Edition 117 · October 2017

The Global Eco Asia-Pacific conference has assembled some 70 speakers from 20 nations to address the theme of Ecotourism; transforming urban and regional tourism.

Conference Convenor, Tony Charters AM said the conference, to be held in Adelaide, South Australia was picking up on issues that are at the forefront of the ever evolving ecotourism sector.

“Ecotourism in protected areas is a key issue around the globe. The capacity for communities to develop an economic base from ecotourism on protected areas is also a global issue, hence our strong representation of protected area management and ecotourism operator speakers.”

Tony Charters also pointed to the conference’s strong focus on ecotourism based on wildlife.

‘We have speakers from Australia’s top zoos and wildlife tourism operations together with international speakers from wildlife tourism destinations such as Botswana, Brazil and Thailand to examine the topic of wildlife interaction in tourism.”

This year is the 25th Annual Global Eco Asia-Pacific Conference, the world’s longest running and most respected ecotourism conference.

To view the program and register go to www.globaleco.com.au

As part of the International Year on Sustainable Tourism for Development, The World Tourism Organisation has launched a consumer campaign aimed at raising awareness of the value and contribution sustainable tourism can make towards development. The ‘Travel.Enjoy.Respect’ campaign will run in various languages around the world and includes a manual for travellers to help make responsible choices when travelling and a positive impact on the destinations they visit.

Further information: http://www.travelenjoyrespect.org/

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is offering passengers who visit Amsterdam a smart audio luggage tag that provides visitors with location-based travel tips. The Care Tag is a location-aware device powered by a GPS and features a speaker that reacts with relevant information as the user walks past points of interest around the city.

Further information: https://caretag.klm.com/

Sydney Airport, in partnership with the Sydney Community Foundation, recently ran a unique campaign to auction off unclaimed items left at the airport. Funds raised as part of the Bid for Good campaign were distributed to grass roots charities providing services in the suburbs surrounding Sydney Airport.

Further information: https://sydneycommunityfoundation.org.au/grants/bid-good-grants

Alibaba Group and Marriott International have establishment a joint venture to redefine the travel experience for Chinese consumers. It will leverage Marriott’s global portfolio of brands and Alibaba’s digital retail platforms to reach over 500 million active users. The partnership will also provide a link between loyalty programs, as well as provide content, programs and promotions customised for the Chinese traveller.

Further information: http://news.marriott.com/2017/08/alibaba-group-marriott-international-announce-innovative-joint-venture-redefine-travel-experience/

Lonely Planet has launched a self-publishing content platform offering the modern traveller an enjoyable, easy way to discover and share their experiences. Trips by Lonely Planet will allow anyone to seamlessly upload photos and videos directly from their phone’s photo library and craft stories illustrating each trip. Lonely Planet is the world’s number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for travellers since 1973.

Further information: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/trips

Tourism Australia has launched a tongue-in-cheek news channel serving up good news stories from across Australia. The new $5 million youth campaign aims to highlight many of the unique destinations and experiences available to youth travellers and working holiday makers in Australia. Content will be shared globally using digital and social media channels, as well as through a partnership with BuzzFeed. The campaign will target the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy before being extended to other markets in 2018.

Further information: http://www.australia.com/en/aussie-news-today.html

Airbnb’s Trips is the most significant development in the company’s eight-year history and provides a single platform that unifies authentic local experiences, unique homes, social events and insider recommendations from locals under one roof. Airbnb now has more than 1,100 active experiences curated by locals available to book in more than 25 cities across the world.

Further information: https://www.airbnb.com.au/experiences

The Queensland Government has launched a marketing initiative to highlight the best tourism experiences in Queensland. The Best of Queensland Experiences Program identifies products that consistently deliver a high-quality visitor experience based on online customer feedback as well as social media and web-based booking criteria. The program was developed by Tourism and Events Queensland in consultation with Regional Tourism Organisations and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council.

Further information: https://teq.queensland.com/experiences/best-of-queensland-experiences

Scenic World is upgrading the Scenic Skyway to increase the ride’s capacity by 30% which will provide a more spacious visitor experience and improve queuing times during peak periods. The Scenic Skyway is Australia’s highest cable car suspended 270 metres above the Blue Mountains with views of Katoomba Falls, the Three Sisters and the Jamison Valley. The million-dollar upgrade is scheduled for completion by mid November 2017.

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

The Queensland Government has given approval to the swimming with whale’s program to become a permanent fixture in Hervey Bay after a three-year trial. The Fraser Coast is the whale watching capital from July till October as humpback whales and their calves migrating along the Queensland coast on their way back to Antarctica. Of the 11 boats currently operating on the Fraser Coast, six are licenced to offer the experience.

Further information: https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/watching/marine-mammals/whales.html

A section of the Mesoamerican coral reef off the coast of Puerto Morelos in Mexico is set to make history by being given its own insurance policy. The Reef and Beach Resilience and Insurance Fund will see local businesses contribute to an insurance policy that will protect the reef, coastal economies and livelihoods. Insurance company Swiss Re AG is working with the Nature Conservancy to develop a policy that in the event of damage will provide financing for reef restoration and protection.

Further information: https://global.nature.org/content/insuring-nature-to-ensure-a-resilient-future

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will make tourism resources in the capital equally accessible to people with physical disabilities. The city announced it will spend millions over the next five years for 100 hotels and restaurants in the city’s most famous tourist destinations for renovations that would make them wheelchair accessible by 2022. The city will also provide people in wheelchairs with special tour vehicles, training for tour guides as well as guidebooks.

