Tourism Australia signs new strategic partnerships in China

Tourism Australia signed two strategic deals in China this week with Cathay Pacific Airways and Mafengwo.com, one of the top Chinese digital travel platforms. The three-year marketing agreement with Cathay Pacific Airways is aimed at promoting Australia to high yielding business events professionals in Greater China. With Mafengwo Tourism Australia will establish a dedicated Australia travel page on the organisation’s app that provides Chinese consumers with information and products from Tourism Australia's key distribution partners in China. China is Australia’s largest inbound market with 1.4 million visitors for the 12 months to March 2019 who spent A$10.9 billion.

Advance Program applications

Applications close at 5pm this Friday, 10 August, for Tourism Australia’s Advance Program which supports marketing activity to increase international consideration and visitation by international business events. The Advance Program Prospectus outlines the eligibility criteria and application details.

H Plus representing Tourism Australia in South Korea

Tourism Australia has changed the way it operates in South Korea by refocusing its efforts on trade activities and moving to a representation agency agreement. H Plus is now responsible for representing Tourism Australia in South Korea to travel industry stakeholders as well as forging relationships with the trade partners and tour operators who sell travel to Australia. H Plus will also provide support and training for the Aussie Specialist Program (ASP) to equip front line travel sellers with the knowledge and skills to sell Australia. The work will be directed from H Plus’ office in Seoul led by account director Jinha Joh and supported by Aussie Specialist Program trainer Joo Heui Lee. Tourism Australia closed its office in Seoul on 3 August. Photo from left: Joo Heui Lee and Jinha Joh

New offers around Australia to tempt German travellers

Tourism Australia has released a new range of offers for German travellers based on the experiences and destinations featured by influential German bloggers on the Australia.com German content hub, Australien hautnah. The offers, which range from excursions and day trips to a five-week road trip, cover a variety of Australian experiences including nature and wildlife, aquatic and coastal as well as outback and indigenous culture. Users can filter through the offers from selected tour operators and airlines by experience, type of travel, duration and destination. For the 12 months to March 2018 Australia welcomed 210,500 visitors from Germany who spent $1.2 billion.

Sydney’s first Mediterranean wine bar opens in Pyrmont

Mister Percy, a dedicated Mediterranean-style wine bar and kitchen housed in the heritage-inspired designer boutique hotel, Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour, opened today. Open every night of the week from 6pm and seating up to 60, Mister Percy is destined to become an inner-city haven known for its charming food and warm surrounds, invigorating wine offering and classic cocktails all delivered with a touch of old-school cheek.

New Coffin Bay Tour from Port Lincoln, South Australia

Xplore Eyre has announced the launch of a new one day Coffin Bay Tour which will be departing from Port Lincoln twice a week from September. Combining the best local produce, ‘meet the maker’ experiences, stunning coastal scenery and wildlife the tour will give visitors to the region a real taste of one of Australia’s premier oyster growing destinations.

Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market on National Heritage List

The Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne will be 114th place to be included on Australia’s National Heritage List. Also known affectionately as ‘Vic Market’ or ‘Queen Vic’, the market has been Melbourne’s pantry for almost 150 years. An historic landmark spread over two city blocks, the vibrant and bustling inner-city market offers everything from fruit and vegetables to clothing and souvenirs. Photo: Department of the Environment and Energy.

Tasmanian Whisky Week, 13–19 August

The 2018 Tasmanian Whisky Week takes place next week with events held in Tasmanian distilleries, bars, barns, stables, restaurants and hotels. Throughout the week distilleries will be opening their doors to host behind-the-scenes tours to meet the distillers in person, provide access to unreleased whiskies, and offer dining opportunities where distilleries will recount the successes, challenges and events that have shaped who they are today.

Internationale Tourismus Börse 2019

Applications are open until Friday 21 September for Australian tourism businesses to join the Australia stand at the Internationale Tourismus Börse 2019 (ITB19) in Berlin from 6 to 10 March 2019. A wide range of participation options are available, such as sole and share booth options, and day passes for the trade days. ITB19 is a five-day event, open to trade and consumers. Wednesday 6 March to Friday 8 March are trade and press-only days. Saturday 9 March and Sunday 10 March are open to the general public. In 2018 ITB hosted 10,000 exhibitors and attracted 196,000 visitors of which 120,000 were trade.

Tourism and Events Queensland has announced five new industry representatives joining its Board: Nancy Bamaga, Sarah Kelly, Brenda LaPorte, Chris Mills and Johnathan Thurston.

Applications are open until Friday 7 September for South Australia's best of wine tourism awards 2019.

Nominations are open until 20 August for the Adventure Tourism Awards to be held on the Gold Coast on Wednesday 14 November alongside a conference for the backpacker, youth and adventure travel sector.

International travellers departing Australia are now able to use mobile boarding passes to check into their flights on their phones.

A record 185,887 travel packages were sold to domestic and international tourists in 2018 for Vivid Sydney, up 37 per cent on last year’s festival.

Applications are open until Friday 14 September for the Australian Regional Tourism Emerging Tourism Professionals program, open to tourism professionals aged 30 and under who are working in the tourism industry in regional Australia or in a role that primarily focuses on regional tourism.

Registration is open for The Exchange to be held on Tuesday 11 September at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre. The Exchange is the new name for the Melbourne Tourism Industry Exchange and embraces the inclusion of Greater Melbourne and regional destinations and products.

Registration is open for the Ecotourism Australia one day Masterclass in Cairns on 11 September and the Global Eco Asia Pacific Tourism Conference in Townsville on 26-28 November.

The next funding round of the Queensland Destination Events Program is open until Wednesday 10 October.

Registration is open for Destination NSW’s half-day Tourism Manager Forums in Port Macquarie, Griffith, Newcastle, Dubbo, Yass, Kingscliff and Jervis Bay offering advice on support and resources available for NSW tourism businesses.

Submissions are open until Friday 31 August for the Queensland Tourism Industry Council's Prize for Innovation in Tourism.

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

The South Australian Tourism Industry Council and the State’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon David Ridgway MLC, will continue to deliver Meet the Minister industry events in August to discuss tourism and the South Australian visitor economy.

Entries are open until Sunday 30 September the first Destination Gold Coast Content Awards to celebrate the best of digital and social storytelling from the region. #DGCCA #WeAreGoldCoast

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