| | | | | | | |  | | TOURISM AUSTRALIA UPDATE | | Last week, Australia reached a really important milestone where 70 per cent of the population aged 16 and older have now been fully vaccinated. This means we have officially moved into Phase B of the National COVID Plan. On Friday, Qantas announced it is preparing for a nationwide restart from 21 December, with several routes restarting earlier than expected and the Prime Minister also announced that the Government is close to announcing an agreement with Singapore around allowing more visa class holders back into Australia.
Also last week, Minister Tehan announced that two of Tourism Australia’s Board members have completed their two terms on the board. Chairman, Bob East, and Hayley Baillie have been on Tourism Australia’s Board through the most tumultuous time we have ever faced, and both have been incredible leaders and support for our organisation and the industry more broadly. I want to thank both Bob and Hayley, and whilst we lose them from the board, we are lucky that they well and truly remain part of our industry! Today, Minister Tehan also announced two new Tourism Australia Board members. Michael Issenberg has been announced as our new Board Chair and Annabel Dolphin joins the Board as a new member. Their deep industry experience will be crucial in helping us navigate the inbound tourism recovery and we look forward to working with them. Phillipa Harrison | | |
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| |  | | Next Industry Webinar | | Tourism Australia’s next industry webinar will be held at 11am AEDT on Friday 5 November. Tourism Australia’s Managing Director, Phillipa Harrison, will be launching the latest iteration of the Holiday Here This Year campaign which will focus on gifting over the festive season and there will be an update from Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon. Dan Tehan MP. Tourism Australia’s Regional General Manger of South & South-East Asia, Brent Anderson will also share an update on the Singapore market. Register here. |
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| |  | | Spotlight on the Regions – Japan | | This week, ‘Spotlight on the Regions’ features an interview with Derek Baines, Tourism Australia’s Country Manager, Japan, who shares insights and observations from the Japan market, as well as updates on key stakeholders and activities to keep Australia front of mind in-market. Read the update here. |
|  | | German Industry Get-Together in Frankfurt & Munich | | At the beginning of October, Tourism Australia hosted a series of face-to-face industry events for the first time in 18 months in Frankfurt and Munich. Major key distribution partners, airline partners as well as state tourism organisations attended the events. Eva Seller, Regional General Manager, Continental Europe, provided short update on the current situation in Australia and forward plans. The participation and feedback from participants was really positive and participants appreciated the live events. |
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| | |  | | Aussie Specialist Program awarded gold by North American travel industry | | The Aussie Specialist Program has been awarded the Gold 2021 Magellan Award for Overall Education Program by a Travel Destination. The awards are presented by North American media company Travel Weekly and judged by a panel of top industry professionals. Gold and Silver awards are given to the best in travel and salute the outstanding professionals behind it all. Tourism Australia’s award submission focused on efforts to engage, educate, and lift the spirits of American travel advisors through the pandemic. Winners are featured in an October issue of Travel Weekly and receive a custom produced statuette. |
|  | | Tourism Australia brings Indigenous Maruku Arts dot painting workshop to New York media | | Last week, Tourism Australia hosted a hybrid dot painting workshop with Discover Aboriginal Experiences member, Maruku Arts, live-streaming from Uluru in the Northern Territory to an in-person group of media at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in New York City. Tourism Australia provided background on the many Indigenous tourism experiences North American visitors can enjoy once Australia fully reopens to international travellers. A number of media participated in the guided dot painting workshop, including representatives from the New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, Thrillist, Architectural Digest and the Wall Street Journal. |
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| | | | | | |  | | Indigenous Visual Art Action Plan | | The Australian Government will develop an Indigenous Visual Art Action Plan to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, and their cultural and economic interests. The Plan will recognise the significant importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture, which dates back 65,000 years. The Plan will be designed in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and the visual arts community. Read more here. |
|  | | Online resources to assist tourism businesses to get online | | To assist micro, small and medium tourism businesses to digitalise and adapt to change when the pandemic hit, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade funded an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Tourism Working Group project titled Exploring innovative digitalisation for tourism MSMEs in developing APEC economies: What can we learn from tourism’s response to COVID-19? Three virtual workshops were held in April 2021 and a suite of online resources were developed from the project. These are now available for tourism businesses, as well as a written report for policy makers. Find out more and access the resources here. |
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| | | | |  | | Support for Kangaroo Island | The Australian and South Australian Governments are providing $15.5 million to Kangaroo Island to help the region recover from the economic impact of COVID-19. Through the Regional Recovery Partnerships program, three priority projects will create around 40 jobs during construction as well as providing:
• $5 million for the construction of short-term workforce accommodation,
• $4 million towards the construction of a new visitor hub at Cape Willoughby, and
• $1 million to develop an AgTech Hub to help primary producers improve their practices and grow their businesses.
