| | | | | | | |  | | TOURISM AUSTRALIA UPDATE | | This week marks the start of spring in Australia, and typically this is the time of year when we are getting ready for the busy summer months ahead, as many of our high yielding international travellers plan to escape down under for winter. Encouragingly as we look towards the end of the year, we expect aviation capacity to climb to 92%, and with overseas arrivals at 82% for the month of June, we are still optimistic that visitor spend will recover next year, with international visitation levels expected to return to pre pandemic levels by 2025. That said, the challenges we face internationally such as cost of living pressures, and the increased global competition for tourism spend, are factors we are still keeping a close eye on. As our campaign, PR and partnership activities continue to roll out around the world, this week we are launching ‘Come and Say G’Day’ in Hong Kong to further encourage the return of leisure travellers from the market. In just over a month, we also have our Aussie Specialist Program educational and familiarisation event, ‘G’Day Australia’ taking place in Cairns/Gimuy, from 9 to 12 October, which we are delivering in partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland and with support from Tourism Tropical North Queensland. This event will see 300 agents who are our front line sellers around the world experiencing Australia first-hand, and they will also participate in a four-night pre or post familiarisation program throughout Australia. Spring is also a good time to check in on the health and fitness of ourselves and our teams as we head towards a busy peak period. Earlier this week NCL issued a rally cry inviting all travel professionals to prioritise their physical and mental wellbeing by getting active and tracking steps alongside fellow industry friends as part of the 4th annual Walk for Wellness, from 1 to 31 October. Last year 1,000 travel partners participated in the event and this year NCL is aiming higher and inviting the entire AUNZ travel community to participate with more details here. Phillipa Harrison | |
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| | | Tourism Australia ACTIVITY |
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| | |  | | Series of Aussie Specialist training workshops in New Zealand | | Tourism Australia recently hosted a series of Aussie Specialist Program training workshops in New Zealand, focusing on new products and premium experiences. Over 100 Kiwi agents attended the events across Auckland, Christchurch, and Hamilton. The agents were strongly engaged and had positive feedback around the events. There are currently 660 qualified Aussie Specialist and 17 Premier Aussie Specialist in New Zealand. Australia welcomed over 1 million Kiwi visitors in the past 12 months ended June 2023. For the month of June, New Zealand arrivals was at 97 per cent compared to the same month in 2019. |
|  | | Aussie Specialist Program training and promotion in South Korea team | | With visitation to Australian from South Korea back to nearly 100 per cent of 2019 levels for recent months, the team have been rolling out various Aussie Specialist Program related activities in the market. During the month of August, Tourism Australia’s Aussie Specialist Program Kakao channel became the most followed amongst all NTOs in South Korea. Additionally, 190 agents attended an Aussie Specialist Program online training session about Queensland and Tasmania. Tourism Australia’s team also visited key regions of South Korea as part of an Aussie Specialist Program Roadshow and hosted four in-person seminars in July and August, drawing hundreds of travel advisors. |
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| | |  | | Influencers from India at FIFA | | During the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ Tourism Australia hosted seven Indian celebrities to witness Australia’s capability to host world class sporting events as well as tour and showcase some of its best tourism experiences. The contingent comprised leading female actors and artists from India, most of whom are current favourites from the Indian OTT entertainment space including Mithila Palkar, Shreya Dhanwantary, Kubbra Sait, Sayani Gupta, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Nicole Concessao and Sonal Devraj. The activity was delivered in partnership with Tourism Events Queensland and Tourism Western Australia and included top experiences from each location. The participants collectively produced around 1000 pieces of content with further amplification via lifestyle and travel publications and portals. |
