Edition 149 · October 2020

In this extraordinarily confronting and damaging time in the tourism industry we will continue to publish Tourforce monthly. However, we will not seek to offer advice or updates on COVID-19, as industry bodies and government bodies are best equipped to do this – with destination specific information.

We welcome short stories on innovations, and success stories and stories that reflect the positive things that the tourism industry is doing to ensure that the industry returns and re-builds. Submit stories to editor@tourforce.com

We want to place on record our thanks to those in business, government, research and the not-for-profit sectors who are working to get us through this challenging time.

In this incredibly challenging year, Ecotourism Australia has called on the leaders of the ecotourism industry to come together to drive a recovery and positive growth for the industry.

At the Global Eco Asia-Pacific Tourism Conference in Margaret River Western Australia  1-3 December, 32 keynote speakers will bring their combined experience to the conference. Importantly every speaker is a leader in their field, and 75% of the keynote speakers are CEOs.  More than half of the keynote speakers run ecotourism businesses.

“Ecotourism Australia is very conscious of the importance of hearing directly from those with skin in the game,’ said Conference Co-Convenor Tony Charters AM.

“One of the greatest strengths of the conference is that it brings together the sectors that facilitate a prosperous and sustainable ecotourism industry – the operators, protected area managers, destination managers and tourism research community.”

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

Tourism New Zealand has launched a Spotify channel for travel agents. The Sounds of New Zealand playlist features four meditative audio tracks designed to transport listeners virtually to help disconnect from stress and calm their minds.

Further information: https://open.spotify.com/album/6JUtRvIs5IfXMtyVSVVqmG?si=-qKc8ExYSTaR-XuwqwZpCQ

Tourism Australia has launched a new ‘Australian COVID Travel Portal,’ which brings together key safety information, travel restrictions and guidelines provided by Australian states and territories as they reopen. The new site provides a centralised resource on the status of borders, transport, hotels, accommodation, activities and experiences, as well as health and safety tips.

Further information: https://www.australia.com/en/facts-and-planning/useful-tips/coronavirus-travel-safety.html

The Australian Tourism Export Council has aligned with the World Travel and Tourism Council to issue Australian tourism businesses with the globally recognised ‘Safe Travel’ stamp. The stamp has been developed by the global travel and tourism industry body to recognise businesses which adopt standardised health and hygiene protocols.

Further information: https://www.atec.net.au/tools-and-resources/tourism-trade-checklist/wttc-safe-travel-stamp/

The World Tourism Organisation has launched a new Tourism Recovery Tracker to support and guide global tourism recovery. The comprehensive tourism dashboard is the result of a partnership between international organisations and the private sector. It covers key tourism performance indicators by month, regions and sub-regions allowing for a real time comparison of the sector recovery across the world and industries.

Further information: https://www.unwto.org/unwto-tourism-recovery-tracker

Melbourne-based luxury property developer Chiodo Corp has signed a deal with global hotelier Accor to bring the iconic brand Fairmont to Australia. The $300 million Port Douglas property will be the first of its kind in Australia and the newest hotel in the region for 20 years. It will offer guests a selection of 253 luxury rooms, business centre, conference facilities, gym, rooftop bars, cafes, signature chef restaurant, swimming pools, day spa and wedding facilities. Construction is set to commence in early 2021.

Further information: https://chiodocorp.com.au/project/port-douglas-luxury-hotel/

The Australian Government has announced a $50 million funding program to support nine tourism regions which are heavily reliant on international tourism. The Recovery for Regional Tourism Fund will help businesses and regions heavily reliant on international tourism to retain and create jobs by driving visitation, spurring demand and improving product diversity to attract visitors. Funding will be available for two years commencing in 2020-21.

Further information: https://www.austrade.gov.au/Australian/Tourism/Tourism-and-business/recovery-for-regional-tourism

The Queensland Government’s has announced a $5 million program which aims to support regional Queensland tourism businesses pivot to domestic markets or meet operating costs until international markets reopen. The International Tourism Adaptation Grant program provides a minimum of $2,000 to a maximum of $10,000 to tourism businesses who can demonstrate they have suffered losses of income because of the international travel restrictions. Applications close once all funding has been allocated.

