Australia set to shine at Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games

Leading international and Australian media gathered on Monday for a welcome event at the Gold Coast Media Centre for non-accredited media ahead of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games opening this week. Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon Steven Ciobo MP, welcomed the media to the Gold Coast for the Games along with Queensland’s Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development and Minister for the Commonwealth Games, the Hon Kate Jones, and City of Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. The Games are expected to deliver an estimated $2 billion to the Australian economy and will attract an estimated 672,000 visitors including 50,000 from overseas.

Interactive international market profiles

Tourism Australia has updated its corporate website with new interactive market profiles providing the latest data on international visitors Down Under by country of origin, trip purpose, regions visited as well as trend charts on arrivals and spend and more.

Advance Program applications open

Applications are open until Friday 6 July for the opportunity to leverage Tourism Australia’s marketing expertise via the Advance Program to increase international visitation to confirmed business events being held in Australia. The program, managed by Tourism Australia’s business events unit, Business Events Australia, also supports marketing activities that help increase consideration of Australia by international business events decision makers. Find out more about the eligibility criteria and how to apply in the 2018/19 Advance Program Prospectus.

Aussie Specialist mega-training in China

Over 1,000 travel agents joined four Aussie Specialist mega-training events in Nanjing, Nanning, Chongqing and Xi’an last month. The three-hour training sessions covered how best to sell Australia as well as key attractions and experiences in each State and Territory with a special focus on Australia’s world class aquatic and coastal experiences. Other key points of interest for the Chinese agents were Australia’s nature and wildlife as well as self-drive and family-friendly itineraries. Travel agents are a very important part of selling the destination as Chinese travellers tend to book their travels through qualified agents to get the best advice and deals. There are currently more than 11,000 Aussie Specialists in China.

World's biggest fish returns to Ningaloo Reef in WA

The gentle giants of the ocean – the whale sharks – have been sighted at Ningaloo Reef on Australia's Coral Coast in Western Australia heralding the start of the 2018 whale shark season. A record breaking 29,197 people visited the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef in 2017 to swim with the whale sharks, which migrate to the shores of Western Australia between March and July each year to feed on plankton and krill.

Perth’s new public precinct Yagan Square opens

Yagan Square, Perth’s latest major public precinct, has been unveiled as a new hub for locals and visitors to experience Western Australia’s Aboriginal culture. The Yagan Square area was traditionally an important meeting place for Aboriginal people, particularly women, who gathered food from the lakes that were once in the area. Today the space offers a range of experiences – from green spaces for relaxation and play, to native gardens, unique digital displays and engaging public art, as well as a market hall celebrating fresh Western Australian produce.

A new 12-suite designer hotel in Melbourne's South Yarra

Opening in Melbourne in June 2018, United Places Botanic Gardens is situated in the centre of South Yarra, opposite the lush parklands of Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens. Derived from the idea of combining a luxury hotel and home – guests in any of the 12 suites at this six-star property will encounter a spacious and opulent room with premium amenities and personalised butler service. The in-room breakfast offering will be provided by award-winning chef Scott Pickett’s downstairs restaurant, Matilda, where guests will also have priority seating.

Canberra sparkles this Autumn with diamonds and pearls

For the first time in history, more than 300 masterpieces by Cartier, charting the history of the prestigious Paris jewellery house throughout the 20th Century, are now on display at the National Gallery of Australia until 22 July. The exhibition provides a window into the intimate world of Cartier's famous clients, including royalty, aristocrats and global socialites, and movie stars like Elizabeth Taylor, whose platinum, gold and Burmese ruby necklace (1951) is synonymous with the iconic jeweller.

Major new Queensland campaign launches

A new campaign encouraging people to enjoy the Queensland lifestyle, ‘Beautiful One Day, Perfect The Next’, has been launched in time for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. “What this new campaign will do is highlight everything Queensland has to offer – pristine beaches, world heritage listed rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, the vast Outback, our world-class calendar of events, our unbeatable experiences and our world-famous way of life,” said Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones. Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Leanne Coddington said the new campaign was designed to connect with all audiences whether they be families, older couples or singles.

Tourism Research Australia State Tourism Satellite Accounts 2016-17

Tourism Research Australia has today released its latest State Tourism Satellite Accounts report which provides a comprehensive set of data outlining the value of tourism for all states and territories in Australia. The report examines the changing pattern of tourism over the period 2006–07 to 2016–17 and the key changes that occurred in 2016–17. At an Australia-wide level, estimates from the report are consistent with the nationally-based Tourism Satellite Accounts produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics each year.

Expressions of interests are being sought from potential delegates, speakers, exhibitors and sponsors for the Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference to be held from Tuesday 30 October to Friday 2 November in Lorne, Victoria.

The South Australian Tourism Commission has published a video with highlights from the first quarter of 2018.

Tourism Research Australia has published a study investigating the drivers of repeat visitation for South Australia and Western Australia.

A $583 million redevelopment of the Lindeman Island resort in Queensland has been given the green light with construction expected to commence in 2019.

Tourism Australia has published recordings of presentations from the Destination Australia Conference held in Melbourne on Thursday 15 March.

Nominations are open for the tourism awards in New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.

Applications are open for ATEC's 2018 Emerging Leaders of Inbound Tourism Excellence (ELITE) program.

Registration is open for the City of Perth’s 2018 Perth Tourism Industry Exchange on Thursday 24 May at the Perth Arena.

Applications are open until 30 June for one-off support funding of up to $5,000 under the Northern Territory Government's China Ready Program.

Destination Melbourne is holding an accessible tourism masterclass on Tuesday 1 May.

Applications are open until Monday 30 April for the NT Government’s $3 million Visitor Experience Enhancement Program, part of the Turbocharging Tourism stimulus package.

Registration is open for the 2018 WYSE Exchange Australia Youth Tourism Conference to be held on Wednesday 9 May at the Ovolo Woolloomooloo Hotel in Sydney.

Registration is open for the Tourism and Transport Forum’s Outlook Tourism Industry and Policy Conference to be held in Sydney on Thursday 17 May.

Applications are open until Thursday 29 March for the Australia-India Council 2018 Grant Program.

Registration is open for the Backpacker and Adventure Tourism Industry Forum on Wednesday 2 May in Byron Bay.

IHG has announced the opening of the 168-room Hotel Indigo in Sydney in 2021.