New working holiday maker campaign to launch in April

Tourism Australia will launch a new campaign in the UK, France and Germany next month, Australia Inc., to attract more working holiday makers by demonstrating how living and working in Australia will benefit their long-term career and life goals when they return home. “We know working holiday makers who travel to Australia, stay longer, spend more and travel further into regional areas than most other international visitors,” said Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham. “Whilst Australia is a highly desirable working holiday maker destination, research shows there are some barriers to travel, such as distance and a lack of understanding of the long-term benefits of a working holiday in Australia.” Just over 300,000 working holiday makers came to Australia for the year to September 2018, who collectively spent just over $3 billion.

Latest international arrivals figures

Australia welcomed 9.3 million international arrivals for the year ending January 2019, up 5.5 per cent and an extra 480,000 visitors compared to previous 12 months. For the month of January there were 731,100 international arrivals, up 4.1 per cent from 2018.

Year-long promotional campaign in Japan celebrated

Tourism Australia and JTB Corp, Japan’s largest travel wholesaler, held a ceremony on Monday to mark the end of a nationwide, year-long campaign promoting holidays Down Under through JTB’s network of approximately 500 travel shops. Throughout the year JTB brought 86,000 tourists to Australia, including 10 international charters, and now have 3,550 staff who are qualified Aussie Specialists. JTB also contributed to the koala nursery at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast, donated to the Reef Restoration Foundation on the Great Barrier Reef and donated to the Mutitjulu Foundation in Uluru. Mr Takahashi, JTB President and CEO recognised the importance of support from suppliers in Australia and promised to continue a strong relationship between JTB and Tourism Australia.

Americans come say G’day at Australia House at SXSW

Thousands of people visited ‘Australia House’ at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas last week to experience the best from Down Under as part of G’Day USA, Australia’s public and economic diplomacy program in the United States. Australia House @ SXSW, located in the heart of the action, hosted a series of experiences, performances, speeches and interactive displays by some of Australia’s leading experts in the film, music and innovation sectors. The weeklong activation also showcased a range of food, wine and tourism experiences from around the country across more than 20 events with well-known Australian chefs and Friends of Australia. Australia House @ SXSW has already generated over 127 pieces of media coverage reaching an audience over 54 million and generated over 650 social posts with an audience reach of 4.6 million.

Australia showcased at leading travel show ITB in Berlin

Tourism Australia hosted an Australia stand with 48 partners at ITB from 6-10 March showcasing why ‘There’s nothing like Australia’ to media, tour operators and travel agents from around the world. Immediately before the trade show Tourism Australia hosted a full day workshop where 58 agents were trained by 27 stand partners on the destination. Tourism Australia’s presence this year was extended with a dedicated area for media and special events was hosted with journalists and travel bloggers to discuss upcoming projects and stories angles. During the consumer weekend visitors received travel advice by Aussie Specialist retail agents and trade partners.

‘UnDiscover Australia’ on show at Malaysia’s largest travel fair

More than 100,000 visitors at the recent MATTA Travel Fair in Kuala Lumpur were given the opportunity to find out more about great Australian holidays. Tourism Australia promoted uniquely Australian experiences with five key distribution partners and two airline partners who provided tempting travel offers. For the 12 months to January 2019, Australia welcomed just over 400,000 visitors from Malaysia, an increase of 1.7 per cent on the previous year. There are currently 100 flights per week between Australia and Malaysia. Find out more about the Malaysia market.

Indonesian shoppers encouraged to put Australia on their list

Thousands Indonesians were given the opportunity to ‘UnDiscover Australia’ last week at the second annual BCA Australia Travel Fair in partnership with Bank Central Asia. Interactive zones and a special performance from Australian Outback Spectacular’s Heartland at the promotional event highlighted uniquely Australian experiences from the different states and territories to encourage people to book at holiday Down Under. The fair was supported by seven airline partners and seven travel agents providing great travel deals. Australia welcomed 209,000 visitors from Indonesia in the 12 months to January 2019, a nine per cent on the previous year.

Two new ‘Friends of Australia’ appointed in China

Tourism Australia has welcomed two high-profile and influential people in China to its Friends of Australia program. Craig Willis is a chef and co-founder of mr willis Shanghai, a renowned Australia restaurant chain in China, and has revolutionised Shanghai’s dining scene. Angelica Cheung is the chief editor of Vogue China and has over five million followers on her personal weibo account. Angelica has visited Australia multiple times and published a number of feature stories in Vogue China. Tourism Australia’s Friends of Australia program helps to harness the power of globally influential individuals who have a genuine affinity with Australia.

Chinese delegates touch down in Cairns for Amway Leadership Seminar

The first of more than 6000 Amway China delegates touched down in Cairns this week for the Amway China 2019 Leadership Seminar, a month-long incentive trip set to pump $40 million into the Cairns economy. It’s the sixth time the Amway Leadership Seminar has been held in Australia but the first time Amway China has come to Queensland for the company’s incentive program for top salespeople. The event was secured with support from Tourism and Events Queensland, Tourism Australia, Tourism Tropical North Queensland, Cairns Regional Council and Cairns Airport.

