Sustainable energy provider Qurrent is collaborating with Jora Entertainment on plans for the world’s first sustainable theme park. The amusement park will use wind turbines both as the energy source and infrastructure for rides. The 8,000 square metre park will include a wind turbine waterslide and a 95 metre tower ride. It will also aim to normalise the use of wind power for its visitors and educate them about the benefits of the sustainable energy.

Further information: https://www.qurrent.nl/

Indonesia's Tourism Minister, Arief Yahya, set out an ambitious plan for infrastructure and destination development at the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Manila recently. Among the projects is the development of 10 priority destinations, the development of 15 secondary city airports and the improvement of 27 existing airport runways and the refurbishment of 13 existing airports. Minister Yahya also announced that the marketing budget for Indonesia had been increased by 300%. Minister Yahya said the Indonesian government had responded rapidly and effectively to the recent terrorist attack in Jakarta and that such an event could happen anywhere. He said the incident should not be seen as an event that has compromised Jakarta's reputation as a safe destination.

The 2016 ASEAN Tourism Forum won high praise from delegates, National Tourism Organization heads and media for its staging of the event in January. Over 2600 delegates attended ATF in the outstanding SMX Convention Centre in Manila. ATF Travex marked its 35th anniversary and attracted 1,000 ASEAN exhibitors, 457 international buyers and 174 international media. The Philippines maximised the presence of the strong international media presence and offered a comprehensive program of pre and post tours including 10 highly subsidised four day post ATF tours to key destinations.

Following the success of the Discover Thainess 2015 campaign, Thailand is further developing its focus on authenticity, quality and visitor satisfaction in 2016 and beyond. The Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Dr. Yuthasak Supasorn, stated at the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Manila that the focus for marketing into the future would shift to the promotion of the Kingdom as a quality leisure destination. Under this approach, greater emphasis will be placed on yield and revenue growth rather than growth in visitor numbers. The target is to achieve USD$66.5 billion for 2016 of which USD$43 billion would be generated from international visitors. Visitation and visitor revenue were each up over 20% in 2015.

Singapore will play host to the 36th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) from 16 - 20 January 2017 with the theme 'Shaping Our Tourism Journey Together.' ATF 2017 also coincides with the 50th anniversary of ASEAN. ASEAN will also launch a year-long travel campaign to promote the region’s diverse offerings. Within the ASEAN Economic Community, Tourism is one of the priority sectors for integration by 2015, and to achieve this, ASEAN had adopted the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan 2011-2015. ASEAN will further build on this momentum and develop the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP) 2016-2025. TRAVEX, a key component of ATF where sellers from ASEAN get to meet buyers from all over the world, will be held in Singapore from January 18 - 20, 2017. Building on five decades of successful history, the ATF 2017 programme will encompass the meetings of ASEAN Tourism Ministers and leaders from ASEAN National Tourism Organisations, ASEAN Airlines Meeting, ASEANTA Board Meeting and Annual General Meeting, media briefings and the all-important travel exchange, TRAVEX.

Readers of Tourforce have been invited to participate in a survey, 'The Assessment of the Effectiveness of the Brand,' aimed at the global travel trade, to improve ASEAN tourism promotion. To complete the survey follow the link below: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FEELTHEWARMTH The main objective of the survey is to measure the brand awareness of ASEAN tourism including its tagline and logo. The survey will feed into the further development of destination branding. Please take a few minutes to answer the survey. Your kind responses will be processed confidentially and only group data will be made available. If you have any questions regarding this survey, please do not hesitate to contact Dr.Kaewta Muangasame, Mahidol University International College, based in Thailand: kaewta.mua@mahidol.ac.th or Asst. Prof. Amy C. Hsueh, National Open University amyhsueh@mail.nou.edu.tw

TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, has developed a free custom app for television. The Apple TV app available in 21 languages provides content such as photos of TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award-winning destinations and points of interest, photos in a slideshow format and easy one-swipe access to traveller insights including reviews and bubble ratings.

Further information: http://ir.tripadvisor.com/releasedetail.cfm?
ReleaseID=939466

Gold Coast Tourism is inviting high-profile bloggers, instagrammers and videographers with over 100,000 followers to come and explore the destination as part of the Gold Coast Explorers Program. The initiative aims to get influencers to leave a digital footprint which will generate exposure for the destination and subsequently inspire fans to add the Gold Coast to their travel bucket list.

