Tourism Australia hosts India Travel Mission 2018

Tourism Australia’s premier event for promoting the country’s best tourism attractions to the Indian travel industry is being held this week with 75 Australian tourism businesses meeting with 87 travel companies from Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune and Jaipur. The 16th edition of Tourism Australia’s India Travel Mission (ITM18) is being held in in Jaipur from 20 to 23 August with hotels, airlines, state and regional tourism boards and attractions from around Australia participating in over 6,500 business appointments across the three days. A spotlight will also be shone on the Signature Experiences of Australia, a program that promotes some of Australia’s outstanding tourism experiences within a variety of niche areas and special interest categories.

International visitor arrivals

Australia welcomed 9.1 million international visitors for the year ending June 2018, up six per cent compared to previous 12 months. For the month of June there were 646,700 arrivals, up 6.7 per cent relative to the same period of the previous year.

Bondi Rescue star on patrol in the United Kingdom

Friend of Australia and Bondi Rescue star Trent ‘Maxi’ Maxwell kicked off a national UK tour last week to spread the message on beach safety and participate in the British Royal Life Saving Society’s #BeARookieLifeguard campaign. Bondi Rescue is a high-rating TV series in the UK showcasing the Aussie lifestyle from one of Australia’s most iconic beaches. Tourism Australia supported Trent’s visit with a beachside photo op and national press outreach to drive awareness for the tour. Tourism Australia’s Friends of Australia program helps to harness the power of influential individuals to share their own personal and authentic Australian stories.

Aussie Specialist Program recognised at AMY Awards

Tourism Australia’s training program for frontline travel sellers around the world, the Aussie Specialist Program, took out the award for Education Product at the prestigious AMY Awards in Melbourne last week. The online training platform provides travel agents with interactive courses to become qualified Aussie Specialists and is supported by in-market training events as well as educational events and famils held in Australia. The AMY Awards are run by Digital +Technology Collective, a network of Australia’s digital experts, and celebrate big achievements across Australia’s digital landscape.

Acclaimed restaurateur to open exciting Brisbane venue

Restaurateur Jonathan Barthelmess of acclaimed Sydney restaurants The Apollo and Cho Cho San is bringing his contemporary interpretation of the Greek taverna to Brisbane with the opening of GRECA later this year. Located beneath the Story Bridge and inside the revitalised, heritage listed Howard Smith Wharves, GRECA will share Barthelmess’s philosophy of uncomplicated food, great wine and generosity in abundance. Barthelmess will again collaborate with interior architect George Livissianis to reimagine the heritage warehouse space as a timeless, indoor-outdoor trattoria.

New glamping experience in South Australia's Barossa Valley

Discovery Parks Barossa has launched a new glamping experience in their existing caravan park. Nestled within a private area of the park, the 12 safari tents are set amongst native gums with vineyard views. Each tent features a private three metre deck, ensuite bathroom, kitchenette, and spacious bedroom and has access to shared facilities including a private swimming pool with heated spa, and premium BBQ and lounge area.

Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective welcomes new members

Flames of the Forest in Port Douglas, Tropical North Queensland, and Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery in the Swan Valley, Western Australia, have joined Discover Aboriginal Experiences, a collective of quality, authentic Aboriginal guided tourism offerings. Set in the traditional grounds of the Kuku Yalanji people, Flames of the Forest invites guests to connect with our country’s ancient people through storytelling, didgeridoo and song whilst immersed under the canopy of the rainforest enjoying a seven-dish banquet platter. Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery showcases authentic Aboriginal art, giftware and Bush Tucker and provides a range of associated tour experiences.

Coral Expeditions partners with Australian Geographic

Cruise line Coral Expeditions and the Australian Geographic have partnered to launch four curated immersive expeditions to remote destinations. The alliance will also see the development of year-round Australian Geographic Society “In Residence” programs using the research facilities on the new-built Coral Adventurer, due to launch in April 2019. 

Internationale Tourismus Börse 2019

Applications are open until Friday 21 September for Australian tourism businesses to join to 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. ITB 2019 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.

Australian Tourism Exchange 2019

Applications are open until Friday 14 September for Australian tourism businesses to participate in the 40th annual Australian Tourism Exchange in Perth from 8 - 12 April 2019. Tourism Australia is working with Tourism Western Australia to deliver the event at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. Around 1,500 Australian seller delegates from approximately 550 companies, 650 key buyer delegates from over 30 countries as well as over 80 international and Australian media attend this global event. The program will include a mix of business appointments and networking opportunities. This is the fourth time ATE has been hosted in Western Australia; it was first held in Perth in 2005, and again in 2008 and 2012.

The Northern Territory has unveiled a new Masterbrand - The Territory, Boundless Possible - to shift outside perceptions of the NT and encourage people to invest, do business, live and work here.

The Queensland Government has developed a guide for making businesses more accessible and inclusive to help tourism operators understand the market for inclusive tourism.

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

Destination NSW is holding Tourism Development Workshops in Dubbo, Yass Valley and Kingscliff in September.

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

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.

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.

Applications are open until 21 September for the second round of funding from the NSW Regional Growth Environment and Tourism Fund.

Registration is open for the Australian Regional Tourism Convention 2018 to be held in the Tweed from 23-25 October.

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.

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

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

Registration is open for travel business and investment conference Travel IQ on Wednesday 24 October in Sydney.

Registration is open for the Bicycle Tourism and the Australian Walking and Cycling conferences from 26-30 October in Bendigo, Victoria.

Registration is open for the Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference to be held in Lorne, Victoria from 30 October to 1 November.

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.

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