Edition 133 · June 2019

Ecotourism Australia’s Global Eco Conference will be held in Cairns from 2-4 December this year, surrounded by two World Heritage sites: The Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest.

This year’s conference will once again bring together the world’s leading speakers on ecotourism, sustainability and responsible tourism, as well as tourism operators, protected area managers, tourism organisations, Indigenous bodies and researchers.

“This is the longest-running ecotourism conference in the world,” says Claire Ellis, Ecotourism Australia Chair.

“It’s been going consecutively for 26 years and every year, we are astonished by the high calibre of speakers and attendees. It’s our main event of the year and certainly one not to be missed.”

With last year’s conference attracting 230 delegates from 20 countries for three packed days of keynote presentations and workshops around the theme of ‘Ecotourism – It’s Time’, this year’s event is sure to again provide fertile ground for meaningful discussions and knowledge-sharing among participants.

Ecotourism Australia would like to thank the Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games (DITID), the Department of Environment and Science (DES) and Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) for their generous support of this year’s conference.

To offer a paper, please visit https://globaleco.com.au/call-for-papers

Tourism and Events Queensland, in partnership with Uber, has launched scUber – the world’s first rideshare submarine experience allowing travellers to explore the Great Barrier Reef at depths of up to 30 metres with 180-degree views. The integrated marketing campaign is being delivered across key western markets including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the U.S.A., Canada and France. The campaign will also include a consumer competition allowing a winner from each key western source market plus a friend to win a trip of a lifetime to the Great Barrier Reef and ride in scUber.

Further information: https://scuberqueensland.com/

Tourism Australia has launched a new campaign targeting young people across the U.K., France and Germany who want to combine travel with temporary work under Australia’s Working Holiday Maker program. It positions Australia as the world’s most desirable working holiday destination offering exciting opportunities in the best workplace in the world. The campaign was developed based on research that working holidays are still appealing to young people, but barriers still exist including the need for more practical information around the program and benefits.

Further information: http://www.tourism.australia.com/en/news-and-media/news-stories/new-working-holiday-maker-campaign-launches.html

Brisbane Airport Corporation and Brisbane Marketing have entered into a three-year partnership to stimulate and drive preference for Brisbane as a leisure, education and business destination. Activity will include the establishment of international representative resources, cooperative marketing campaigns with airline partners, travel trade marketing activities and digital media content development to allow the city to promote itself effectively in new markets.

Further information: https://newsroom.bne.com.au/brisbane-airport-and-brisbane-marketing-join-forces-on-new-project-to-sell-brisbane-to-the-world

The Cultural Attractions of Australia is a new industry collective that provides a single point of contact for travellers, trade partners and media to access premium, behind-the-scenes cultural experiences in iconic locations. The new collective will officially launch at the Australian Tourism Exchange in Perth in April this year.

Further information: https://culturalattractionsofaustralia.com/?cid=DM23539&bid=18423569

The Queensland Government will partner with Australia Zoo to build an $8 million wildlife camping experience on the Sunshine Coast called ‘Camp Crocodile Hunter.’ The new initiative will provide a wide range of accommodation options including caravans, permanent glamping-style tents and eco cabins. Funding will come from the Growing Tourism Infrastructure Fund which had been established to assist operators build new attractions that attract domestic and international visitation to a region. The camping village will open in 2020 as part of Australia Zoo’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Further information: http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2019/4/15/australia-zoo-tourism-project-to-create-jobs-on-the-sunny-coast

The Northern Escape Collection has recently opened Mt Mulligan Lodge in remote Far North Queensland. The luxury outback lodge is situated on a secluded private 28,000-hectare heritage site offering boutique accommodation for 16 guests, a main pavilion for guest meals and relaxation, infinity pool and sunset bar. The lodge runs on solar power and 100% recycled water, sources ingredients from local producers and adopted sustainable building design methods. Also, $50 per guest is donated to the Northern Escape Collection’s Reef Keepers Fund, aimed at protecting and preserving the Great Barrier Reef.

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

Jucy Snooze, an innovative pod-hotel chain for budget conscious travellers with more than 530 beds across Auckland, Queenstown and Christchurch in New Zealand has signed a joint venture with a Los Angeles-based hotel developer to operate under the ‘Stay Open’ brand in San Diego. The new property adjacent to the San Diego Airport will have 226 pods plus six rooms with ensuites, as well as feature a rooftop bar and restaurant.

Further information: https://www.jucysnooze.co.nz/

Lap of Tasmania is a new online platform assisting travellers to plan their ultimate Tasmanian self-guided adventure. The 1,500km self-drive road trip circles can be completed in as little as seven days by car, campervan or motorcycle. Along the route, road trippers will experience Tasmania’s ‘Big 12’ iconic attractions including Mt Field, Cradle Mountain, Port Arthur Historic Site, Bay of Fires, Freycinet, and the Tamar Valley and Coal River Valley wine regions.

Further information: https://lapoftasmania.com.au/

Airline Ratings has released its list of the world’s safest airlines for 2019, with Qantas coming out on top for operations and safety including being a leader in the development of the Future Air Navigation System and first airline to use real-time monitoring of its engines across its fleet via satellite communications. Airlines are evaluated on several factors including audits from aviation’s governing and industry bodies, safety, innovation and launching of new aircraft.

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

Finnair is expanding its Push for Change initiative by allowing customers to offset or decrease the emissions of their flight by supporting CO2 reduction projects or purchasing biofuel. It was the first European airline to fly the next-generation, eco-smart Airbus A350 XWB aircraft and it is the first airline listed in the Leadership Index of the worldwide Carbon Disclosure Project. The service is available on the Finnair Shop and customers can also use their Finnair Plus frequent flyer points.

