Edition 135 · August 2019

Ecotourism Australia has assembled an extraordinary group of keynote speakers for the 2019 Global Eco Asia-Pacific Conference. Under the overarching theme of Essential Evolution the conference will explore topics including green destinations, ecotourism on protected areas, indigenous business across the Asia-Pacific, responding to overtourism and ecotourism on World Heritage Areas. Being staged in Cairns 2-4 December, the conference will bring together some 250 tourism operators, protected area managers, local government, tourism commissions and tourism industry professionals.

To view the extraordinary group of keynote speakers assembled go to https://globaleco.com.au/2019/speakers/keynote-speakers

Phone manufacturer OPPO has teamed up with PurePod, a luxury eco-cabin outside Christchurch, to offer guests the chance to pay for their stay using Instagram likes. Those who stay at the hotel will receive $1 off for every like they receive on pictures they post of the experience, with an OPPO Reno phone on hand to capture the content.

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

Etihad will be the first airline to trial Panasonic’s new wellness solution, the Jet Lag Adviser, which will be integrated into the airline’s passenger app. The Jet Lag Adviser takes a range of passenger inputs including chronotype, circadian rhythms, height, weight and travel information such as flight times, routes and zones and uses its artificial intelligence engine to produce personalised jet lag plans for passengers to help them reduce jet lag.

Further information: https://www.etihad.com/en-us/about-us/etihad-news/archive/2019/etihad-airways-and-panasonic-avionics-introduce–new-wellness-solution/

Qantas and Tourism Northern Territory have announced a new three-year marketing agreement aimed at attracting more tourists to the Northern Territory. The $4.5 million joint agreement will focus on attracting high-value visitors to the Territory from across Australia and key international markets like the U.S.A. The partnership will include advertising in key markets, digital platforms, collaboration on media and industry initiatives and promotion of major events to over 12 million Frequent Flyers.

Further information: https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/flying-tourism-boost-for-the-territory/

The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum at Winton in Queensland has received Australia’s first international certification for a Dark Sky Sanctuary. The world’s 10th Dark Sky Sanctuary aims to attract amateur astronomers from around the globe. The Age of Dinosaurs will also receive $5 million from the Queensland Government’s growing Tourism Infrastructure Fund for a Gondwana Stars Observatory, as well as a March of the Titanosaurs exhibition.

Further information: https://www.darksky.org/queensland-becomes-a-leading-light-with-dark-sky-sanctuary/

Brand U.S.A. has launched United Stories a mobile content creation lab that will travel the United States capturing warm and welcoming stories told from local perspectives to inspire international travellers to visit the U.S.A. They have partnered with Beautiful Destinations, the world’s largest tourism community on social media dedicated to capturing travel content. The campaign will emphasise that the U.S.A. is a collection of places and experiences whose spirit is found in the diversity of its people, cultural roots and roads.

Further information: https://www.visittheusa.com/unitedstories

The Singapore Tourism Board is calling for local and international companies to join the Singapore Tourism Accelerator a two-year pilot program which aims to develop solutions to long-standing issues, as well as generate new ideas that will transform the tourism sector. It will provide a platform to work with companies with innovative solutions that can be applied across the industry and to enhance the overall visitor experience. To qualify, companies must already have prototype solutions and be able to work with established industry players that include Expedia Group, Sentosa Development Corporation, SingEx Holdings, Singapore Airlines and Marina Bay Sands.

Further information: https://www.stb.gov.sg/content/stb/en/trade-events-and-resources/Singapore-Tourism-Accelerator.html

The Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa located in Lulea in Swedish Lapland freezes into the Lule River in winter and floats on top of the water in the summer. The hotel comprises six detached floating cabins and six additional cabins on land with an arctic bath connected by wooden walkways. The Arctic Bath and Spa offers activities such as cold/hot water dips, sauna, yoga, meditation and crystal healing colour therapy.

Further information: https://www.offthemap.travel/experiences/arctic-bath/

U.S.-based Ocean Opportunity has designed a portable tent that allows divers to camp underwater. Called Ocean Space Habitat, the dome-shaped shelter can be deployed undersea and once anchored creates an air-filled pocket that features a seat and a replenishable oxygen source. The portable underwater habitat gives divers dry space for about four to six hours during which they can take off their gear, eat, rest, and literally decompress deep in the sea.

Further information: https://oceanopportunity.com/

The Queensland Government will partner with the council to build a $5 million world-class dive site on the Gold Coast funded through the Growing Tourism Infrastructure Fund. The proposed dive site will be located three and a half kilometres south-east of the Seaway and two and a half kilometres offshore from Main Beach. Three companies have been shortlisted for the tender with the dive site to be operational by mid-2021.

Further information: http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2019/5/8/state-and-council-to-build-dive-site-without-the-federal-government

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has launched a new interactive digital hub designed to save the bees. Part of the hotel brand’s Bee Sustainable Program helps educate guests and staff about the importance of global bee health, while also supplying information on its rooftop apiaries and bee hotels.