Further information: http://www.visitgoldcoast.com/explorers-program

Self-drive holidaymakers from French-speaking countries can now take a free online Road Code quiz in French to test their knowledge of New Zealand’s road rules. The quiz contains a subset of questions from the New Zealand learner licence exam highlighting the most important rules that drivers unfamiliar with driving on the left-hand side of the road need to know.

Further information: http://www.drivingtests.co.nz/roadcode/tourist/

Royal Caribbean Cruises has released their latest Sustainability Report highlighting the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship and improved efficiencies across its fleet. Royal Caribbean Cruises take five million guests to nearly 500 ports around the world every year. Examples include the successful delivery of the breakthrough Quantum-class ships, the expansion of its Advanced Emissions Purification program and its plans to update its Save the Waves goals into the next decade.

Further information: http://www.rclcorporate.com/environment/

PROTECTED AREAS

Digital National Park Guides

The 144 kilometre Grampians Peaks Trail will connect some of the Grampians’ most spectacular peaks and Aboriginal culture. The 13-day walk is being constructed in stages over the next five years starting in the region’s north near Mount Zero and running south past Halls Gap to Dunkeld. The Victorian Government is supporting the project which is destined to become a leading nature-based and cultural tourism attraction.

Further information: http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/visit/walk-victorias-icons/grampians-peaks-trail

A new manual on Biodiversity and Tourism Development aims to improve knowledge and materials to better integrate biodiversity into sustainable tourism development. The guide is aimed primarily at planners, developers, managers and decision-makers involved with tourism development and resource management in areas of sensitive biodiversity.

Further information: https://www.cbd.int/tourism/doc/tourism-manual-2015-en.pdf

The ‘Antarctic Journey’ at the Nobbies Centre on Phillip Island is set to become the world’s first interactive Antarctic experience developed in partnership with WWF-Australia. Launched late last year, the new interactive exhibition comprises of three levels which take visitors on a virtual journey into the Southern Ocean and Antarctica.

Further information: http://www.penguins.org.au/attractions/recreational-areas/the-nobbies/

The South Australian Government will invest $1.5 million towards establishing the Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges as an international mountain biking destination by 2020. The trail will be built on the existing network of trails across national parks, forest reserves and other public land.

Further information: http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/Visiting/
cycling-mountain-biking

Guests at the Ramada Eco Beach Resort in Western Australia are helping scientists collect data on flat-back turtles as they come ashore for nesting season. Conservation Volunteers Australia is currently monitoring the nesting turtles every night at Eco Beach with guests able to tag and measure turtles, as well as record data on nests and tracks. The eco resort has won numerous awards and uses solar power, fluorescent lighting and recycled water to maintain the expansive grounds.

Further information: http://www.wyndhamap.com/wps/wcm/connect/
wyndham/home/about-wyndham/media-centre/media-releases/turtles-eco-beach

Warrnambool has been the star of family feature film Oddball, which tells the true story of how Maremma sheepdogs came to save the town’s little penguin colony from predatory foxes. Tourism Victoria worked with Great Ocean Road and Warrnambool City Council to create media tools and a movie map based on the locations of the film.

Further information: : http://m.visitvictoria.com/Regions/Great-Ocean-Road/Things-to-do/Oddball-locations

Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide are merging to create the world's largest hotel company. The transaction combines Starwood's leading lifestyle brands and international footprint with Marriott's strong presence in the luxury and select-service tiers, as well as the convention and resort segment. Combined, the companies operate or franchise more than 5,500 hotels with over one million rooms spanning over 100 Countries.

Further information: http://news.marriott.com/2015/11/marriott-international-to-acquire-starwood-hotels-resorts-worldwide-creating-the-worlds-largest-hote.html

SKILLS & TRAINING

Career Pathways in Tourism and Hospitality

RESEARCH

Cycle Tourism

Travel Trends Report

State of the Australian Tourism Industry Report

Public-Private Partnerships for Tourism

POLICY & PLANNING

Regional Tourism Strategy

Queensland Tourism and Transport Strategy

AWARDS

WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards announces 2016 Finalists

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

Tourism Futures Forum

Destination Australia Conference

Regional Events Conference

INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS

Discover the Untouched Beauty of the Wild, Olare Mara Kempinski

By Mary Mwendwa - African Correspondent