New digital campaign takes off in Singapore and Malaysia

Tourism Australia and Singapore Airlines have kicked off 2018 with an online campaign in Singapore and Malaysia promoting the airline’s competitive fares Down Under. The all-digital campaign, a first for Malaysia, will run for the next six months showcasing Australia’s food and wine and aquatic and coastal experiences. Singapore Airlines is one of Tourism Australia's longest standing airline partners, with a relationship stretching back more than two decades. The two parties jointly fund a range of tourism campaigns and promotional activities in seven of Australia's key inbound markets - Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, UK, Germany and China.

Local area tourism profiles

Tourism Research Australia (TRA) has published updated tourism profiles for over 200 local Government areas. Data is drawn from the International Visitor Survey and National Visitor Survey along with demographic and business data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Etihad Airways campaign kicks off in Germany

Tourism Australia and Etihad Airways have launched a new multi-channel marketing campaign in Germany to highlight some of Australia’s premium and unique experiences. The campaign will be extended by partnerships with Tourism Western Australia and Destination New South Wales. Etihad Airways is offering special fares from Frankfurt, München, Düsseldorf and Stuttgart to Sydney, Perth, Melbourne or Brisbane for travel between 1 February and 30 June 2018. Additional joint advertising activity in France and Italy will start in January, predominately in digital channels.

Borobi hosts Malaysian mascot on the Gold Coast

Excitement for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) continues to build in Malaysia with sports broadcaster Astro Arena airing a two-part ‘G’day Gold Coast’ special to a potential audience of three million. The program follows the adventures of Rimau, the mascot of the Malaysian team, as he visits GC2018 mascot Borobi who takes him on a fun journey exploring the Gold Coast. The program gives viewers a sneak preview of the Games Village and the city’s world class venues. The trip was hosted by Tourism Australia and Tourism and Events Queensland.

Italian trade partners attend Australia training days

100 travel agents and 30 tour operators attended Aussie Meetups in December, a roadshow through Turin, Milan and Rome in Italy. The Italian trade players had the opportunity to meet Tourism Australia and 11 key partners including: South Australia Tourism Commission, Tourism Northern Territory, Tourism and Events Queensland, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Ethiad Airways, Across Oceania, Hamilton Island – Voyagers, Quicksilver – Green Island, AATKings and Silky Oaks. The format included one to one meetings as well as presentations by the States.

Signature Travel Network National Conference

Tourism Australia was a major sponsor of the 2017 Signature Travel Network National Conference in Las Vegas in December, leading a delegation of partners in the 17/18 Signature Network program including Tourism Northern Territory, Visit Victoria, South Australia Tourism Commission, Tourism Western Australia and Tourism and Events Queensland. Along with one on one appointments and participation in the global trade show, Australia held a destination workshop with over 200 registered agents. Signature Travel Network consists of more than 6,000 agents, reaching over 4 million consumers and generating US$7 billion in annual sales globally.

One Voice Aussie Gathering in Hong Kong

Tourism Australia hosted a ‘One Voice Aussie Gathering’ for over 80 travel industry leaders in Hong Kong in December where representatives from each of Australia’s States and Territories gave an update on their latest travel products. The updates were also accompanied by a lucky draw for each region.

New Qantas service from Osaka welcomed

Qantas commenced a new direct flight between Kansai (Osaka) and Sydney on 14 December. The year-round direct flights will operate three times per week. Qantas is working with Tourism Australia to showcase Australia and highlight the new service in Japan. Tourism Australia provided support for a press tour of seven media from Japan’s Kansai region on the inaugural flight to help promote the service.

Field of Light Uluru shines on into 2020

Internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro’s immersive installation, Field of Light Uluru, has been extended for a further period and will now remain in place until 31 December 2020. The award-winning exhibition, located at Ayers Rock Resort, opened on 1 April 2016 to critical acclaim, and has since exceeded all expectations proving to be a stand-out drawcard to the destination.

Count down on for Australian Open 2018

Australian Open 2018 is set for an action-packed two-week program from 15-28 January at venues across the Melbourne Park precinct. In-between matches, spectators can enjoy many exciting events including international music acts at the AO Live Stage, delicious meals by one of four A-list chefs at the AO Chef Series and cool off at the pop-up Melbourne Beach Club at the Grand Slam Oval.

New Blue Mountains express train services

Visitors to the Blue Mountains can now get there faster, thanks to 24 new express train services departing from Sydney’s Central station. The extra services have been added in response to growing demand from visitors to destinations including Wentworth Falls, Leura and Katoomba, particularly on weekends. During the week, visitors can also take advantage of a new eight-car Lithgow express service, every day at 8:50am, which reduces the journey from Central to Katoomba by up to 17 minutes.

Swan Valley’s new boutique accommodation

Mandoon Estate, one of Perth’s premier boutique wineries in the Swan Valley, has officially launched its new accommodation offering, The Colony. The new site offers 32 luxury rooms and suites, all with alfresco areas looking out to the Swan River on one side, and the historic Verdelho vines planted in 1895 on the other.

ATE18 Media Marketplace

It is the last week for Australian tourism products and experiences to register to attend the ATE18 Media Marketplace from 13 to 14 April 2018 in Adelaide. ATE18 Media Marketplace provides an opportunity to meet exclusively with international and domestic media for one-on-one appointments and networking events. Media and influencers who generate editorial, or create content on Australian tourism products, destinations and experiences for consumers will attend. Applications are open until Wednesday 17 January.

Australian Accommodation Monitor

The Federal Government has announced it will continue providing a national accommodation survey, the Australian Accommodation Monitor (AAM), through a new arrangement with global data analytics provider STR. The AAM will collect detailed information on occupancy rates and business takings from hotels, motels and serviced apartments across metropolitan and regional Australia. Results from the AAM for the 2016–17 financial year will be published in July 2018, with subsequent results published each October. Find out more. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Tourism Australia wishes to extend its sincere condolences to the friends, family and industry colleagues of Ward Tilbrook, the former CEO of the South Australian Tourism Industry Council, who passed away on 1 January.

Malaysia Airlines will resume direct flights four times per week between Brisbane and Kuala Lumpur from 6 June.

Qatar Airways will start flying A380 aircraft on its Perth route from 1 May, boosting passenger capacity by 44 per cent or more than 115,000 seats a year.

The Tasmanian Government has committed $1 million to improve visitor access to the Tasman Peninsula in support of a new $20m luxury wilderness retreat by Baillie Lodges which adjoins the Tasman National Park.

Hainan Airlines commenced direct services twice a week between Shenzhen and Cairns in December. To capitalise on the new direct flights, Tourism Tropical North Queensland appointed representation agency Contineo Marketing to promote Tropical North Queensland in China.

China has overtaken the United Kingdom as WA’s biggest international market in terms of visitor spend for the first time.

Qantas will commence direct flights four times per week between Melbourne and San Francisco from late 2018.

The South Australian Tourism Commission has published a video of SA tourism highlights for 2017.

Tourism and Events Queensland has produced a range of ‘Be China Ready’ materials to help Queensland tourism businesses ensure they are ready to welcome Chinese visitors.

Tourism Western Australia has appointed Ava Ang as country manager for Singapore and Malaysia.

Tourism Australia and Austrade have published a snapshot for investors highlighting Australia's economic profile, visitation and spend, aviation growth and accommodation performance.