Further information: www.fairmontbeesustainable.com

Ponant is reinforcing efforts to champion sustainable tourism with the creation of the Ponant Foundation to support projects focused on research, raising awareness or conservation to help protect the oceans, the polar regions and indigenous populations.

Further information: https://en.ponant.com/foundation/

Wyndham Destinations Asia-Pacific is demonstrating its commitment to the environment through a partnership with the City of Gold Coast in a food waste recycling trial. The city has implemented a trial food waste recycling service to assist its commercial customers in removing their food scraps from the general waste collection. Food waste collected is combined with green waste and turned into certified organic compost for use in city parks and gardens.

Further information: http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/environment/commercial-food-waste-recycling-service-47822.html

In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Hilton has released a report predicting the future trends set to dominate the travel and hospitality industry in the next 100 years. The report supported by expert insight from the fields of sustainability, innovation, design, human relations and nutrition reveals how the growing sophistication of technology and climate change will impact the hotel industry in the future.

Further information: https://newsroom.hilton.com/assets/HWW/images/newsroom/2019/Q2/CheckingInto2119/Hilton100-Checking-Into-2119-Report.pdf

The 13th edition of the SITA Passenger IT Insights report explores how technology is contributing to a smoother passenger experience at every step of the journey. The report is based on a survey of passengers from 20 countries across the Americas, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Africa, representing over 70 percent of global passenger traffic.

Further information: https://www.sita.aero/resources/type/surveys-reports/passenger-it-insights-2019

Qantas has revealed new research in preparation for conquering the world’s first non-stop flight from the east coast of Australia to New York and London in 2022. As part of their Project Sunrise program, the airline has been conducting focus groups as well as surveying customers in conjunction with Sydney University’s Charles Perkins Centre to determine the health and wellness priorities for passengers flying long haul.

Further information: https://www.ausbt.com.au/qantas-cafes-gyms-and-chill-zones-for-non-stop-20-hour-flights

Wine Australia has released the ‘Growing Wine Tourism’ program for businesses looking to develop their wine tourism products and services for the inbound tourism market. Wine Australia has partnered with the Australian Tourism Export Council to deliver the program in conjunction with Fastrak Asian Solutions and Wine Tourism Australia, as part of the Australian Government’s $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package.

Further information: https://www.wineaustralia.com/whats-happening/wine-tourism-and-wine-export/growing-wine-tourism

UNESCO has launched a new initiative to recognise young people using tourism to address issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, polluted oceans and loss of cultural heritage. Open to anyone aged between 15 and 35, the competition is looking for social entrepreneurs in two categories – one for ideas and the other for existing projects. The competition is supported by ITB Berlin, Travel Massive and Berlin Travel Festival.

Further information: https://www.entrepreneurship-campus.org/tourism-competition/

Tourism Western Australia is introducing a Tourism Case Management Framework which will assist viable private sector projects become a reality by navigating various approval processes. Proponents would be given advice on what approvals need to be sought before a project can get off the ground, as well as support in ensuring any applications are considered in a timely manner by the relevant authority.

Further information: https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2019/05/New-tourist-attractions-get-help-to-cut-through-red-tape.aspx

New South Wales has created a Destination Management Plan to provide a framework to achieve statewide alignment and assist coordinated delivery of the vision and goals for the visitor economy. It was identified as a key action item in the Government’s Visitor Economy Industry Action Plan and provides actions to deliver significant growth in the tourism industry.

Further information: https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/about-us/strategies-and-plans/statewide-destination-management-plan

The Tasmanian Government has opened the $4 million Events Attraction Fund to support major events which will help to grow Tasmania’s brand and visitor economy.

Further information: https://www.eventstasmania.com/funding/attractionfund

The Adventure Travel Conservation Fund grants funding to nominated and selected projects strictly through member dues and voting. In two years more than 70 international organisations from 20 countries have become ATCF members, funding five conservation projects more than $135,000 USD in its very first round of grant giving.

Further information: http://adventuretravelconservationfund.org/

A new comprehensive guide which lists 100 best things to do in England has been released by RV Lifestyle. The self-drive guide provides practical tips and advice whether visiting museums, cathedrals, castles, pubs or exploring old ruins.

Further information: https://www.your-rv-lifestyle.com/things-to-do-in-england/

The Pacific Asia Protected Areas and Sustainable Tourism Conference will be held at Binna Burra Mountain Lodge in Queensland from 14-15 October 2019. The workshop is aimed at planners, policy makers, protected area managers, tourism operators, marketing organisations and researchers.

Further information: https://www.binnaburralodge.com.au/news-events/events/the-world-heritage-mini-conference

The second TravMedia Summit 2019 will be held at the Sands Resorts Macao from 21 October 2019. The event is for editors, freelancers, destination marketers, hotel and PR companies.

Further information: https://travmedia.com/summitasia/