Read more here. |
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| | | | | | | |  | | Sofitel Adelaide to open 4 November with private lounge and champagne bar | | The Sofitel Adelaide, which is the city’s first internationally recognised five-star hotel to be built in 30 years, will open its doors to guests on 4 November 2021. Sitting in the centre of the Adelaide city on Currie Street, the venue will feature 251 diversely sized rooms, each with luxurious amenities and open-plan styling. Serving up views of the city and the Adelaide Hills in the distance, the hotel’s room collection, including the luxurious Presidential Suite, combines French elegance with chic styling. The $150 million Sofitel Adelaide development will also feature a private lounge called the Club Millésime which will provide guests with complimentary dining facilities and personalised check in and check out services. For dining, the Sofitel Adelaide offers a champagne bar, Déjà Vu, and modern French restaurant, Garçon Bleu. For more information visit the Sofitel Adelaide website. |
|  | | Australian Wildlife Journeys welcomes two new operators | | Signature Experiences of Australia collective, Australian Wildlife Journeys, has welcomed Indian Ocean Experiences and Pacific Whale Foundation Eco-Adventures Australia to its roster of independent operators. Servicing the Indian Ocean Islands, Indian Ocean Experiences showcases the natural and historical stories of the unspoilt region, including the annual migration of 60 million red crabs in Christmas Island. Also joining the collective is Queensland’s Hervey Bay-based Pacific Whale Foundation Eco-Adventures Australia. Three times a day, the operator’s dedicated team of conservation experts share unique whale watching experiences with travellers in the Great Sandy Straits Marina. Australian Wildlife Journeys’ new additions are recognised for their ability to showcase wildlife encounters with a memorable consumer experience. For more information visit the website . |
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| | |  | | Australian Wildlife Adventures rebrands to Untamed Escapes | | Leading experiential tour operator, Australian Wildlife Adventures, has unveiled a significant company rebrand, uniting all existing brands under one inclusive new identity, Untamed Escapes. Since 2004, AWA has showcased the regions between Adelaide and Perth with its two touring brands, Nullarbor Traveller and Xplore Eyre. Under the Untamed Escapes brand, the company will continue to connect travellers with adventure, wildlife and epicurean experiences in nature, whilst exploring additional wellness offerings. Led by passionate storytellers, Untamed Escapes offers a range of small group and exclusive private tours departing from Adelaide, Perth and Port Lincoln. For more information visit the website . |
|  | | The Aiden Darling Harbour set to open its doors in Sydney | | Highly anticipated luxury boutique hotel, Aiden Darling Harbour, will open on 1 December 2021, welcoming travellers back to Sydney for summer. Offering a retrospective splash of 1930s style and design, the Aiden Darling Harbour has been in development for three years. Set in one of country’s most recognisable destinations, the hotel serves up 88 comfort-driven rooms bolstered by Dyson appliances, luxurious amenities and local produce. Guests will also be treated to bespoke artwork from local artist in residence, Jessica Le Clerc, open-air balconies, and harbour views. The waterside precinct will also feature the glamourous Wayfarer’s Bar & Café offering an all-Australian beverage menu and signature SYP cocktails. For more information and to book visit the website. |
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