Australia on show at China International Import Expo

Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, is leading Australia’s delegation to President Xi Jinping’s inaugural China International Import Expo in Shanghai and Hong Kong this week. During the week Minister Birmingham announced that the Australian Football League has extended its commitment to hold a Toyota AFL Premiership Season match in Shanghai for another three years through to 2021. Kicking off this extension of commitment, the AFL in partnership with Tourism Australia will present a match between the St Kilda and Port Adelaide Football Clubs. Minister Birmingham today announced a renewal of Tourism Australia’s Memorandum of Understanding with China Eastern Airlines for marketing activities and to work with key distribution partners in China on travel packages. China Eastern operates from five cities in China to three cities in Australia delivering 35 flights per week.

International visitor survey results

International visitors to Australia spent $42.5 billion in the year to June 2018, an increase of five per cent, according to Tourism Research Australia’s latest International Visitor Survey. Tourism Australia has published an international tourism snapshot showing the arrivals, spend and aviation statistics for the 15 international markets it operates in.

Tourism Australia’s Annual Report for 2017-18

Tourism Australia has published its annual report for 2017-18 outlining activities to grow demand and foster a competitive and sustainable Australian tourism industry through partnership marketing in key international markets. The report highlights achievements over the year including the launch of the award-winning Dundee campaign in North America, the Aussie News Today youth campaign in the UK and Europe, the UnDiscover Australia campaign in South and South East Asia and the introduction of a $12 million Business Events Bid Fund.

Special Sydney showcase on Entertainment Tonight in the US

Entertainment Tonight recently aired a special destination showcase of Sydney as part of the show’s coverage of the Invictus Games and Royal visit. The content filmed included an interview at North Bondi Fish with chef and Friend of Australia Matt Moran, Let’s Go Surfing, Speedos Café and BridgeClimb. Entertainment Tonight is the number one entertainment television show in the US averaging five million viewers daily with ETonline.com averaging an additional 20 million monthly unique visitors. Tourism Australia hosted the show’s presenter Kevin Frazier and the crew to produce the coverage as part of the International Media Hosting Program.

New drama-series promotes self-drive holidays to Singaporeans

A new 13-episode online drama filmed in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland launched in Singapore this month. In the series, The Distance Between, the cast members explore the country by campervan and showcase some of Australia’s lesser-known destinations. Tourism Australia supported the series to help create greater awareness of self-drive travel experiences as part of the UnDiscover Australia campaign in South and South-East Asia. Chan Brothers, one of Tourism Australia’s key distribution partners in Singapore, is the official sponsor of the show and is offering special campervan holiday packages.

Australia rates highly in 2019 Virtuoso Luxe Report

Australia has featured in the top 10 across a range of categories in the 2019 Virtuoso Luxe Report which predicts trends in consumer preferences for high-end and experiential travel. The categories were: #10 in Global Destinations; #8 in Adventure Travel Destinations; #9 in Cruise Itineraries combined with New Zealand; #5 in Destinations for Millennial Travelers; #9 in Destinations for Women Travelers; and #9 in Cities for Sydney. Other findings from the survey showed that the biggest travel trends for 2019 are multigenerational travel, active or adventure trips, river and luxury cruising, and celebration travel. Travelers also expressed heightened interest in animal-related experiences.

Perth to host Corroboree West 2019

Over one hundred Australian tourism operators will meet with 300 specially selected frontline travel sellers from the UK, Europe, the USA, Canada and New Zealand at Tourism Australia’s Corroboree West trade event in Perth from 8 to 11 October 2019. Tourism Australia’s Corroboree events take place annually, alternating between Eastern and Western markets each year, and include a combination of training workshops and familiarisations exclusively for Aussie Specialists. Corroboree West will be held in Perth and delivered in partnership with Tourism Western Australia, which will also host a one-day destination famil for all the Aussie Specialists attending. Following the event in Perth, the Aussie Specialists will break up into groups to attend five-day familiarisation trips around the country hosted by Australia’s State and Territory Tourism Organisations.

Melbourne’s original Summer Night Market back by popular demand

Melbourne’s original and popular night market will return to the iconic Queen Victoria Market from 21 November – 20 March 2019 for its biggest summer yet. The 17-week season will see the market’s historic sheds transform into a bustling summer hangout with more than 60 global food outlets, festival bars, fashion, merchandise and homeware stalls accompanied by a rotating weekly line-up of live music. The Summer Night Marketv will be open every Wednesday night from 5pm – 10pm (excluding boxing day).

Dinosaurs take over Blue Mountains at Scenic World

Dinosaur Valley has arrived at Scenic World where an ancient rainforest has been brought to life with prehistoric dinosaurs, daily events and family fun. Located in the Blue Mountains, visitors can explore the fascinating world of dinosaurs among towering Jurassic rainforests until 1 January 2019. Free events, movie nights and activities will cater to visitors of all ages with local accommodation packages on offer for those wanting to make the most of a Blue Mountains weekend getaway.

