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Global Eco Asia-Pacific - Call for Papers closing soon
Ecotourism Australia’s Global Eco Asia Pacific Conference is headed to Adelaide, South Australia 2729 November, 2017.
The conference theme: Ecotourism transforming urban and regional tourism, will contribute to the 2017 International Year of Sustainable Development for Tourism program of events.
The call for papers closes on 17 July.
Global Eco AsiaPacific will focus on the evolving role of ecotourism in both urban and regional settings. No longer a small niche within the tourism industry, ecotourism is being embraced by the mainstream. Ecotourism is the natural home for high value experienced travellers.
Global Eco brings together the key players that can evolve this critical sector of the tourism industry – the operators, protected are managers, destination developers, applied researchers and destination marketers.
Ecotourism is now growing across the globe at an extraordinary rate. In the AsiaPacific ecotourism represents the ideal vehicle to achieve poverty alleviation, community involvement and environmental sustainability.
Importantly, the theme explores how new players are taking a critical role in developing ecotourism bringing economic, community and environmental benefits.
Global Eco will be staged at the state of the art Sanctuary Adelaide Zoo conference centre located in the city centre.
Register now to attend the world’s leading ecotourism conference:
https://2017.globaleco.com.au/registration
To offer a paper, visit:
https://2017.globaleco.com.au/call-for-papers
Pandavans
The Panda Explorer Trek was recently launched as part of the 2017 China-Australia Year of Tourism. This year long promotion between Australia and China will see the implementation of a number of joint initiatives aimed at strengthening tourism exchange and cooperation. A fleet of 10 giant panda-themed campervans will cover more 30,000 kilometres circumnavigating the Australian mainland promoting China as a tourist destination.
Further information:
http://www.cayot.com.au/home/
56 Billion Reasons to Value the Great Barrier Reef
A new Deloitte Access Economics report has calculated the total asset value of the Great Barrier Reef to be $56 billion, assessing the World Heritage site’s economic, social and iconic brand value together in one study for the first time. In the report commissioned by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation analysed the Reef’s:
- Economic, social, and iconic value;
- Contribution to the economy through industry value added and employment;
- Brand value to Australia and the international community; and
- Significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owners.
Great Barrier Reef Foundation Director Steve Sargent said: “Like the Great Barrier Reef itself, the numbers revealed in the report are big and highlight just how significant the Reef’s contribution to Australia’s economy is:
- $56 billion value as an economic, social, and iconic natural asset;
- $6.4 billion economic value added to the Australian economy in 2015-16;
- $3.9 billion in economic value added to Queensland’s economy in 2015-16;
- $2.9 billion economic value added to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) region in 2015-16; and
- 64,000 jobs nationally linked to the Reef, including 33,000 in Queensland.”
“At $29 billion, tourism is the biggest contributor to the Reef’s $56 billion value, followed by $23.8 billion from indirect or non-use value, i.e. those who haven’t yet visited the Reef but value knowing it exists, and its value to recreational users ($3.2 billion) makes up the balance,” Mr Sargent said.
“As the largest living structure on Earth and one of the world’s most complex and diverse natural ecosystems, the Great Barrier Reef is justifiably considered priceless and irreplaceable.
“Alongside its important environmental and ecological function, this report demonstrates that the Reef also offers substantial value to Australia and the world in terms of the economic activity it generates and the employment and experiences it supports across the tourism, fishing, recreation and scientific industries.
“The Reef added $6.4 billion to the national economy in 2015-16 and supported more than 64,000 full time jobs making it a bigger ‘employer’ than many well-known Australian companies including National Australia Bank, Qantas and Telstra.
“At $56 billion, the Reef is valued at more than 12 Sydney Opera Houses! “This report sends a clear message that the Great Barrier Reef – as an ecosystem, as an economic driver, as a global treasure – is too big to fail.”
Download the Report at:
https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/au/
Documents/Economics/deloitte-au-economics-great-barrier-reef-230617.pdf
Accommodation
Tru by Hilton
Hilton has opened the first Tru by Hilton Hotel Oklahoma City Airport, the company’s 5,000th hotel. Developed from the ground up using consumer and owner feedback, Tru by Hilton is a brand-new hotel experience that is vibrant, affordable and young-at-heart. The brand aims to reinvent the midscale segment by providing guests with a contemporary, consistent and fresh experience at a great value.
Further information:
http://tru3.hilton.com/en/index.html
Tourism Hotels Market Outlook Report
A new report from Deloitte shows nights in Airbnb and other private rentals increased in the last year. The Tourism Hotels Market Outlook report highlights the increasing popularity of alternate accommodation is driven predominantly by the leisure market and people visiting friends and relatives.
