ANA campaign takes off in Japan to promote new flights

Famous Japanese singer and actor Nissy has lent his star power to a campaign promoting All Nippon Airways’ (ANA) new daily Tokyo-Perth direct service which commences on 1 September. Through a series of short videos on ANA’s website Nissy shares the special story of his recent visit to Western Australia alongside links to travel offers. The Good Vibes Only! promotion aims to inspire Japanese travellers by showcasing unusual, unfamiliar and unexpected attractions and experiences and is also being promoted online and via social media. The ANA campaign is being supported by Tourism Western Australia and Tourism Australia alongside others. The number of international visitors from Japan has grown for the past five consecutive years and Japan is currently Australia’s fifth largest inbound market currently worth $2 billion annually.

Latest international spend figures

Total international visitor spending grew 5% to reach $44.3 billion in the 12 months ending March 2019 according to the latest International Visitor Survey published by Tourism Research Australia today. Download Tourism Australia’s international tourism snapshot for an overview of the spend, arrivals and aviation data from Tourism Australia’s 15 target markets.

New US promotion takes off with United Airlines and AFAR

A 100-page “ultimate guide” to Australia filled with “life-changing experiences” and inspiring tips for planning a trip Down Under flying with United Airlines will feature in a US promotion which kicks off this month. The magazine is being packaged with the July issue of AFAR Magazine, a publication focused on experiential travel, and is also available to download. The content partnership with AFAR will also include online editorial, emails and social media posts. In addition, United Airlines is putting Australia in front of MileagePlus customers through airport gate screen displays, the Hemisphere in-flight magazine, seat back monitors and a dedicated email blast to members.

Australia on show at Travel Leaders’ national conference in North America

Australia’s top tourism experiences were presented to around 2,500 US and Canadian travel advisors at the Travel Leaders Network national conference, ‘EDGE’, held in Washington DC from June 6-10. The conference was also an opportunity for agents to learn more about the Aussie Specialist Program. Training workshops featuring content from the recent Aussie Specialist Ambassador famil trips were held in addition to a day of one-on-one meetings with advisors focused on premium travel. The Travel Leaders Network, North America’s largest travel consortia with over 30,000 agencies, has seen strong growth in sales to Australia over the last year.

Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia welcomes Brokenwood in NSW

Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia has announced the inclusion of Hunter Valley winery, Brokenwood to collection. Known for its highly acclaimed Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz, the recently revamped winery has a stunning new cellar door, a private tasting and dining room, and wine museum that overlooks the working barrel hall and picturesque vineyards. Two immersive Ultimate Winery Experiences will be available at the vineyard – The Brokenwood Journey and VIP Soil to Cellar - providing guests with exclusive behinds the scene access to the winery. The Hunter Valley wine region is accessible in under three hours’ drive from Sydney’s CBD.

Moss brings a touch of Tasmania’s wilderness to Hobart’s city centre

Hobart’s newest boutique hotel, Moss, has opened in the historic docks of Salamanca Place, bringing the Tasmanian wilderness to the heart of the city. Set in Georgian sandstone warehouses and designed with a nature-inspired concept, Moss offers 41-rooms with high timber beams, internal greenery and sun-drenched balconies, creating a tranquil and idyllic atmosphere for guests. Located in the heart of Hobart, this inner-city sanctuary is a gateway to the city’s rich culture, history, world-famous cuisine and natural beauty.

New glamping tents in the heart of Kakadu coming soon

Kakadu's new glamping village, Dreaming@HomeBillabong is set to open at Kakadu National Park on 1 July, offering guests modern creature comforts for their next bush adventure. Located in an exclusive site in the grounds of Cooinda Lodge & Camping Ground, the new glamping accommodation will feature 20 permanent upmarket Outback Retreat tents, set beneath a canopy of shady trees in the heart of the Kakadu bush scape. Located less than two hours’ drive from Darwin, Kakadu National Park is a popular outback destination and home to some of Australia’s most magnificent natural and cultural experiences.