Further information: https://www.finnairshop.com/en

Intrepid Travel, the world’s largest adventure travel company, has revealed its aim to become climate positive by 2020. The Intrepid Foundation is aiming to raise funds for an innovative new marine permaculture initiative that will regenerate marine ecosystems in Tasmania and sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Joining forces with the Climate Foundation, a U.S.-based non-profit, and the University of Tasmania all donations made to the project through The Intrepid Foundation will be matched dollar-for-dollar.

Further information: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/us/regeneration-generation

The Western Australia State Government will deliver a $10 million Adventure Trails initiative to establish Collie as Western Australia’s premier trail adventure town. It aims to attract local, national and international mountain bike and bushwalking tourists, and support the local economy. The package will create 100km of high-quality mountain bike trails through the river valley between Wellington National Park and the town of Collie.

Further information: https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2019/04/10-million-dollar-Budget-boost-to-make-Collie-a-world-class-trail-adventure-town.aspx

Funding of $5.7 million has been announced to complete the seven kilometre ‘Mowbray North’ component of the 94-kilometre Wangetti Trail. Construction is expected to commence in September 2019 including a 2.25-kilometre mangrove experience boardwalk, crocodile viewing platform and 5km trail to Four Mile Beach and Flagstaff Hill. The total economic impact of the project is estimated to reach $300 million with the trail potentially attracting around 9,000 walkers and 19,000 mountain bike riders to Tropical North Queensland per year.

Further information: https://www.ditid.qld.gov.au/tourism/special-projects/queensland-ecotourism-trails/wangetti-trail

A new management plan for the Daintree National Park will help ensure the cultural knowledge, connectedness and understanding of First Nations peoples remains protected and preserved for future generations. The management plan was prepared by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service in close consultation with the Wet Tropics Management Authority and Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation. It is the first values-based planning framework using international standards and contains strategies to tackle fire and pest management, monitoring, research, climate change and visitor engagement.

Further information: https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/managing/plans-strategies/pdf/daintree-national-park-management-plan-2019.pdf

Colliers International has published its Hotel Sales report for 2018. It shows hotel sales across Australia increasing during the second half of the year to a total of $1.8 billion from 37 sales. Queensland was the most active hotel investment market and volumes in New South Wales and Victoria were solid, aided by big-ticket sales. Offshore investors continued to dominate, accounting for two-thirds of transaction volume.

Further information: http://www.tourisminvestment.com.au/content/dam/assets/document/1/7/4/0/h/2011409.pdf

Australia has featured in the top 10 across a range of categories in the 2019 Virtuoso Luxe Report which predicts trends in consumer preferences for high-end and experiential travel. Other findings from the survey showed that the biggest travel trends for 2019 are multi-generational travel, active or adventure trips, river and luxury cruising, celebration travel and animal-related experiences.

Further information: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2019-is-the-year-of-ultra-personalized-travel-according-to-the-virtuoso-luxe-report-300740334.html

A new Booking.com Sustainable Travel Report 2019 shows 70% of global travellers would be more likely to book an accommodation knowing it was eco-friendly, whether they were looking for a sustainable stay or not. However, when it comes to recognising a sustainable place to stay, almost three quarters of global travellers say that they are not aware of the existence of eco-labels.

Further information:  https://globalnews.booking.com/bookingcom-reveals-key-findings-from-its-2019-sustainable-travel-report

An Expressions of Interest process has been launched to attract private sector investment into the region’s growing cycle tourism sector as part of the Victorian Government’s $12 million investment in the Ride High Country initiative. Investors can partner with the Victorian Government, local councils and tourism bodies to deliver world class cycling infrastructure including trail extensions and enhancements, accompanied by an extensive marketing campaign for Victoria’s Ride High Country initiative.

Further information: https://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/grants-and-programs/cycle-tourism-investment

Six Queensland companies on the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Cairns will share in more than $41,000 as part of Round 1 of the Queensland Government’s Superyacht Industry Development Fund. The fund is part of the Queensland Superyacht Strategy 2018-2023 which supports businesses looking to access the industry. Successful recipients are eligible to receive matched funding which can be put towards industry certifications, international trade show attendance, and bringing overseas delegations to Queensland to promote their business.

Further information: www.dsdmip.qld.gov.au/superyacht

The Australian Government will invest an additional $60 million in the Export Market Development Grants Scheme over the next three years, bringing the total annual spend to $157.9 million to assist current and aspiring small to medium-sized exporters to utilise free trade agreements and seek new offshore opportunities for their goods and services.

Further information: https://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2019/mp_mr_190402.aspx

Registration is open for Queensland’s Future Tourism Conference on Thursday 13 June 2019 in Brisbane at Howard Smith Wharves. Discover the many opportunities and challenges facing Queensland’s tourism sector over the next 15 years, including the prospect of hosting an Olympic Games.

Further information: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=499393&

The Western Australia Regional Tourism Conference will be held in Karratha from 16-18 September 2019.

Further information: https://www.karrathaiscalling.com.au/

https://www.tourismcouncilwa.com.au/wa-tourism-conference

The Adventure Travel World Summit will be held in Gothenburg, Sweden from 16-19 September 2019. Produced by the Adventure Travel Trade Association the summit is for tour operators, adventure travel writers and influencers, tourism boards and industry partners.

Further information: https://www.adventuretravel.biz/events/summit/