Further information:
https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/consumer-industrial-products/articles/tourism-hotel-outlook.html
Transport
Robot Parking Valet
French start up Stanley Robotics has introduced an automated parking valet named Stan at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport designed to allow greater ease and efficiency in parking. The valet robots
will allow airports to achieve greater efficiency in parking by allowing cars to be parked much closer together without risking dings and dents. The
Paris-based company spent two years designing the all-electric robots and plan to expand into airports globally.
Further information: http://www.stanley-robotics.com/
Sky Pets
Korean Air has introduced Skypets, a frequent flyer program where free flights and discounts can be earned for pets valid for three years. The new program is designed to make travelling with pets as stress free and simple as possible with bookings added to a passenger’s itinerary after registering the pet on Korean Air’s website. Dogs, cats and birds can travel either in the cabin or luggage hold depending on their weight and size.
Further information:
https://www.koreanair.com/global/en/about/news/
press_releases/2017_05_252.html
Digital Marketing
Adventure in Motion
The Adventure Travel Trade Association is encouraging tourism organisations and businesses with short films to enter the fourth annual Adventure in Motion short film competition. Previous entries have featured adventure travel experiences from around the world including close encounters with wildlife, immersive opportunities and personal stories of locals. The winner will be selected at the Adventure Travel World Summit in October 2017.
Further information:http://www.adventure.travel/adventure-in-motion
CampNZ
A social media campaign targeting young freedom campers has attracted 2.4 million views over summer. The CampNZ Facebook page targets 18-35 year olds travelling in privately owned and rented vehicles and provides reliable information on local rules and camping etiquette. It is the first social media campaign mounted by the Responsible Camping Forum with funding from members.
Further information: https://tia.org.nz/advocacy/tia-projects/responsible-camping/
Technology
Conscious Traveller Portal
A new online travel portal has been launched to promote fair, ethical, value-added travel. The web portal Traveliko was designed by a group of hospitality professionals. It takes a flat 10% commission from the hotel and donates 20% of the net commission earned on each booking to project-oriented charities selected by users in the countries they plan to visit.
Further information: https://www.traveliko.com/
Virtual Reality
Expedia, the world’s biggest travel company, is using VR tech to make it possible for customers to take a virtual tour of hotel rooms so they can get a much better feel for shape and size before making a booking. Expedia spent over a US$1billion on the new technology including several new innovations such as Amazon’s Echo and AI-powered chatbots so users can browse, interact and book trips using just voice commands.
Further information:
https://viewfinder.expedia.com/features/expedialabs-takes-virtual-reality-new-heights/
Product Development
Waltzing Matilda Experience
The $22 million reconstruction of Winton’s iconic Waltzing Matilda Centre has begun with $1.2 million invested by the Queensland Government. The architectural designs feature large modern open spaces to capture the true essence of the outback and bring to life the legend of Waltzing Matilda which complement the region’s dinosaur attractions. Construction will be completed in early 2018.
Further information: http://www.matildacentre.com.au/
Destination Marketing
Cycling Campaign
A new campaign by Tourism New Zealand is encouraging Australians to break away from their everyday routine and explore New Zealand by bike. The Transport Yourself campaign will be rolled out through social and digital channels targeting the 1.9 million Australians who are interested and active in cycling, travel and physical exercise.
Further information:
http://www.tourismnewzealand.com/markets-stats/sectors/special-interest/cycling-and-mountain-biking/
Responsible Travel
Adventure Travel Conservation Fund
The Adventure Travel Conservation Fund is a not-for-profit organisation that was launched in October 2016. It aims to directly fund local projects engaged in the conservation of unique natural and cultural resources of adventure travel destinations. The fund provides grants to organisations outside North America that meet the project criteria.
Further information:http://adventuretravelconservationfund.org/
YieldWise Initiative
In 2016 the Rockefeller Foundation launched YieldWise a $130 million initiative that aims to reduce post-harvest food loss and halve the world’s food waste by 2030. Although food loss is predominantly a problem in developing markets the Foundation is initially focusing on fruits, vegetables and staple crops in Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania.
Further information:https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/our-work/initiatives/yieldwisefood-waste/
50 Reefs
A global plan to save coral reefs from being totally wiped out by climate change, pollution and poor fishing practices was launched recently at The Economist World Ocean Summit in Bali. The initiative, called 50 Reefs, brings together a coalition of leading ocean, climate and marine scientists as well as conservation practitioners from around the world to develop a list of the 50 most critical coral reefs to protect.