Internationally recognised opera masterpiece to go digital in Brisbane

Opera Australia has teamed up with the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council to bring a brand new, fully digital production of Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle to Brisbane in November 2020. Known simply as the Ring, Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen is recognised internationally as a masterpiece and the pinnacle in operatic staging that attracts devotees from around the world. Exclusive to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, this world first digital production of Wagner’s internationally recognised musical masterpiece run from the 10 November to 5 December 2020. Reservations are now available.

Australia Marketplace China 2019

Seller applications are open until Tuesday 16 July for Australia Marketplace China 2019, formerly known as the Greater China Travel Mission. The event will be held in Chengdu from 11 to 15 November and includes pre-scheduled appointments between buyers and sellers, and opportunities to network at the official event functions. Australia Marketplace China is an opportunity for the Australian tourism industry to establish business relationships with key qualified travel agencies and tour operators from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Survey results from last year's event in Guangzhou found that 100% of buyers and sellers were satisfied with the program. AMC19 will be followed by the Australia Premium Showcase China for which applications will be by invitation only.

ACT Industry Briefing

Registration is open for a joint ACT industry briefing from Tourism Australia, VisitCanberra and Events ACT on Wednesday 26 June in Canberra. Tourism Australia will present its latest international market insights and upcoming initiatives to attract high value travellers to Australia. VisitCanberra will follow with an update on recent activities and share its domestic and international marketing plans for 2019/20. Following the tourism session, Events ACT will share results from the latest Floriade and Enlighten events, as well as plans for Floriade 2019 and Enlighten 2020.

Dreamtime 2019

Seller applications are open until Friday 5 July for Dreamtime 2019, Tourism Australia’s signature business events showcase held every two years. Hosted in Perth from 1 to 3 December in partnership with the Perth Convention Bureau, the event will provide an opportunity to meet and do business with 120 qualified international business events decision makers and international trade media from ten key markets. The program includes a full-day of face-to-face pre-scheduled appointments as well as networking events. Survey results from Dreamtime 2017 held in Brisbane found that 100% of buyers and 99% of sellers were satisfied with the program.

Advance Program applications open

Applications are now open until 1 July for the 2019/20 Advance Program. The program offers the Australian business events industry the opportunity to leverage Tourism Australia’s international marketing expertise to grow the number of delegates to confirmed business events taking place in Australia as well as the number of international business events secured for Australia. Tourism Australia’s dedicated business events unit Business Events Australia manages the program.

Australia was awarded ‘Destination with Highest Customer Satisfaction, Asia/South Pacific’ at TravelAge West's annual WAVE Awards in the US this month. More than 4,500 travel professionals from throughout 15 western states voted in the Awards.

Visit Victoria’s has released a new campaign, Your Happy Space , highlighting winter landscapes, soul-warming food and wine, scenic drives, fewer crowds and cosy accommodation all within easy reach of Melbourne.

Qantas will fly directly from Brisbane to Chicago and San Francisco upon approval of its joint business with American Airlines from the United States Department of Transportation. The new routes are expected to launch by the end of April 2020.

International students in Australia  spent $35 billion last year on tourism, food, travel and housing according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data.

Entries are now open for the MyTravelResearch.com International Toilet Tourism Awards 2019 which aims to demonstrate the relationship between the provision of great toilets and success in a visitor economy.

Submissions are open until Wednesday 26 June for funding for regional events through the Queensland Destination Events Program .

Registration is open for Tourism & Events Queensland's Conversations with Industry events on the Gold Coast on Thursday 11 July and in the Whitsundays on Thursday 25 July.

Registration is open for the VIC Tourism Conference on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 July in Geelong.

Nominations are open until 26 July for the Queensland Government’s Young Tourism Leaders program.

A call for papers is open until Friday 31 July for the Global Eco Asia-Pacific Tourism Conference to be held from 2 to 4 December in Cairns.

Registration is open for the DestinationQ 2019 Events Conference on Tuesday 6th August in Cloncurry, Outback Queensland.

Registration is open for the 2019 Regional Events Conference to be held in Dubbo NSW from Wednesday 4 to Friday 6 September.

Registration is open for ATEC Meeting Place to be held from Monday 25 to Wednesday 27 November in Brisbane.