| | | | | | | |  | | TOURISM AUSTRALIA UPDATE | | Tourism Australia’s largest annual travel trade event, the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE), will conclude tomorrow with more than 2,300 buyers and sellers attending the event at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Queensland. The 43rd edition of our premier event, this year held in partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland and supported by Destination Gold Coast, returned to its traditional format for the first time since 2019, with the trade show component taking place over four days. After taking place in a condensed hybrid format over the past two years, this year the event also included a return to a full media program prior to the trade show. International travellers are returning to our shores but the competition for the global tourism dollar is now greater than ever before which is why business-to-business events, such as ATE, are so important. ATE brings together tourism businesses, tourism wholesalers and retailers from around the world for four days of appointments as well as networking events, while our international buyers get the chance to experience our world class tourism offerings first hand. This year’s event saw delegates from more than 30 countries attend and we know once they have seen what Australia has to offer for themselves they will be well placed to tell travellers why Australia is the best place in the world for their next holiday. As we wrap up ATE23, today we announced that in 2024, the event will be held in Melbourne in partnership with Visit Victoria. Find out more below.
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| | | |  | | Welcome to ATE23 | | The 2023 Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE23) was officially opened by Justine Dillon. Justine is a Kombumerri and Quandamooka woman, a Traditional Owner to the beautiful Gold Coast and Moreton Bay area. Tourism Australia Chairman, Michael Issenberg, and Managing Director, Phillipa Harrison, joined Queensland Minister for Tourism, Innovation and Sport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics and Paralympics Sport and Engagement, the Hon Stirling Hinchliffe MP at the official opening to also welcome delegates to the Gold Coast for ATE23. Read more here. |
|  | | ATE23 Media Program | | The ATE23 Media Program took place from Friday 28 April and concluded on Monday 1 May. This year, for the first time since 2019 a full media program took place including International Media Marketplace (IMM). At IMM, 83 international and domestic media met with 82 Australian tourism businesses, special interest operators, attractions and accommodation providers over one-on-one appointments at The Langham, before celebrating with an evening event at Home of the Arts (HOTA). The full program included familiarisations hosted by Tourism and Events Queensland. |
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| | |  | | Queensland shines | | More than 900 delegates enjoyed Queensland’s laid-back lifestyle at Tourism and Events Queensland’s Buyer Showcase held on Tuesday evening, co-hosted by Destination Gold Coast. Guests were greeted by the local Kombumerri Rangers performing a cleansing smoking ceremony on arrival to the Burleigh Pavilion. Justine Dillon from Kombumerri welcomed the group to Country and guests heard from Queensland’s Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, the Gold Coast Deputy Mayor, Cr Donna Gates and Tourism and Events Queensland’s CEO Patricia O'Callaghan. With stunning views of the lights of Surfers Paradise and positioned right on Burleigh Headland, the iconic Gold Coast venue showcased a bespoke menu featuring Queensland’s abundant fresh seafood and produce |
|  | | Australian Tourism Exchange Aviation Program 2023 | | Tourism Australia’s dedicated Aviation Program continued at ATE for a third year on the Gold Coast. The Aviation Program aims to help Australia’s international airports and international airlines (based in Australia and overseas) develop stronger connections and greater integration into the Australian tourism industry. From 1 to 2 May 2023, Tourism Australia welcomed 18 airlines, 18 airports, all eight state and territory tourism organisations, Austrade, the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, aviation consultants and the University of NSW School of Aviation - more than 110 delegates in total. The Aviation Program featured a destination pre-famil hosted by Gold Coast Airport for selected airlines as well as an ‘airline networking’ evening function. |
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| | |  | | Chinese buyers return to ATE for the first time since 2019 | | At ATE23 we welcomed back Chinese buyers for the first time since 2019. Over 130 buyers from China attended the trade show, and also participated in familiarisation programs both pre and post the event. In 2019, China was Australia’s leading visitor market with Australia welcoming 1.4 million visitors, contributing $12.4 billion in visitor spend. |
|  | | ATE23 Luxe program | | The ATE Luxe program ran for the third time at ATE23 and included around 100 luxury focused buyers from over 20 countries. The program once again highlighted Australia’s luxury product, in line with Tourism Australia’s strategy to target luxury global buyers. As well as meeting with many Australian sellers during the trade show the Luxe buyers participated in a Luxe Welcome cocktail reception and attended tailored luxury focused familiarisations hosted by the state and territory tourism organisations pre and post the event. |
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| | | | |  | | Melbourne to host Australian Tourism Exchange 2024 | | The 44th edition of Australia’s premier tourism event, the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE), will be held in Melbourne/Naarm at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre in 2024. Today, at ATE23 on the Gold Coast, Tourism Australia Managing Director Phillipa Harrison confirmed next year’s ATE would be held in Melbourne, in partnership with Visit Victoria.
“ATE brings together tourism businesses, tourism wholesalers and retailers from around the world for four days of appointments, as well as networking events, which are more important than ever before as competition grows for the tourism dollar.” Ms Harrison said, “Melbourne has proudly hosted our premier travel trade event on eight occasions in the past and we look forward to taking ATE, and more than 2,000 delegates, back to Melbourne to drive future tourism business across Australia”. ATE24 will run from 19 May 2024 to 23 May 2024, with delegates from 30 countries expected to attend. We look forward to seeing you in Melbourne in 2024! |
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