Talking Tourism

Issue #457, May 19, 2017


Hello

Talking Tourism is Tourism Western Australia's e-newsletter detailing the latest news, events, products and other information of interest to you in the WA tourism industry.

Just Another Day in WA

New ‘Just Another Day in WA’ campaign films launched

The next series of ‘Just Another Day in WA’ promotional materials are ready to roll out, this time focusing on experiences in and around the Perth region. The films showcase extraordinary experiences including Caversham Wildlife Park and the Perth Hills, Fremantle, Rockingham’s dolphins, Kings Park, Perth’s beaches and CBD, and Elizabeth Quay. Two of the six videos boost domestic promotion, while the other four have been created to appeal specifically to the Singaporean, Malaysian, Chinese, Indonesian and Japanese markets, and present a wider variety of experiences on offer. These four films also use the tag-line “Just Another Day in Western Australia”, instead of WA, to make the destination clearer to international markets. For more information head to the Tourism WA corporate website

 

ATE 2017 showcased WA to more than 2,500 buyers

Tourism Australia’s 38th annual Australian Tourism Exchange took place in Sydney this week, bringing together more than 2,500 travel industry delegates from more than 30 countries. Western Australia was represented by 101 industry sellers, national sellers representing West Australian products and Tourism WA staff. Tourism WA CEO Gwyn Dolphin said, “This year’s ATE provided a great opportunity for the WA tourism industry to promote its fantastic range of offers to key international buyers. There was a real level of interest in the attractive and affordable new tourism products in the State generated from existing and new markets.” Tourism WA’s Destination and Events PR team attended the ATE media marketplace prior to ATE, presenting key WA experiences to around 90 international and domestic media.

 
Perth skyline CREDIT: City of Perth

Tourism consortium

Friday, May 19 saw the first of the State Government’s Industry Engagement Consortia, with a focus on tourism. The think-tank was attended by  Premier Mark McGowan, Tourism Minister Paul Papalia, Tourism WA Chairman Peter Prendiville and CEO Gwyn Dolphin, and industry leaders. Mr McGowan said it was fitting tourism was the first consortium to be held and reflected it’s important in diversifying WA's economy. Ton find out more, go to the State Government website.

 
 

 

WA tourism businesses get export ready

Peak export industry association, the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) has partnered with Tourism WA to provide selected tourism products the opportunity to expand their businesses into the international market. The BRITE initiative – Building Readiness for Inbound Tourism Excellence – is designed to introduce new product to international markets through a guided program that ensures they are ready for export. Nine WA businesses have been chosen to take part in the program. Read more on the Tourism WA corporate website.

 

Update on current campaigns

Tourism WA’s marketing strategy focuses on targeted communications, cooperative marketing with key airlines and distribution partners, trade education, event marketing, public relations and major business event promotion in conjunction with the Perth Convention Bureau. To view updates on current campaigns including work with Expedia, Discover Australia Holidays and Broome, Kimberley and Beyond, head to the Tourism WA corporate website.

 

Boost to shore experiences for cruise visitors to Busselton

Cruise ship visitors to Busselton can look forward to even better shore experiences thanks to new training, funded by Tourism WA. The specialised short training program, delivered by Tour Guides WA, will be offered to Busselton community members interested in becoming an accredited WA Shorex Guide. The training will take place on June 17-18, 2017. Tour Guides WA will deliver a specialised one-and-a-half day training program they have developed to provide a pool of ‘cruise ready’ WA Shorex Guides. Tour coach drivers, tourism attraction guides, cruise ship meet and greet volunteers and others in the community interested in learning more about this exciting opportunity are invited to contact cruise@margaretriver.com. Read more on the Tourism WA corporate website.

 

Crowds prepare to muster in the Kimberley

The 17th annual Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster, which is sponsored by Tourism WA, kicks off in Kununurra today. Featuring more than 30 spectacular events spanning 10 days, the Muster celebrates the unique landscapes, cultural diversity and welcoming community of the Kimberley region. The Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster is proudly supported by the State Government through Tourism WA and Royalties for Regions. A highlight of the Muster is the Kimberley Moon Experience, staged on the banks of the Ord River. This event, which draws thousands of people, will this year be headlined by Aussie icons Jimmy Barnes and Daryl Braithwaite, along with The McClymonts. Read more on the Tourism WA corporate website.