|  | | Best Partner Program sets sail in Singapore | | Tourism Australia recently held its first-ever ‘Best Partner Program’ event in Singapore in collaboration with Global Travel Pte Ltd and Singapore Airlines. Held on board a luxury catamaran off the coast of Singapore’s Sentosa Island, the event featured an Australia Destination showcase, Australia-inspired dinner, cocktails, and entertainment, as well as a special lucky draw sponsored by Singapore Airlines. Aimed at reminding targeted corporate customers that there’s nothing like Australia for Business Events, the two-day event provided a platform for the team to engage with 21 corporate clients across various industries through in-depth conversations and destination highlights. |
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| | | | |  | | ATEC’s China Host program goes live | | The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) has launched their China Host online self-directed training program. Designed in partnership with Tourism Australia, Austrade and the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, China Host is for tourism operators large or small, with or without experience in the China market. The program will take participants on a three-module journey to build confidence in the market, grow their understanding of the inbound opportunity and deep dive into the traveller profile and expectations. Find out how to become a China host here. |
|  | | Queensland launches accessible tourism podcast | | Queensland has launched the ‘Accessed That’ podcast as part of its Year of Accessible Tourism initiative. Aimed at promoting inclusive travel, the podcast highlights the challenges and uplifting experiences of travellers with accessibility needs. With almost one quarter (23%) of travellers worldwide with accessibility needs, the podcast explores what it’s really like to travel while living with a disability, and spotlights accessible experiences, stays, and events across Queensland. Find out more here. |
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| | | | |  | | Darwin/Gulumerrgen’s iconic Laksa Festival returns | | Celebrate the diverse and flavourful world of Laksa at the highly anticipated Darwin International Laksa Festival, where visitors can indulge in a variety of authentic laksa and laksa-inspired dishes. Each year thousands attend the one-of-a-kind event in the heart of the Top End’s capital Darwin/Gulumerrgen. Local restaurants are highlighted for their delicious laksa, while other businesses join in on the festivities by creating bespoke laksa-inspired dishes including laksa ice cream and laksa paste. Visitors are encouraged to attend the Laksa Food Tour, a long line of registered laksa venues where each patron votes for their favourites, and The Festival Finale, where there will be eating competitions, entertainment, food trucks and the presentation of the ‘Golden Bowl’ award and ‘People’s Choice Awards’. |
|  | | Artisanal Italian liqueur Tommy’s Booze pops the bottle | | The duo behind Melbourne/Narrm’s much-loved Freddy’s Pizza, have launched a bespoke ranger of Italian liqueurs, Tommy's Booze. Born out of the Freddy’s Pizza kitchen back in 2021, what started as business partners Dan Leuzzi and Tom Giurioli humble endeavor to recreate an old family limoncello recipe, has grown into a delicious range of Italian liqueurs comprising of three unique flavours - Limoncello, Mandarino, and Lampone. Made locally in Melbourne, Tommy’s Booze sources ‘ugly’ fruits from Victoria and Queensland that don’t make it onto shelves but are still perfectly edible. The new blend is now being stocked in some of Melbourne's best restaurants (including Marameo, Cecconi’s, Neptune Food & Wine) to being taken up by boutique cellars Blackhearts and Sparrow. |
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| | |  | | Byron Bay welcomes flavourful Middle Eastern venue, The Smoking Camel | | Inspired by a love for bright, bold and flavourful food that leans into the intricate tapestry of the Middle East, The Smoking Camel brings a modern twist to traditional Levantine cuisine combining fast-moving flavours from Lebanon, Turkey, Israel and beyond. Situated right on Byron’s Main Beach, The Smoking Camel combines vibrant interiors, share-style dishes cooked over charcoal and fragrant cocktails, enjoyed with a neon backdrop. The menu has been curated to lean into the playful atmosphere that diners know and love at their previous venture, Byron hotspot - Light Years. |
|  | | The ADGE Hotel + Residences pops to life in Surry Hills | | ADGE Hotel and Residences is the newest addition to the eclectic and lively suburb of Surry Hills in central Sydney/Warrane, offering a dynamic oasis for the urban adventurer. Located just a stone's throw from the bustling Oxford Street, the CBD, Hyde Park, and the Sydney Cricket Ground this provides many possibilities for every type of visitor. The new flagship property features a range of creatively designed guest rooms featuring bold carpets and pod-style bathrooms to embody the spirit of its vibrant neighborhood taking inspiration from its passion for fashion, music, art and culture. |
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