Further information: http://english.seoul.go.kr/accessible-tourism-seoul-tourism-becomes-convenient-people-disabilities-elderly/

According to Virtuoso’s 2017 Luxe Report, young people born late in the 1990s to 2010s, hold considerable influence over their families’ travel decisions. By 2020, Generation Z who are seeking personalised and adventurous travel experiences, deeper cultural immersion and visual storytelling will account for 40% of all consumers with disposable income to travel. A total of 772 advisors were surveyed from travel agency partners in North America, Latin America, the Asia-Pacific, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Further information: https://www.virtuoso.com/getmedia/c3936911-83fa-4072-b05d-67349dd19878/2017_family_travel_final.aspx

Luxury travellers are aligning their experiences with more personal values to fulfil their dreams according to a new report from Sabre. The Future of Luxury Travel report details five key areas impacting customers’ future preferences for accommodation and experiences including wellness tourism, low key luxury, guilt-free decadence, luxury on demand and bespoke experiences.

Further information: http://www.sabrehospitality.com/resources/hotel-industry-news/sabre-releases-new-travel-trend-report-future-hotel-booking

The sixth annual Chinese International Travel Monitor released by Hotels.com identifies what Chinese guests want from Australian hotels including Chinese payment facilities, in-house Mandarin speaking staff, on-site Chinese restaurants and translated travel guides. The report revealed a gap in what Chinese guests want versus what hotels are providing, highlighting huge potential for Australian hotels to further tap into this market.

Further information: http://www.travelmonitor.com.au/category/news/todays-news/tag/hotels-com/

Tourism Australia has published an overview of research into the potential of Virtual Reality (VR) for destination marketing. The findings show emerging VR technologies are providing new ways for consumers to engage with destinations, as well as a level of immersion and engagement unmatched by other media. Tourism Australia, partnered with TNS and Google Think Board, will survey a sample of 500 consumers in Australia, the U.K. and the U.S.

Further information: http://www.tourism.australia.com/content/dam/assets/document/1/6/y/7/t/2003897.pdf

The Tasmanian Government has released the Tasmanian Cycle Tourism Strategy to guide the development of cycling tracks, trails, experiences, events and improve safety. The strategy identifies three priority areas to support the growth and development of cycle tourism to 2020. It has committed $6 million to establish the Cycle Tourism Fund to achieve the vision of making Tasmania the nation’s leading cycle tourism destination. Applications close December 2017 with successful projects announced in February 2018.

Further information: http://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/?a=87958

The Caravan Industry Development Initiative has helped enhance the capacity and capability of the sector by working with caravan parks to improve their business. The Tourism Western Australia funded program looks at issues impacting the industry such as business, workforce and developmental priorities for regional caravan parks, opportunities for business improvement and accreditation through the Caravan Industry Association of Australia.

Further information: http://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/About%20Us/News_and_media/Article/Caravan_industry_development_program_progressing_with_success/715

The Western Australian State Government has approved changes to their Liquor Control Regulations to allow tour operators with accreditation under the Australian Tourism Accreditation Program to supply alcohol on their tours. This will allow tourism businesses to create a dining experience with alcohol at a barbecue dinner or while touring an attraction.

Further information: http://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/About%20Us/News_and_media/Article/New_liquor_reform_a_boost_for_tourism_operators/733

StudyPerth has launched a virtual reality app to help encourage potential students to live and study in Perth. The app which aims to showcase Perth’s features in an interactive format has been well received by education agents, institutions and students.

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

Entries are open for the 2018 World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The awards are an opportunity for tourism organisations to showcase their sustainable best practices and business leadership. Applicants can enter in the categories of Community, Destination, Environment, Innovation and People. Winners will be announced during the WTTC Global Summit in Buenos Aires in April 2018. Closing date is 14 November 2017.

Further information: https://www.wttc.org/tourism-for-tomorrow-awards/

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/

The Sustainable Economic Development for Regional Australia (SEGRA) Conference will be held in the Upper Spencer Gulf, South Australia from 24-27 October.

This will be the first time in the 20-year history of the conference that it will be held in South Australia, showcasing the regional cities of Port Augusta, Port Pirie and Whyalla. The SEGRA2017 conference theme – Disruption: a catalyst for change – will focus on what are the characteristics of the great adapters and changers and how this is manifested in political, business and community leadership, planning, governing, managing and marketing.

The SEGRA conference provides a single forum in which people with a deep commitment to regional Australia can discuss issues and advance options and solutions for the future. Drawing over 200 delegates from across Australia, it is now recognised as the nation’s most credible and independent voice on issues affecting regional Australia.

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

The Australian Tourism Export Council Meeting Place event will be held in Perth from 20-22 November 2017. The conference includes business-to business sessions, keynote speeches, industry panels, networking and gala dinner.

Further information: https://www.atec.net.au/ATEC/Meeting_Place/ATEC/Meeting_Place_2017/About_Meeting_Place_2017.aspx

Griffith University is hosting the 3rd East West Dialogue on Tourism and the Chinese Dream on the Gold Coast from 23-25 November 2017. The event will explore the topic of ‘Managing Tourism for Sustainable Growth’ as part of the United Nations International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development and the China-Australia Year of Tourism.

Further information: www.griffith.edu.au/business-government/griffith-institute-tourism