Latest tourism spending figures released

The latest National Visitor Survey which Australian tourists spent a record $61.7 billion for the year ending March 2017, an increase of $3.7 billion. The figures were released today by Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon. Steven Ciobo MP. Combined with the record spending of international tourists for the same period, up five per cent to $39.8 billion, total spending by tourists reached a new record of $101.6 billion. Overall, the Australian tourism industry has achieved 70% of the growth required to reach the 2020 potential of at least $115 billion in overnight visitor spending by 2020. Tourism Australia has published an international tourism snapshot showing the impact of spend, visitation and aviation links. (Photo: Visit Victoria)

Advance Program applications

Applications for Tourism Australia’s Advance Program are open until 7 July. The Advance Program offers marketing partnerships between Tourism Australia and the Australian business events industry via a submissions and assessment process.

Koreans encouraged to ‘Rediscover Australia’ with Kakao

Tourism Australia is inviting Korean travellers to ‘Rediscover Australia’ through a unique promotion using the largest messaging app in Korea, Kakao. Through the ‘Kakao Heart Fund’ readers can send digital ‘hearts’ to their favourite stories told by local celebrities Sam Hammington and son William. Users are then inspired to recall and share their own Australian memories and encouraged to rediscover their Australian connection by booking a holiday Down Under. The themes of the stories relate to Australia’s key strengths in food and wine and aquatic and coastal experiences.

Signature Experiences of Australia target high value international travellers

Tourism Australia’s ongoing partnership with industry to promote outstanding tourism experiences within a variety of special interest categories is now known as the Signature Experiences of Australia program. The program seeks to connect with travellers who are specifically seeking out destinations that can deliver memorable experiences closely aligned to their own specific interests and passion points. Underpinned by extensive global research, the program lies at the heart of Tourism Australia’s strategic focus on higher yielding travellers and is one of the key pillars that supports Australia’s competitive positioning.

Australia’s Business Events on show to American industry

Tourism Australia strengthened its connection with North American business events planners and decision makers recently through two activities held in the US. In May, Tourism Australia participated in workshop events for incentive planners in Miami, Toronto, Denver, Memphis and New York alongside ID Events Australia, Four Seasons Sydney and Exclusive Destinations demonstrating why there's nothing like Australia for business events. In June Tourism Australia attended the Professional Convention Management Association’s (PCMA) Education Conference in New York. During the conference, Tourism Australia partnered with the Melbourne Convention Bureau to deliver a professional development workshop and networking evening to key association decision makers.

Restaurant Australia industry case study videos

Tourism Australia has produced a series of videos showcasing tourism businesses from around the country who are using food and wine to attarct international visitors. The aim of the videos is to inspire more businesses to get involved in promoting Aussie cuisine as food and wine continues to become an ever more important aspect of the experience international visitors are looking for. View a highlights video or the full playlist of examples of creative tourism businesses around the country. Since the start of Restaurant Australia (Dec 13),  food and wine spend has grown over $1 billion ($1.03 billion or 24.6 per cent). Food and wine now accounts for one in five dollars spent by international tourists in Australia.

New luxury ski lodge for Falls Creek

Falls Creek in Victoria welcomes its newest luxury ski lodge, Astra Lodge, just in time for the 2017 ski season. The newly renovated ski-in ski-out lodge merges classic Australian elements with a touch of European flair, using locally sourced, eco-friendly tiles, timber, stone and leather. Features include panoramic mountain views, a heated magnesium mineral pool and fine dining restaurant.

Shangri-La Hotel for Melbourne in 2022

Melbourne is set for its first Shangri-La Hotel, with a new build property in the city’s CBD flagged for completion in 2022. The 5-star hotel will feature over 500 rooms along with a “sky lobby,” spa, pool, restaurants, fitness centre and a “state-of-the-art” ballroom. Shangri-La Melbourne will be located at 308 Exhibition Street, as part of a two tower development currently undergoing planning assessment.

Daydream to increase refurbishment investment

Daydream Island Resort and Spa announced it will increase its substantial renovation investment to a total of over $65 million as it begins finalising its refurbishment plans. Expected to open in mid-2018, the refurbishment will see major infrastructure upgrades and the installation of new features.

Dan Hunter picks up top restaurant awards

Brae in the regional town of Birregurra was named number one restaurant in Australia at The Australian Financial Review’s Australia’s Top Restaurants, with head chef Dan Hunter also taking out Australia’s Top Chef. Coming in second place was Attica, with Ester, Sixpenny, Sepia, Franklin, Tipo 00, Embla, Automata and Hubert, rounding out the top 10.

Qantas names new Dreamliner fleet

More than 60,000 suggestions were put forward and 45,000 votes cast in selecting the names of Qantas' fleet of eight Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners that will fly routes including Perth to London and Melbourne to Los Angeles. The final names are: Great Barrier Reef; Boomerang; Skippy; Waltzing Matilda; Uluru; Great Southern Land; Quokka; and Dreamtime. Tourism Australia Managing John O'Sullivan said the names connect with and capture what is so unique and distinctive about Australia. “The Reef and the Rock, our native animals and Indigenous heritage play such an important part in the promotion of Australia," he said.

Generational travel trends across Europe

While value for money is a primary factor for European travellers, activities and experiences far outranked deals and special offers according to new research examining generational comparisons of European travellers. Expedia looked across four groups – Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X and Baby Boomers – to examine attitudes towards travel, trip types and priorities, resources and influences, and devices used throughout the trip planning process. For more research and trends related to international and domestic tourism and travel visit Tourism Australia’s Insight Files.

Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) Member Greg Rocke passed away on a cycling trip in Italy and France. Tourism Australia passes on sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

Tourism Australia has continued its sponsorship of the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) Staff Scholarship program.

Applications are open for ATEC's 2017 Emerging Leaders of Inbound Tourism Excellence (ELITE) Program.

Applications are open until Friday 23 June for the first round of FestivalsNT’s 2017-2018 funding to support events that engage the local community and attract visitors to the Northern Territory.

Ecotourism Australia has issued a call for papers for the Global Eco Asia Pacific Conference in Adelaide from 27-29 November.

Tourism Australia has produced two new infographics on the Youth and Working Holiday Maker segments.

Tourism Australia has created an explainer video highlighting the key insights drawn from the agency’s consumer demand research project over the past five years.

The Queensland Government has allocated $40 million for parks projects the 2017-18 State Budget to revitalise the State's national parks and boost the eco-tourism industry.

China Airlines will increase its Taipei-Brisbane service from four times per week to daily from December this year.

Dubbo, Bega Valley and Wagga Wagga have been announced as the brand new headquarters for Destination Networks Country and Outback, Southern NSW and Riverina Murray, respectively.