquarie by boat, before alighting at Wangi Peninsula for a guided bushwalk through the Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area. Following the walk, lunch is served on the shores of Lake Macquarie. |
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| | | | | Mount Lofty House welcomes another produce-led dining experience | | Mount Lofty Estate in the Adelaide Hills has a new a la carte restaurant, Martha Hardy’s Kitchen. Servicing both in-house guests and visitors, the venue builds on the Estates commitment to showcasing local epicurean delights. Complementing the Estate’s three hatted Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant and the on-site dining experiences at luxury lodging Sequoia, Martha’s offers panoramic views of Piccadilly Valley and a menu featuring a signature 17-hour slow cooked lamb, Port Lincoln Yellowfin tuna and a range of vegetarian led dishes. |
| | | Pullman announces Australian NFT exhibition supporting emerging and Indigenous female artists | | In a world-wide first for Pullman, Australia will be hosting a NFT art exhibition, titled Digital E/SCAPES by Pullman. The exhibition will feature four emerging and Indigenous female artists from Australia and overseas. Brisbane/Meenanjin-based Indigenous artist, Chern’ee Sutton will headline the exhibition in Sydney/Warrane, alongside internationally renowned Melissa Vincent, an animated artist from the US, Candy Ng from Melbourne, and Vi Valiukevich from Bellarus. The NFT experience will open at the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park on 14 November for a six-week period before showing in Melbourne/Narrm, Adelaide/ Tarntanya and Brisbane/ Meenanjin Pullman properties. |
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