Further information: https://50reefs.org/
Infrastructure & Investment
National Tourism Infrastructure Assessment
Tourism Industry Aotearoa recently commissioned Deloitte to undertake a major study to determine infrastructure priorities for tourism in New Zealand. The National Tourism Infrastructure Assessment identified telecommunications, airport facilities, road transport, car parking, toilets, and water and sewerage systems.
Further information:https://tia.org.nz/advocacy/tia-projects/infrastructure-and-investment
Research
Asia-Pacific Destination Index
The 2017 Mastercard Asia Pacific Destinations Index is an offshoot of the annual Global Destination Cities Index and ranks 171 destinations in 22 countries across Asia Pacific. Resorts, towns and cities are ranked in terms of the total number of international overnight arrivals, cross-border spending, and the total number of nights spent at each destination. Data is used in deriving the international overnight visitor arrivals and their cross-border spending in each of the destinations using custom-made algorithms.
Further information:http://newsroom.mastercard.com/asia-pacific/documents/mastercard-asia-pacific-destinations-index-2017/
Power of Youth Travel Report
The Power of Youth Travel was published by UNWTO and WYSE Travel Confederation in 2016 and predicts that by 2020 there will be some 370 million youth travellers. The report is a collection of articles and case studies documenting the economic and social impact of youth, student and educational travel.
Further information:
https://www.wysetc.org/research/publications/power-of-youth-travel-2016/
LGBT Tourism Global Report
The World Tourism Organisation has launched a new Global Report on LGBT Tourism at the Annual Convention of the International Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Association in Florida. The report offers an extensive analysis of the LGBT traveller’s profile as well as providing recommendations for tourism stakeholders and destinations interested in attracting this segment.
Further information:http://affiliatemembers.unwto.org/publication/affiliate-members-global-reports-volume-fifteen-second-global-report-lgbt-tourism
Antarctic Tourism
Over 44,000 tourists visited Antarctica during the tourism season of 2016/17, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). The levels of visitation, particularly in the cruise sector of the industry, has been increasing steadily since 2011-2012. IAATO is a member organisation founded in 1991 to advocate and promote the practice of safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic.
Further information: https://iaato.org/tourism-statistics
Policy & Planning
Golf Tourism Strategy
The economic value of golf tourism and events to Scotland has increased according to an independent study commissioned by VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise. The study found that the value of golf tourism and events has increased by 30% since 2008, supporting 4,700 jobs and benefiting the country’s golfing regions. The results of the study will inform Scotland’s Golf Tourism Strategy which aims to grow the value of the industry by 2020.
Further information:https://www.scottishgolf.org/club-services/marketing/golf-tourism/
Sustainable Destination Management Whitepaper
The Global Destination Sustainability Index released their first Whitepaper ‘Sustainable Destination Management Trends and Insights: A Path to a Brighter Future’ at IMEX in May 2017. The Whitepaper identifies how Destination Management Organisations and Convention Bureaus in 35 cities are using sustainability strategies to support their overall social, environmental and economic development agenda as well as enhance competitive positioning.
Further information: http://gds-index.com/
Aboriginal Tourism Development Program
The Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council is launching a new program to foster the growth and expansion of authentic Aboriginal tourism experiences in Perth and surrounding regions. The Aboriginal Tourism Development Program is jointly funded by Tourism Western Australia and the City of Perth to create more choice for visitors seeking an opportunity to interact with the world’s oldest living culture.
Further information:http://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/About%20Us/News
_and_media/Article/New_program_a_boost_for_
Perth_Aboriginal_tourism_experiences/643
Conferences & Events
Regional Tourism Conference
The inaugural Western Australian Regional Tourism Conference will be held in Albany from 11-13 September 2017. The event is funded by Tourism Western Australia in partnership with the Tourism Council Western Australia, Visitor Centres Western Australia, Caravan Industry Association Western Australia, Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council and Australia’s South West.
Further information:http://www.tourismcouncilwa.com.au/event/2017-wa-regional-tourism-conference
Australian Event Symposium
The Australian Event Symposium will be held on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland from 14-15 September 2017. The two-day conference will focus on the connection between events and tourism looking at how the two industries can work together more effectively.
Further information:http://eventsymposium.com.au/
World Youth and Student Travel Conference
The 26th edition of the World Youth and Student Travel Conference is being held in Montreal, Canada from 26-29 September 2017. The event provides an opportunity to learn the latest developments in youth travel and connect with senior executives and buyers representing 120 countries worldwide.
Further information: https://www.wystc.org/
Global Eco Conference
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/
