Edition 111 · April 2017

An essential for destinations wanting to optimise the returns from the RV travel market, the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) is hosting an RV Futures Forum on 16 May 2017 at the Hilton Hotel, Brisbane QLD.

A group of outstanding speakers will provide a briefing on the latest research growth, sustainability and directions of the sector and include:

• Prof. Philip Pearce of James Cook Uni;
• Con Tsobanopoulas of Ken Tame & Assoc.;
• Stewart Lamont of the caravan Industry Association of Australia;
• Mary Brown of Hinchinbrook Regional Council;
• Richard Barwick, CEO of CMCA;
• Gary Lee, Chair of CMCA; and
• Tony Charters AM

The program will commence at 10:00am and will include a Q&A session and a number of case studies followed by a networking lunch. The Forum is free of charge.

The RV Futures Forum will:

• Outline the growth and scale of RV travel;
• Highlight the community, conservation and economic benefits of supporting this market;
• Update attendees on the sustainability initiatives of CMCA and its future priorities; and
• Identify priority policy, infrastructure and other support services required to foster continued growth.

To register:
contact Racheli Evanson, Events Assistant on events1@managementsolutions.net.au or call +61 4 74 747 773

The International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) of the Philippines is holding a high level conference as part of the 2017 Subic Ecotourism Festival at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Centre 29 May – 1 June 2017. The event also celebrates the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.
The conference will bring together some 25 international ecotourism luminaries from 10 nations to address themes including:

• Innovative investment attraction
• The business of best practice in ecotourism
• Community-based ecotourism
• Ecotourism and conservation
• Marketing ecotourism for yield

Seven Board members of the Global Ecotourism Network (GEN) will attend and speak at the Conference in addition to a strong representation of the Asian Ecotourism Network (AEN) Board.
This marks the first time the Philippines has hosted the GEN, a group that represents the foremost experts in ecotourism and sustainable tourism. With members hailing from USA to Costa Rica to Jordan, and specialisations ranging from architecture to ecotourism site development to media and communication, this diverse group truly has much to offer and share to those who want to build their ecotourism destination or operation.

To Register, visit:
bit.ly/2017SubicEcoFest

View the Project Brief:
Project Brief

View the Flyer:
Flyer

Leading keynote speakers are being assembled for Ecotourism Australia’s Global Eco Asia Pacific Conference in Adelaide, South Australia 27-29 November 2017.

Global Eco will be staged at the state of the art Sanctuary Adelaide Zoo conference. Sanctuary, Adelaide Zoo is located right in the city, just a 15 minute drive to CBD hotels and restaurants.

Mark your diaries now to secure your place at the world’s leading ecotourism conference, in its 25th anniversary year.

The conference theme and a call for papers will be released soon. The theme will contribute to the 2017 International Year of Sustainable Development for Tourism program of events.

Further information:
https://2017.globaleco.com.au/

The Thermostat Challenge is an initiative of Polar Bears International that aims to draw attention to the challenges polar bears face from global climate change and a warming Arctic by encouraging people to put on an extra sweater and turning down the thermostat during International Polar Bear Day.

Further information:
http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/get-involved/thermostat-challenge

British Airways recently launched a collection of comedy videos for Red Nose Day starring David Walliams, Emma Bunton and Tom Daley dressed as British Airways staff in Terminal five. The airline has raised £15 million in support for the charity Comic Relief to help communities in both the U.K. and across the world.

Further information:
https://www.youtube.com/britishairways

Skyscanner has produced a guide to economy class legroom on long-haul flights from Australia based on data from Seat Guru. The guide compares how economy class seats compare when it comes to legroom, seat width, luggage limits, entertainment and customer feedback. Airlines featured include Air New Zealand, Emirates, Etihad, Qantas, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines.

Further information:
https://www.skyscanner.com.au/news/which-airlines-offer-the-best-economy-classes-from-australia

Destination NSW has produced a new toolkit featuring more than 50 Aboriginal tourism operators, products and experiences. The Aboriginal Tourism Toolkit allows visitors to explore ancient art sites and artefacts, taste bush tucker, see wildlife and stunning scenery by connecting them with the Dreamtime through story, art, ritual and dance.

