Chinese visitors share their ‘best shots in Australia’

Tourism Australia held a celebration in Shanghai this week to announce 50 winners of a user generated content (UGC) competition launched during China’s Golden Week in October. The competition, ‘Your Best Shots in Australia’, attracted over 50,000 entries. The winning shots were published on Australia.cn and displayed on a big screen in the busy Jing’an Temple district in Shanghai. The UGC campaign not only revealed great images to encourage more Chinese travellers Down Under but also provides a deeper understanding of today’s modern Chinese travellers.

Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef

From today people can go to http://www.citizensgbr.org/ to sign up to become a Citizen of the Great Barrier Reef and take actions in support of the Reef. Backed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), the movement is also supported by more than 340 tourism operators who bring thousands of people daily to experience the Reef.

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival program announcement

In 2018, the internationally acclaimed Melbourne Food and Wine Festival presented by Bank of Melbourne will shine a spotlight on Victoria’s world-class food and wine industries from 16 to 25 March 2018. Highlights include the World’s Longest Lunch, River Graze and the first House of Food and Wine hotel.

Premium outer Great Barrier Reef fishing experience

Renegade Fishing Charters of the Whitsundays and the luxury 108ft mothership Elizabeth E II have partnered to offer guests the best fishing the Great Barrier Reef has to offer. Bookings are now available for the 2018 season for 5 to 7 night trips to the outer Great Barrier Reef with charters departing from the Whitsundays, Queensland. Anglers can expect to catch iconic sportfish such as marlin, mackerel and yellowfin tuna. Contact info@renegadecharters.com.au for more information. Both operators are part of Tourism Australia's Great Fishing Adventures of Australia program.

Ayers Rock Resort to relaunch The Lost Camel Hotel

The boutique-style Lost Camel Hotel will re-open its doors at Ayers Rock Resort on 1 July 2018 with a newly refurbished stylish mix of Aboriginal and urban themes. The Lost Camel Hotel has been functioning as staff accommodation since May 2012 and will now be refurbished as a contemporary accommodation option.

Two-year funding agreement signed for Ord Valley Muster

The Ord Valley Muster in the East Kimberley has secured funding for another two years through Tourism WA's Regional Events Program. Set in Kununurra, the Ord Valley Muster is a 10-day event in May each year that celebrates and showcases the surrounding region through food, art, music, tours, comedy and Aboriginal culture. More than 30 events and activities make up the Ord Valley Muster program, attracting about 15,000 attendees over the 10 days.

Tourism awards held around the country

Tourism businesses around the country have been celebrated at awards ceremonies this month. Awards nights were held in Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory, New South Wales, the ACT and Victoria this month. Winners from the State and Territory tourism awards will go on to compete in the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards to be held at Perth Stadium on Friday 23 February.

ATE18 Media Marketplace

Applications are open until Friday 12 January for Australian tourism products and experiences to attend the ATE18 Media Marketplace from 13 to 14 April 2018 in Adelaide. ATE18 Media Marketplace provides an opportunity to meet exclusively with international and domestic media for one-on-one appointments and networking events. Media and influencers who generate editorial, or create content on Australian tourism products, destinations and experiences for consumers will attend.

Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017

Australia has ranked 7th in the latest Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index produced by the World Economic Forum. The index has, for the past 11 years carried out an in-depth analysis of the travel and tourism competitiveness of 136 economies across the world. For more research and trends related to international and domestic tourism and travel visit Tourism Australia’s Insight Files.

Whitehaven Beach has been named the second best beach in the world by FlightNetwork, Canada's largest travel website.

Tourism and Events Queensland has produced the Queensland Events Guide to provide advice on everything leading up to an event, event delivery, through to post-event activities, whilst highlighting the important link between events and tourism.

In a study of over 50 countries, Australia’s global brand has been ranked ninth in the world.

The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) has entered into a partnership with Chinese mobile and online payment platform Alipay to educate ATEC members and the industry more broadly on Alipay and why it is such an integral part of the Chinese consumer experience.

Tourism Australia has published presentations from recent industry briefings in Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra.

Sydney has been selected as one of National Geographic Traveler’s 21 “Best of the World” destinations for 2018.

SilkAir, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, will run four return trial flights from Singapore to Broome next June.

Tourism WA’s 5th annual Ni Hao WA will be held on 19 March 2018. An industry prospectus for the event will be available in January next year.

Registration is open until Friday 1 December for the 2018 Just Another Day in Western Australia USA Roadshow which will visit San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles from 31 January to 6 February.

Tourism Australia’s fourth annual Destination Australia Conference (DestAus18), the top tourism marketing conference Down Under, will be held in Melbourne on Thursday 15 March 2018. Register your interest for DestAus18.