| | | | | | | |  | | TOURISM AUSTRALIA UPDATE | | This week we have reconnected with our North American industry partners at Australia Marketplace North America 2022. This is the first time Marketplace has been held in person since the start of the pandemic, and it has been so wonderful to meet in person and see so many familiar faces. To kick things off we were joined by Senator the Hon Don Farrell, Australia’s Minister for Trade and Tourism who led a roundtable discussion with industry leaders, to discuss the opportunities and challenges of the North American market for Australia.
Before COVID the USA was Australia’s third largest market for international visitation and second most valuable for spend, and July figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed US visitors were back to 59 per cent and Canada at 51 percent when compared to 2019 arrivals. While it is still early days, we are encouraged to see visitors returning in numbers and look forward to seeing these numbers increase as the industry continues to recover. Coinciding with the event, Tourism Australia announced Paul Hogan as the inaugural “Legend of Australia”, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to tourism. Back in the 80’s Hoges invited the world to “Come and say G’day”, and that message is as relevant today as it was then. He is as cheeky and irreverent as ever, and really does epitomise the Australian spirit. Yesterday, the world sadly learned of the passing of another much loved Aussie entertainment icon, Olivia Newton-John. Her remarkable life achievements and her advocacy for Australia have left behind a legacy that will forever be remembered. We pay tribute to her below. Phillipa Harrison | | | | |
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| | | | |  | | | Vale Olivia Newton-John | | Olivia Newton-John, born in the UK but raised in Australia, was much loved both in Australia and the US.
During her 73 years, Olivia Newton-John’s extensive charitable work and achievements across the arts, through films and music, coupled with her past trade (Koala Blue) and tourism ventures (Gaia Retreat & Day Spa in the hinterland near Byron Bay) touched the lives of many. Aside from her remarkable achievements in the performing arts, with movies such as Grease and Xanadu, she advocated for Australia with her fashion label Koala Blue and more recently she was a champion and pioneer of wellness tourism.
In 2006, Olivia Newton-John was acknowledged with a ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award at G’Day USA, with the award being presented by John Travolta.
Mostly it was her endearing warmth, courage and humour that touched so many, and her legacy and smile will long be remembered. |
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| | | | Tourism Australia Activity | |
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| |  | | FIFA Women’s World Cup | | It’s now less than a year to go until we are set to welcome the FIFA Women’s World Cup to the Southern Hemisphere, alongside our co-hosts New Zealand. To mark the 12-month countdown, Tourism Australia in the UK has partnered with FIFA Women’s World Cup and The Telegraph to give readers a football-themed guide to each of our host cities. Each of the five guides provides insider tips on what to see and do from a selection of world-class UK based Australian players, including Hana Lowry and Steph Catley. You can read all the articles on The Telegraph. |
|  | | Australia Marketplace | | Seller applications are closing soon for Australia Marketplace UK & Europe 2022, which will be held in London from 14 to 15 November. The event is an opportunity for representatives from the Australian tourism industry to establish and maintain business relationships with key travel agencies, wholesalers, and tour operators from across the UK and Europe. The event will include two days of pre-scheduled appointments and networking opportunities. Visit the event website for information and to start an application. Seller applications close this Friday, 12 August. |
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| | | | |  | | ATEC’s Meeting Place 2022 to held in Cairns | | The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) Meeting Place 2022 will take place in Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef across four days from 21 to 24 November. The event includes B2B, conferencing, networking, and a gala dinner. For more information or to register click here. |
|  | | NSW Regional Tourism Activation Fund - Round 2 | | The Regional Tourism Activation Fund - Round 2 supports the development of high impact tourism infrastructure projects that increase visitation, expenditure and extend length of stay for visitors to regional NSW. Applications close 27 September 2022. Find out more here. |
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| | |  | | Export Market Development Grants operational review announced | | Austrade’s Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program is getting an operational review following an announcement from the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Hon Don Farrell.
In keeping with an election commitment, the Minister has asked for advice on the management, delivery and outcomes of the EMDG program. The operational review findings will help improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Government’s assistance to current or potential exporters, supporting them to generate additional export sales and deliver strong economic outcomes for Australia.
Find out more information on the operational review and how to participate here. |
|  | | First Mongolian Working Holiday Makers to arrive in Australia | | This week, the first Working Holiday Makers from Mongolia will arrive in Australia. Each year, up to 150,000 young Working Holiday Makers come to Australia, supporting regional areas by providing local businesses with access to casual workers - often filling labour gaps in the agricultural and pastoral sectors, supporting critical industries, and contributing to the Australian economy. Mongolia, the latest country to join the reciprocal scheme, has a long and proud tradition of horsemanship, so the 100 Working Holiday Makers who will be able to enter Australia each year will be highly sought after. The first to arrive are two young women, Kishi and Budk, who will start their trip of a lifetime by undertaking a week-long training program in Southern Queensland with Australian Working Adventures. |
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| | | | |  | | World’s best sailors to blow into Adelaide in January 2024 | | South Australia is set to host the world’s leading sailors as part of the Laser Class Sailing World Championships from January 2024 onwards. Attracting athletes at the top of their game, as they prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympics, the iconic sailing event will be held at The Adelaide Sailing Club. Running until February, the event will be brought to life in conjunction with South Australian Laser Association and with support from the South Australian Tourism Commission and the South Australian Government. |
|  | | InterContinental Sydney announces two venues ahead of September relaunch | | Ahead of revealing it’s $110 million renovation in September, InterContinental Sydney has unveiled two new restaurant and bar concepts which will be led by the venue’s newly appointed Director of Bars, Behzad Vaziri. Transforming the city-view rooftop space, Aster Bar, will offer uninterrupted 270-degree panoramic views of Sydney Harbour and serve up a cocktail and food menu that is buoyed by local produce. Meanwhile The Treasury will sit in the original cortile of the building and provide an all-day menu that is inspired by the nearby Botanic Gardens. |
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| | |  | | Perth Wildlife Encounters launches new wildlife experience in Western Australia | | West Australian owned, multi- award-winning ecotourism operator, Perth Wildlife Encounters has launched an exciting wildlife tourism offering. Setting off 40-minutes south of Perth in the Shoalwater Island Marine Park, the new 3 Island Snorkel, Wildlife & Seafood Cruise takes visitors to the best snorkelling spots to experience local marine life, including bottlenose dolphins and some of the world’s rarest sealions. Perth Wildlife Encounters’ highly trained crew lead travellers through an experience that has an emphasis on safety and environmental awareness. |
|  | | Australia's 50 Best Towns - have your say | | Leading travel publication, Australian Traveller is on the hunt for Australia’s best town. From towns with unique attractions and bursting foodie scenes, to those brimming with visual beauty and personable charm, when planning a domestic getaway, our country is overwhelmed for choice. As well as crowning the Best Town in Australia, the publication will be publishing the publicly voted list of the 50 Top Towns in the Nov-Jan 2022/23 issue of the magazine. Travel lovers have until Friday 19 August to complete the survey. |
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