Further information:
http://destinationnsw.com.au/aboriginaltourismtoolkit

12 independently owned wildlife tourism experiences have united to showcase immersive wildlife encounters across natural habitats. The Australian Wildlife Collection will complement the other signature experiences promoted internationally by Tourism Australia including Luxury Lodges of Australia, Great Golf Courses of Australia, Great Walks of Australia, Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia and Great Fishing Adventures of Australia.

Further information:
http://www.tourism.australia.com/programs/best-of-program.aspx

Tourism Australia and drone manufacturer DJI are sponsoring a new competition to inspire professional and enthusiastic aerial photographers from around the world to share, enjoy and experience new creative perspectives of Australia. The Australia From Above contest is being run by SkyPixel the world’s most popular aerial photography community and is open until 2 May 2017.

Further information:
https://www.skypixel.com/events/australia

The Queensland Government has launched a new guide to help grow and break down barriers preventing people with disability from enjoying a holiday. The Inclusive Tourism Guide had been developed to increase knowledge about accessibility and legal obligations, as well as practical information and strategies on how to be more inclusive. It was produced in partnership between the Queensland Government, QTIC, Anti-Discrimination Commission, Queensland Disability Services Council, and the Local Government Association of Queensland.

Further information:
https://www.dtesb.qld.gov.au/tourism

A new app allows travellers to book hotel rooms overnight at short notice and pay-by-the-hour avoiding the restrictions of check-in and checkout times. It features boutique and independently owned hotels, as well as larger chains including Hilton, Marriott and Carlson. The service is designed for last minute, short-term bookers with rooms available from one hour to a maximum of 24 hours.

Further information:
https://asyoustay.com/

StayAwhile is a global network of hotels and furnished apartments which offers its members rental properties around the world that they can rent without having to maintain multiple residences. The idea suits people on extended holidays or those travelling for work as users pay a monthly membership fee and for the nights they stay. The network will be launched in April in New York City and Miami, with plans to extend to an additional 25 major cities in Europe, Latin America and the U.S.

Further information:
https://www.stayawhile.com/

Brand USA has unveiled a new interactive consumer campaign to increase inbound tourism. The ‘See How Far You Can Go’ campaign welcomes prospective travellers to come explore the USA and show how far they can go – geographically, spiritually, and emotionally. It includes online videos, out-of-home signage, online display ads and social media posts to help potential travellers discover the variety of experiences and destinations throughout the USA.

Further information:
http://www.gousa.in/

Gold Coast Tourism has unveiled its new multi-million dollar destination brand platform – We Are Gold Coast. The new brand puts people at the centre in a bid to reveal the real Gold Coast and address dated perceptions of the destination, attracting the growing market of travellers seeking unforgettable moments over recognisable iconic monuments. Locals are the heartbeat of the We Are Gold Coast brand creative that features local families, couples and groups of friends coming together to showcase their home with the world.

Further information:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10qKq1bsJ8c

On behalf of the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), Miss Pacific Islands, Anne Christine Dunn, has launched a sustainable tourism campaign on social media. The global campaign asks people in the Pacific and travellers from the around the world to share their thoughts on sustainable tourism through personal photographs, videos, stories and ideas on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Established in 1983, the SPTO works with 16 countries to market and develop tourism in the South Pacific region.

Further information:
http://spto.org/

Palisade Investment Partners is the Sunshine Coast Airport’s new commercial operating partner under a 99-year lease. Palisade will be responsible for operating and developing the airport including negotiations with airlines to expand both domestic and international routes ahead of the proposed airport expansion and runway project in 2020.

Further information:
http://www.sunshinecoastairport.com.au/Corporate/About-the-Airport/Media-Releases

The Australian hotel industry is responding to continued record international visitor growth with over $8 billion of hotel investment. Figures released by Tourism Accommodation Australia identify 228 hotel projects under construction, approved for development or in advanced planning stages of state capitals. Tourism Accommodation Australia is a division of the Australian Hotels Association which represents the interests of accommodation chains, hotels, serviced apartments, integrated resorts, motel and vacation ownership sectors.