The countdown is on for Margaret River Gourmet Escape

Held in one of Australia’s premium wine regions, the popular food and wine festival Margaret River Gourmet Escape will return for a seventh consecutive season from 16 – 18 November. The three-day festival program showcases the regions unique local flavours, incredible landscapes and a fun atmosphere, attracting passionate foodies from across the globe. Rick and Jack Stein, Curtis Stone, Luke Mangan, Guy Grossi and Nigella Lawson will return as part of the 2018 star line-up where over 45 events in more than 25 unique locations will be hosted by several impressive chefs and wine experts.

Refurbished Spicers Guesthouse in the Hunter Valley opens

After an 18-month makeover Spicers Guesthouse in the Hunter Valley has officially re-opened its doors. Located in the heart of NSW’s Pokolbin region the five-star hotel has 49 luxury guest rooms overlooking the surrounding mountain ranges and neighbouring vineyards. Adding to the lux-experience is Éremo Restaurant where multi-hatted Executive Chef Cameron Matthews offers fine-dining modern Italian cuisine.  Spicers Guesthouse is the newest edition to the Spicers Retreat portfolio.

New tourism investment and accommodation research reports

New research reports have been published following the release of the June 2018 International Visitor Survey data by Tourism Research Australia. The Tourism Investment Monitor 2017-18 reports on the number and value of significant projects (valued at over $20 million) in Australia’s tourism investment pipeline. The Australian Accommodation Monitor 2017-18 presents detailed information on occupancy rates and business takings. The report follows similar principles to the previous Survey of Tourist Accommodation and includes participation from hotels, motels and serviced apartments across metropolitan and regional Australia.

Age limit increases for Irish and Canadian working holiday makers

The age limit for Irish and Canadian citizens wanting to spend a year working and travelling in Australia has been increased by five years – from 30 to 35 years of age. “Both Canada and Ireland have been part of Australia's Working Holiday Maker program since it began in 1975, so it is fitting that they are the first countries to become eligible for the extended age range,” said Australia's Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman. “Last year, more than 16,000 citizens from Canada and Ireland were granted Working Holiday visas for Australia, with many of them living and working in regional and rural areas during their stay.”

IMEX Frankfurt 2019

Registration is open until Friday 16 November to join the Australia stand at IMEX Frankfurt from 21 to 23 May 2019. IMEX is a key incentive travel, meetings and events trade show, where international planners and decision makers from the conference, convention and corporate events industries gather to do business. The show provides the Australian business events industry with the opportunity to meet influential international business events buyers in a structured appointment setting. Space on the Australia stand is limited, and applications are on a first-come first-served basis.

ATE19 Media Program

Exhibitor applications are open until Friday 16 November for the Australian Tourism Exchange 2019 (ATE19) Media Program in Perth from 6 – 9 April. The program includes one-on-one appointments at the International Media Marketplace between Australian tourism businesses and select media and influencers who generate editorial, or create content on Australian tourism products, destinations and experiences for consumers. The ATE19 Media Program also includes networking sessions and events for media delegates and exhibitors.

The NSW Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China Eastern Airlines to invest in marketing campaigns, media familiarisations and new itineraries to drive visitation to Sydney and regional NSW.

The NSW Government has launched its NSW Food & Wine Tourism Strategy & Action Plan 2018-2022 with five key strategic pillars: Product Development; Industry Development; Event Development; Marketing & Public Relations; and Research & Insights.

A recording of Tourism Australia’s accessible tourism webinar is now available to watch on demand. The webinar outlines the size of the market for travellers with accessibility needs as well as recent Australian research.

Visit Victoria’s 2017-18 annual report has been published outlining the achievements of the organisation for the year ending June 2018.

Tourism Tasmania's 2017-18 annual report has been published, highlighting the organisation's performance and the activities that contributed to its achievements.

A new amphitheatre, viewing deck and a 'visitor pod' will be built at the Twelve Apostles as part of a $154 million Federal Government investment in Geelong and along the Great Ocean Road.

Tourism Australia has published a video with highlights from its India Travel Mission 2018 held in August which saw 75 Australian tourism businesses meet with 87 travel companies from Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune and Jaipur.

Registration is open for Tourism and Events Queensland's International Market Briefings in Cairns on Monday 12 November, Brisbane on Tuesday 13 November and the Gold Coast on Thursday 15 November.

Registration is open for the inaugural Adventure Tourism Awards and Youth Tourism Conference on the Gold Coast on Wednesday 14 November.

Applications are open until Friday 16 November for Tourism and Events Queensland's Queensland on Tour Greater China Mission from 5 – 8 March 2019.

Registration is open for the Australian Event Symposium to be held on the Sunshine Coast from 19-21 November.

Registration is open for ATEC Meeting Place 2018 which will take place from 19-21 November in Darwin.

Registration is open for Victoria's International Exchange to be held on Wednesday 5 December. VIE provides an opportunity for the Victorian tourism industry to receive an update on the latest international marketing intelligence from Visit Victoria’s overseas based Regional Managers.

Industry are invited to register their interest for the Destination Australia Conference 2019 to be held on Thursday 14 March in Brisbane.