40th Australian Tourism Exchange wraps up

International tourism buyers and media are currently experiencing destinations in WA and visiting all corners of the country this week on post-ATE famils hosted by each State and Territory. Last week 74 international media and 600 international buyers attended the International Media Marketplace and the 40th annual Australian Tourism Exchange in Perth. Watch a ATE19 highlights video and see and share photos from the week. Melbourne will host the 41st Australian Tourism Exchange at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 10 to 14 May 2020. ATE is Australia’s annual business-to-business tourism travel trade event, which brings together around 600 travel wholesalers and agents representing 500 companies from more than 30 countries, to meet and do business with 1,500 Australian tourism seller delegates from 500 companies.

Dundee wins US travel video award

Tourism Australia’s Dundee Son of a Legend ad was honoured at the second annual Travel Video Awards in the US this month taking home the award for the ‘Best Travel Video Advertisement’.

Dante Down Under - One of the world’s best bars is coming to Australia

Dante, one of the world’s best bars is coming to Sydney (1 – 12 May) and Melbourne (13 – 19 May) reuniting the talent of Australia’s acclaimed chef Neil Perry and former Rockpool bar manager Linden Pride (now co-owner of Dante NYC). The exciting program of events includes an exclusive Welcome Party, Summer of Sprits and Negroni Sessions, Martini Hour, cocktail masterclasses and more. The multi-city pop-up aims to showcase the very best of Dante and Rockpool and demonstrate why the two industry leaders are making headlines from Australia to New York City and beyond. Reservations can be made at reservations@rosettarestaurant.com.au.

Crickey! Glamping at Australia Zoo is coming soon to Queensland

The Queensland Government has announced a partnership with Australia Zoo to deliver Camp Crocodile Hunter, an $8 million wildlife camping experience on the Sunshine Coast. The projected 108 site camping ground will offer caravan areas, glamping-style tents and eco cabins with an on-site café, an entertainment and pool area, cooking areas, school camp facilities, and a mountain bike pump track. Named after former Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, Camp Crocodile Hunter will be officially launched by Terri, Bindi and Robert Irwin in 2020 as part of Australia Zoo’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Artists board The Ghan to share the beauty of the Outback, South Australia

One of the world’s greatest rail journeys, The Ghan, has selected a group of diverse Australian artists to take part in a special Artist in Residence program which will be on display in Adelaide, South Australia from June to August 2019. In celebration of the trains 90th anniversary, ten South Australian and Northern Territory artists will travel onboard The Ghan to create specially-commissioned works inspired by the iconic Outback journey. The artworks will be accessible to the public at a free exhibition at The Ghan’s Adelaide Parklands Terminal where visitors can admire the beauty of the land it crosses.  Regarded as one of the world’s greatest rail journeys, The Ghan provides a lavish Outback journey between Adelaide and Darwin with magnificent dining experiences and elegant cabins.

The iconic Daydream Island has re-opened in the Whitsundays, Queensland

The Iconic Great Barrier Reef resort Daydream Island has re-opened on the Whitsundays after a $120 million rebuild caused by the damage by Cyclone Debbie in 2017. The resort has been transformed with 277 expansive suites, a distinct variety of restaurants and bars, an Underwater Observatory and an idyllic pool overlooking the iconic white sand beaches and tropical palm-trees.  Daydream Island resort spans 1km with coral and sand beaches, a tropical rainforest and its own Living Reef bursting with marine life.

Rural Australia to host its biggest ever international sporting event, Queensland

The world’s best polocrosse players will battle it out at the Adina Polocrosse World Cup in Warwick Queensland (22-28 April 2019) where tens of thousands of spectators are expected to gather for the event. Combining the strategy of netball, the toughness of rugby, the ball skills of lacrosse, and the suspense of horse racing, polocrosse is a thrilling spectator sport where action, power, skill and pace dominate. The world cup will bring players from eight countries – Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, USA, UK, Ireland, Zambia and Zimbabwe to southern Queensland to see which team reigns supreme. The regional Queensland town of Warwick is accessible via car located only two drive from Brisbane.