Further information:
http://www.tourismaccommodation.com.au/

A new coastal trail in Denmark has opened providing a direct link from Ocean Beach to William Bay National Park for walkers and cyclists. The Wilderness Ocean Walk is supported by the Australian Government’s Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure Program in partnership with Tourism Western Australia, the Shire of Denmark and Lotterywest.

Further information:
http://www.denmark.wa.gov.au/news/136/official-opening-of-the-wilderness-ocean-walk-trail

A new report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) shows tourism generated one in 10 of the world’s jobs in 2016 as the sector grew by 3.3%, generating 10.2% of global GDP through direct, indirect and induced impacts. Every year the WTTC and Oxford Economics produce the Economic Impact Report that looks at the socioeconomic benefits of tourism on global, regional and country level.

Further information:
https://www.wttc.org/research/economic-research/economic-impact-analysis/

New research conducted by RMIT University has revealed that relaxation, indulgence, escape, peace and tranquillity were the most important motivators for hot springs bathing. Other significant benefits were reported from those who said they suffered from back pain, arthritis, stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia. The online survey attracted 4265 responses from bathers at the Peninsula Hot Springs on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.

Further information:
http://www.peninsulahotsprings.com/home/about-us/research

The Adventure Travel Trade Association has released the 2017 Adventure Travel Trends Snapshot that provides information about destinations, activities and business practices in the adventure travel industry. The comprehensive snapshot of nearly 200 tour operators provides a useful benchmarking tool on the health, outlook, and characteristics of the industry.

Further information:
http://www.adventuretravel.biz/research/2017-adventure-travel-trends-snapshot/

The U.S. Wildlife Trafficking Alliance, in partnership with WildAid, World Wildlife Fund and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have released a digital toolkit that provides travel and tourism companies with resources to engage travellers in the fight to stop wildlife trafficking. The toolkit includes educational pamphlets, public service announcements, infographics and films that highlight the importance of ending demand for illegal wildlife products.

Further information:
http://uswta.org/travel-tourism-toolkit/

A group including some of the world’s leading tourism campaigners, professionals and practitioners from 19 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America have collectively drafted the Berlin Declaration on Transforming Tourism. The declaration is based on reflections from the 2030 Agenda, current trends in tourism and recommendations from international bodies, governments industry and travellers.

Further information:
https://1wgitf31ln5o18gmn78bz4pw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Berlin_Declaration.pdf

Tourism North East has received a grant from the Victorian Government for the development of a North East Victoria Cycling Optimisation Master Plan. The plan will provide a coordinated approach to cycle tourism opportunities in the High Country including infrastructure investment and marketing across the region’s rail trail, mountain bike and road cycling offerings.

Further information:
http://www.tourismnortheast.com.au/tne-secures-grant-funding-for-regional-product-development/

The winners of the 2017 National Geographic World Legacy Awards were announced at ITB Berlin. The awards showcase the leading travel and tourism companies, organisations and destinations driving the sustainable tourism transformation of the global travel industry across five categories. More than 100 entries, representing 45 countries across six continents, were submitted for these prestigious travel awards.

Further information:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/worldlegacyawards/

The South Australian Regional Tourism Summit will be held in the Riverland region from 16-18 May 2017. The three-day event will see representatives from the tourism and local government sectors gather to hear the latest information from their peers, industry experts and guests speakers.

Further information:
http://www.destinationriverland.org.au/summit

The New South Wales Regional Events Conference will be held in Wagga Wagga from 14-16 June 2017. The conference allows event professionals and stakeholders to discuss issues and topics directly impacting the regional event industry.

Further information:
http://www.regionaleventsconference.com.au/

Ecotourism Australia’s Global Eco Asia-Pacific Tourism Conference will be held in Adelaide, South Australia from 27-29 November 2017. The annual conference will be staged at the state of the art Sanctuary Adelaide Zoo conference centre located in the city centre for its 25th anniversary.

Further information:
http://www.globaleco.com.au/