Further information: https://www.dsdti.qld.gov.au/our-work/covid-19-international-tourism-adaptation-grant

Event holders in Western Australia are encouraged to apply for the Regional Events Scheme 2021-2022 funding round. Supported by Tourism Western Australia the initiative provides a total of $1 million in funding for smaller and developing events including $150,000 for the Regional Aboriginal Events Scheme which supports events that showcase Aboriginal activities and experiences through the leadership and participation of Aboriginal people. Applications close 1 December 2020.

Further information: https://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/events/Event-sponsorship/Pages/Regional-Events-Scheme.aspx#/

The new Business Events Exhibitor Grants Program will allow Australian businesses with an approved business meeting, convention, conference or incentive event in 2021 to apply for upfront grants to cover up to 50% of their costs. The funding will support event companies, venues, accommodation providers, caterers, cleaners and technology suppliers.

Further information: https://www.austrade.gov.au/australian/tourism/tourism-and-business/grants/business-events-grants-program/business-events-grants-program

Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach, Queensland is celebrating Australia’s national airline’s centenary year with a new night-time light and sound experience designed to entertain and educate guests about the airline’s history which began in 1920. The Luminescent Longreach show projects onto 635 square metres of Boeing 747 which has been converted into a high-tech 3D canvass in the museum’s new Airpark precinct.

Further information: https://qfom.com.au/tag/luminescent-longreach/

Construction has completed at Green Mountains Camping Area in Lamington National Park as part of an ecotourism project between the Queensland Government and O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. The $2.8 million low-impact tourism experience includes 17 safari tents, 24 campsites, 21 campervan sites, a communal camp kitchen, amenities block and meeting room.

Further information: https://oreillys.com.au/oreillys-campground/

Tourism Australia has launched the next iteration of Holiday Here This Year to get Australians travelling safely across the country and provide a much-needed boost to tourism businesses and operators. The campaign will be rolled out across a range of channels including print, social media, radio, outdoor and media hosting, as well as amplified through industry and content partnerships.

Further information: https://www.australia.com/en/travel-inspiration/holiday-here-this-year.html

Tourism New Zealand has launched a virtual campaign to keep travellers thinking about a holiday in Aotearoa. PLAY NZ is the world’s first gameplay walkthrough of the real world, where players explore New Zealand in immersive 180° and 360° experiences in the style of a video game. Designed to engage the growing online gaming audience it features social media content creators and cultural community influencers.

Further information: https://www.newzealand.com/au/campaign/playnz/

The Queensland Government has launched a new campaign highlighting the wide range of seasonal work available and how it can be a part of a regional Queensland holiday or adventure. The #pickqld campaign is targeting working-holiday makers, university students on study breaks and Queenslanders looking for employment. It connects people with essential seasonal work information and employers looking for seasonal workers.

Further information: https://www.qld.gov.au/about/pickqld

European company Studio 519 has designed a module called Nextbox that can convert a range of vehicles into mini motorhomes. The Nestbox is a system of integrated, space-saving drawers and fold-away attachments which can be converted into complete sleeping and kitchen areas in a matter of minutes.

Further information: https://www.egoe-nest.eu/en/nestbox/

A new international airport has opened in Salt Lake City designed to accommodate 26 million passengers as a generational game changer. The $4 billion project is being built in phases with the first phase to open in 2020 and the second phase to be completed in 2024. The first phase will include a new terminal, parking garage and two concourses.

Further information: https://slcairport.com/

Global Airline Alliance oneworld has launched an information portal to update passengers on what they can now expect while travelling. The portal includes the latest information on the health and well-being measures implemented by airlines as well as measures that have been introduced at major airports in the oneworld global network.

Further information: https://www.oneworld.com/covid-19/oneworld-together

A new National Park dedicated to protecting koalas is located near Bowral in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. The 3358-hectare Guula Ngurra (Koala Country in the Gundungurra Aboriginal language) National Park will play an important role in protecting vital koala habitat as well as being home to rare vegetation and many threatened species such as the glossy-black cockatoo.

Further information: https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/guula-ngurra-national-park

Murujuga National Park near the city of Karratha in Western Australia has a new walking trail and interpretive signage to educate visitors on the cultural importance of the area to traditional owners. The $1.3 million Ngajarli Trail provides improved access to the national park’s array of culturally significant rock art estimated to be more than 45,000 years old. The project was managed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, with guidance and advice from the Murujuga Park Council and Circle of Elders.

