| | | | | | | |  | | Coronavirus update | | It is ANZAC Day this coming weekend, and like so many things at the moment, and this year will be very different to previous years. Traditional dawn services and marches will not be possible, but those ANZAC values of mateship and camaraderie are as relevant as ever as we remember our service men and women this weekend. It is hard to believe that just over a month ago, many of us were together in Adelaide at the Destination Australia Conference talking about resilience and recovery. While we still have a long road ahead and we can’t all be together right now, those themes are more important than ever. Watch this recap video for a reminder of what we have to look forward to once we’re able to meet again. Our next webinar will be held this Friday at 9am for an update from Sally Cope, Tourism Australia’s Regional General Manager for the United Kingdom and Northern Europe. Rob Dougan, our General Manager of Marketing Strategy will be sharing Tourism Australia’s approach to the uncertain times ahead and Adele Labine-Romain, from Deloitte, will give some insights on what the path to tourism recovery might look like. Register here.
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| | | | |  | | New online resources | There are a number of dedicated resources available for businesses to access during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: - The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) has partnered with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), to record a webinar on the JobKeeper Program. ACCI has also released a guide on the JobKeeper payment to help businesses navigate the program.
- New information has been released for temporary visa holders in Australia.
- Destination NSW has released a comprehensive suite of new guides for industry, including advice about accessing fee and licence waivers, small business grants and the State Government’s Business Concierge Service.
- Legal Aid SA has boosted its free legal assistance for South Australians hit hard by coronavirus.
- Tourism Western Australia has put together information to support local businesses as well as Frequently Asked Questions which are regularly updated here. They have also created an Industry Support Team and provide a weekly e-newsletter that you can subscribe to here.
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| |  | | Tourism Australia launches virtual resources to inspire North American travellers | Tourism Australia’s Americas team has debuted a series of fun and engaging training initiatives, resources and incentives for the United States and Canadian travel agent community, including:
- Wednesday Walkabout - An invitation to join a weekly webinar series exploring a variety of Australian experiences;
- Aussie Specialist Program Incentives - An opportunity to earn rewards while gaining knowledge and skills;
- 'With Love from Aus' - Messages of fun facts and inspiring content to keep Australia front of mind; and
- Australia Magazine - The ultimate guide to Australia's best experiences
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|  | | Aussie Specialist Team engages Malaysian travel partners with online activities | | The Aussie Specialist team in Malaysia has rolled out a series of online activities starting in April to keep Malaysian travel agents active, engaged and to keep Australia top-of-mind. Travel agents are invited to participate in weekly quizzes, fortnightly fun webinars and monthly competitions during this stay-at-home period. These activities have attracted a good number of participants, with many of them using this opportunity to connect with fellow trade colleagues while improving their knowledge of Australia. The sessions have also encouraged trainees to convert to Aussie Specialists and have driven traffic to the Aussie Specialist website. |
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| |  | | South Australia from your sofa | | The South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) is bringing South Australia into living rooms across the world via a new online platform, SATV. With specially curated content, SATV features local tourism operators and businesses that have adapted their operations as a result of the coronavirus restrictions to offer new ways to purchase, experience and enjoy their product or service, from home. Check it out at southaustralia.com/satv, or on the SATC’s Facebook page or Instagram. |
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| |  | | Embrace the best of Australia from home | | Tourism Australia has collated some of the best Australian films, books and the rest to enjoy from the comfort of your lounge room. Australians are a creative bunch, so it’s no surprise that unique Aussie perspectives have made their way into some exceptional movies, music, books and podcasts. Full of unforgettable stories, fascinating characters and, of course, a healthy dose of humour, Aussie entertainment is the perfect way to bring the essence of Australia into your home. To view, click here. |
|  | | Sand Dunes Adventures innovating by creating Aboriginal print face masks | | The coronavirus may have stopped tourism for now, but Sand Dunes Adventures in Port Stephens, New South Wales, is shifting its focus to creating washable cultural Aboriginal print face masks. Even though they have had to close their core activities as a result of the coronavirus, the team has cleverly re-imagined their business to meet the growing demand for face masks and have sold over 1,700 so far. They have not had to stand down any staff as a result of keeping them busy producing face masks. |
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| | | | | |  | | Mudgee Region becomes a virtual destination | | Shifting gears to cater to travel and isolation restrictions, while also supporting local business and tourism, Mudgee Region Tourism has taken their Feel the Love offering online. Launching a new dedicated website that hosts over 30 experiences and offerings, locals and those from afar, can now enjoy the Mudgee lifestyle at home. From take-away dining options to home deliveries, the new platform also features a range of virtual tours, masterclasses and tastings from the region’s local bars, cafes and restaurants. |
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| | |  | | Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Foundation hosts virtual 2020 Benefit Under the Stars | | The Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Foundation has moved its annual gala event, ‘Benefit Under the Stars’, online. The virtual gala will be open to people from around the globe to enjoy an evening of music, entertainment and virtual encounters with Australian wildlife. By attending the event, guests will be supporting Australia’s wildlife by raising much needed funds for one of Australia’s busiest wildlife hospitals. With all proceeds going directly to rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing sick and injured Australian wildlife, this year’s virtual benefit will be held on 9 May 2020 with tickets to view starting at $25. Tickets are available online now. |
|  | | The National Portrait Gallery offers a deep dive into portraiture | | From 28 April, the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra will be offering free online classes, allowing people to learn the language of portraiture at home. Every day, for 14 days, iconic portraits will be highlighted alongside artistic insights, curatorial contexts and other interactive elements so people can deep dive into each artwork. At the end of the program, participants will be invited to use their new-found knowledge to create their own portrait. Budding artists are encouraged to sign up to The Amazing Face mailing list for updates. |
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