The best of Top End cuisine to be showcased in A Taste of Kakadu, NT

Australia’s premier Indigenous food and culture festival, A Taste of Kakadu, will be staged across Kakadu National Park from 10 to 19 May 2019, serving up a menu of ancient cuisine with modern twists. This year’s festival has been expanded to include a range of new food and cultural experiences showcasing the rich Indigenous culture and breathtaking scenery of Kakadu National Park, including a demonstration from Mark Olive, one of Australia’s premier Indigenous chefs. Over nine days, visitors can embark on guided foraging walks where ‘super’ foods and delicacies such as Kakadu plums can be enjoyed, enjoy slow-cooked Kakadu staples such as crocodile, barramundi and buffalo cooked in ground ovens and glide along the famed barramundi-filled rivers while enjoying bush tucker-inspired canapes.

Australia Marketplace India 2019

Applications are open until Monday 29 April for Australia Marketplace India 2019, formerly known as the India Travel Mission. The 17th edition of the mission will be held in Kochi (Kerala) from 8 to 11 August followed by a networking function in Mumbai on 12 August. The event is an opportunity for representatives from the Australian tourism industry to establish business relationships with key qualified travel agencies and tour operators from India, including the main cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune and Kochi.

North American Australia Marketplace

Applications are open until 17 May for Australian tourism businesses wanting to participate in the 2019 North American Australia Marketplace in Los Angeles from 26 to 29 August. Over 100 North American buyers and 100 Australian representatives of tourism products and experiences will attend the event for three days of one-on-one appointments and networking opportunities. Attendance for North American wholesalers, retail advisors and Premier Aussie Specialists is by invitation only. The event is hosted by Australia's State and Territory tourism organisations in conjunction with Tourism Australia.

State of the Industry Report 2017–18

Tourism Research Australia has published its annual state of the industry report for 2017–18 providing insights into key trends throughout the year. The report finds that while tourism continues to thrive, the industry is operating in an increasingly competitive global environment. The report also noted that the 2017–18 financial year marked nine consecutive years of expenditure growth with total visitor spend almost $50 billion more than in 2008–09 at the start of the industry' Tourism 2020 strategy.

Tourism awards nominations open

Nominations are open for 2019 tourism awards in Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Victoria, New South Wales and the Canberra Region. Tourism Australia is a sponsor of the State and Territory Tourism Awards as well as the national Qantas Australian Tourism Awards. The Australian Tourism Awards programs along with the Australian Tourism Accreditation Program (ATAP) and Star Ratings now all come under the Quality Tourism Framework.

More than 2,400 Queensland tourism operators that exceed consumer expectations have been identified and will receive prioritisation across Tourism and Events Queensland’s marketing and activity. The Best of Queensland Experiences program is based on an independent set of criteria that incorporates online customer reviews, response to consumer expectations and reflects industry best practice.

Virgin Australia launched a new Darwin – Bali service last week that will operate three times per week between 10 April and 20 October 2019.

Registration is open for the 2019 Tasmanian Tourism Conference on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 May in Launceston.

Registration is open for the 2019 SA Tourism Conference on Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 May at the Adelaide Oval.

Registration is open for the 2019 Destination Melbourne LIVE tourism conference on Thursday 30 May at the Arts Centre Melbourne.

Parks Australia is seeking requests for tender until Friday 31 May for a consultant to develop a tourism master plan for Kakadu National Park.

Registration is open for the Australian Tourism Export Council's National Wine Tourism Conference, Beyond the Barrel, from Tuesday 18 to Thursday 20 June in South Australia.

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

Tourism Australia has published presentations from the fifth annual Destination Australia Conference held in March in Brisbane and is inviting industry to register their interest for next year’s conference on Thursday 12 March in Adelaide.