Further information: https://www.murujuga.org.au/ngajarli-rock-art-viewing-boardwalk-officially-reopened-and-tentative-world-heritage-list-celebrated/

Google and the United Nation World Tourism Organisation have entered into a partnership to foster knowledge, education and growth in tourism. It will support new digital trends and transformation challenges faced by the tourism sector to harness its development potential and contribution to sustainability. The collaboration will promote digital learning and online skills training that provide new opportunities across the global tourism sector.

Further information: https://www.unwto.org/global/press-release/2019-03-07/google-partners-unwto-digital-skills-development

Condé Nast Traveller has launched a new editorial initiative that recognises travel brands and providers who are meeting traveller concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The New Standard is a digital hub that aims to showcase industry leaders and innovation in response to the pandemic and give consumers the confidence they need to return to travel. It will shine a spotlight on brands, destinations, and experience makers who meet the new standard and are becoming better global citizens in the process.

Further information: https://www.cntraveler.com/the-new-standard

The United National Environment Program Green Fins initiative has launched new guidelines to help dive and snorkel operators maintain an environmental strategy despite the COVID-19 crisis. The Reef-World Foundation is providing free it’s dive and snorkel centre Operational Handbook and dive professionals can also take the Green Fins Dive Guide e-Course to improve their environmental knowledge and skills.

Further information: https://www.greenfins.net/conservation-actions

The U.S. travel industry is calling on the Senate to pass a new relief bill which includes the enhancement and expansion of the Paycheck Protection Program to provide critical aid to destination marketing organisations. According to Tourism Economics over $2 billion per day is being lost from the economy and half of all travel-supported jobs which prior to the pandemic provided employment for one in 10 Americans.

Further information: https://www.ustravel.org/sites/default/files/media_root/document/Coronavirus_WeeklyImpacts_09.03.20.pdf

The Sabre Corporation has released its latest Asia Pacific travel sentiment survey revealing six key findings that the travel industry can leverage for COVID-19 recovery. The research aims to gain insight into the mindset of travellers as the industry looks to survival, recovery and growth in the new normal. It was distributed in June to travellers via Sabre social media channels including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and WeChat.

Further information: https://www.travelmonitor.com.au/category/news/todays-news/sabres-apac-travel-sentiment-survey-results/

New research by Future Travel Experience has highlighted some of the unique techniques airlines and airports are implementing to improve pain-points in the passenger experience. As passenger numbers have decreased airlines and airports have re-imagined some elements of air travel including streamlining the boarding experience, while minimising queues and reducing passenger and staff interaction.

Further information: https://www.futuretravelexperience.com/2020/07/how-aircraft-boarding-process-transformed-post-covid-19/

The Global Destination Sustainability Report is a companion report to the 2020 Adventure Tourism Development Index a product of a partnership with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. The index is designed to more deeply explore the sustainability dimension of adventure tourism competitiveness worldwide.

Further information: https://www.adventuretravel.biz/research/gstc-global-destination-sustainability-report/

Destination IQ will be held in Brisbane on 12 November 2020 as part of the DestinationQ partnership between the Queensland Government, QTIC and TEQ. It will bring together industry to discuss issues, opportunities and strategies for supporting Indigenous tourism growth and employment across the state.

Further information: https://www.qtic.com.au/events/annual-indigenous-employment-forum/

The ATEC’s premier annual event, Meeting Place will run virtually from 23-27 November 2020. The virtual event over five days will provide the opportunity to reconnect, regenerate and reboot.

Further information: https://mailchi.mp/atec.net.au/mpgoingvirtual

The State of Social (SOS) will return to Optus Stadium in Perth for the third year in a row from 24-25 November 2020. The digital marketing event brings together industry experts from around the world to discuss and learn best practice digital and social media marketing.

Further information: https://stateofsocial.com.au/tickets/

The Global Eco Asia-Pacific Tourism Conference will be held in Margaret River, Western Australia from 1-3 December 2020. The theme is – Revolution, Driving Evolution and is aiming attract a diversity of attendees that can contribute to a revolution in the tourism world that can take a fresh look at the industry.

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