Work, play, learn and stay at Sydney’s new coworking hotel, Kafnu

The Next Story Property Group has opened their fourth Kafnu hotel, making its Australian debut in Alexandria, New South Wales. The unique Kafnu proposition combines the best elements of a shared work space, a boutique hotel and a social community, welcoming business travellers looking for a place to build, connect and achieve. Facilities include 16 luxurious guestrooms, fully equipped coworking spaces, media production and podcast studios, a virtual fitness centre and a bespoke gin bar. Conveniently located next to the iconic Grounds of Alexandria café, Kafnu is just 20 minutes from Sydney Airport and the CBD.

New cliff-carved hotel to open at Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane

The Fantauzzo Art Series Hotel will open its eighth property in the precinct at Brisbane’s evolving Howard Smith Wharves project next week. The six-storey, $60 million hotel has been carved into the cliffs under Brisbane’s Story Bridge, featuring 166 suites, a rooftop pool, bar, gym and state-of-the-art dining and function venues. Located in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD, guests can easily zip around town in the hotel-owned smart cars or spend the day exploring the multi-venue Howard Smith Wharves precinct.

First-ever Aboriginal accommodation app launched in South Australia

Wilpena Pound Resort has released an app for visitors to South Australia’s spectacular Flinders Rangers, a first for an Australian Indigenous accommodation business. The new app includes tips on making the most of a stay in Adnyamathanha County with an introduction to local Indigenous culture, history and stories, as well as maps for self-guided walks and drives, weather updates and useful resort information and contacts. The Wilpena Pound Resort Guide is free to download and available on Google Play and in the App Store. Wilpena Pound is also a member of Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective.

Walhalla's Star Hotel celebrates 20 years, Victoria

Walhalla’s Star Hotel is celebrating 20 years of operation since being rebuilt in 1999 after it was destroyed by a building fire in 1951. Now one of the iconic hotels of Victoria, the Star Hotel is fitted with 12 modern suites inspired by the gold-era and has gained a reputation for providing a stylish country getaway with good old-fashioned customer service. Located just 2.5 hours from Melbourne, the Walhalla Star Hotel is offering a special anniversary rate for couples that book before 30 June, 2019.

Australia Marketplace – UK & Europe

Applications will open in May for Australian tourism operators to attend the inaugural Australia Marketplace - UK & Europe which will be held in London in the week commencing 28 October. The event replaces the European Product Workshop as well as Tourism Australia’s presence at the World Youth and Student Travel Conference and World Travel Market. For sellers interested in the youth market, this event will also coincide with a youth roadshow.

Destination Australia Conference 2019

Over 350 tourism leaders gathered in Brisbane last week at the Destination Australia Conference to hear from speakers across a wide range of topics including the global economic outlook, marketing and consumer insights and tourism case studies. Presentations and photos from the conference have now been published. Industry are invited to register their interest to attend the 2020 conference in Adelaide on 12 March.

The Vivid Sydney 2019 program of events from 24 May to 15 June was launched this week.

The Federal and State governments have signed a $551 million, 10-year Adelaide City Deal focused on growing Adelaide’s innovation economy, supporting population growth in the city and across the state, and boosting Adelaide’s cultural and tourism economy.

Investors are being given an opportunity to partner with the Victorian Government to invest in infrastructure for cycle tourism.

Registration is open for the Northern Territory's Tourism: Towards 2030 Conference on Wednesday 27 March in Darwin and on Friday 29 March in Alice Springs.

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

Applications are open until Monday 1 April for the first round of funding to support 2019 as the Year of Outback Tourism in Queensland.

Applications are open until Wednesday 17 April for grant funding to develop an innovative solution that captures, aggregates and effectively measures all aspects of the tourism industry as part of the Australian Government’s Business Research and Innovation Initiative.

Submissions are open until Friday 24 May for the 2019 NSW Regional Tourism Awards (previously known as the Inland NSW Tourism Awards).

The WA State Government has committed an additional $12 million on top of the $45 million already allocated to Tourism WA in its 2019-20 State budget to expand the promotion of WA overseas.

Regional communities throughout Australia will benefit from 330 new infrastructure projects and community initiatives, as part of a $204.3 million investment under Round 3 of the Federal Government's Building Better Regions Fund.

The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) and Wine Australia have released their schedule of Growing Wine Tourism workshops for new and experienced wine businesses starting in March.

Tourism Australia's Dundee ad is a finalist in the ‘most popular TV commercial’ category at The TV Week Logie Awards. The new award celebrates the most creative, entertaining and the best TV commercials produced for Australian audiences and consumers. Voting ends Sunday 31 March.

The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) is inviting expressions of interest by Monday 1 April from sellers with commissionable product ready for the inbound market to attend the Beyond the Barrel National Wine Tourism Conference 2019 from 18 - 20 June in McLaren Vale and Adelaide, South Australia.

The draft South Australian Visitor Economy Sector Plan 2030 is now open for industry feedback.