 
Boo Boo
Boo Boo the whale shark Picture: Brad Norman, ECOCEAN

Boo Boo is back

Boo Boo, the extrovert whale shark is back in waters off Ningaloo Reef. The 7-metre whale shark has been a regular at the reef for many years. To find out more, check out the Tourism WA corporate website.

 

WA’s extraordinary flora on show in the UK

Tourism WA has partnered with The Eden Project in the UK to showcase some of the extraordinary flora and habitats found in the State’s South West region. The Eden Project is a tourist drawcard in Cornwall, featuring a global garden in a 50 metre deep crater, where massive biomes house the largest rainforest in captivity, stunning plants and exhibitions. Tourism WA’s sponsorship of the exhibit aims to encourage affluent long haul travellers aged over 50 to choose Western Australia for their next holiday. Read more on the Tourism WA corporate website.

 
Christmas Island
Image courtesy of Christmas Island Tourism Association CREDIT: Wondrous World Images

Christmas Island joins ATDW

The Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) has welcomed the inclusion of Christmas Island Tourism Association within the ATDW-Online platform. This partnership will now enable tourism businesses and events located on the Island to register their experiences and load their listing(s) directly into the ATDW database for wider online distribution. ATDW has also created a video explaining its role and how to get involved. Read more and view the video on the ATDW website.

 
South Beachfront Development perspective - for illustration purposes only

Beachfront development opportunities

The Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority (MRA) is calling for expressions of interest from developers to design, construct and deliver a vibrant commercial and retail precinct in Scarborough. The north and south beachfront development sites incorporate 4,698m² of prime land with great potential for high quality retail and food and beverage offerings, cultural and civic spaces. Expressions of interest close 2.30pm WST on Thursday, July 13, 2017. For more information head to the MRA website.

 
 

 

Transforming Bunbury’s waterfront

The Koombana Bay foreshore's transformation has begun with a sod-turning ceremony held last week to mark the start of one of the most significant infrastructure projects to be carried out in Bunbury in recent years. Improvements will include landscaping, revamped kiosk and public amenities, amphitheatre and shaded areas, new Koombana Drive pedestrian bridge, and accessible playground. The City of Bunbury-managed revitalisation is expected to be complete by December, in time to be enjoyed by visitors and locals over summer. Forward works are also progressing well for the Dolphin Discovery Centre redevelopment. Read more on the Transforming Bunbury’s Waterfront website.

 

Mandurah and Peel Tourism Organisation seeking Marketing Manager

Mandurah and Peel Tourism Organisation Inc (MAPTO) is a local tourism organisation responsible for destination marketing and tourism product development in the Peel Region of Western Australia. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Marketing Manager is a hands-on role primarily responsible for development, co-ordination and delivery of multi-media campaigns with a strong focus on digital marketing and social media, promotional activities and public relations. For more details head to the Seek website. Applications close May 31, 2017.

 

Ferguson Valley Tourism Route launched

The Ferguson Valley Tourism Route was officially launched last week. The initiative involved sealing and upgrading the remaining gravel section of the Pile-Mungalup Road to provide better linkages between the Ferguson Valley and Wellington National Park recreational and tourism destinations, as well as provide an alternative route between Bunbury and Collie. In 2015, the South West Development Commission was successful in securing $1.7 million in Royalties for Regions funding to enable the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup to undertake and complete the project.

 

The Kimberley recognised at Superyacht Awards

The World Superyacht Awards 2017, held in Florence last week, awarded the Voyager’s Award to an Australian cruise itinerary aboard the 49 metre Glaze. The Voyager’s Award is presented to the yacht that, in the opinion of the judges, completed the most inspirational cruise during 2016. The element of the cruise submitted was in Australia’s North West, between Wyndham and Broome, where they visited the remote, spectacular and extremely rugged coastline of the Kimberley. The announcement will undoubtedly be an inspiration to others interested in cruising around Australia, especially in the Kimberley. Read more on the Boat International website.

 

Australia celebrates 50 years of export tourism success

Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) has congratulated Tourism Australia (TA) on its work as a 'world leading' marketing body, as it celebrated 50 years of international marketing success at ATE this week. Tourism Australia has played a critical role, working in partnership with the Australian tourism export industry, in achieving phenomenal success in a dynamic and competitive global tourism marketplace. Read the full media release on the ATEC website.

 

Join Tourism WA’s China Fliggy Campaign

Tourism WA, in conjunction with China Southern Airlines and Fliggy (part of the Alibaba group), invites industry operators to participate in the upcoming Fliggy digital campaign to promote Western Australia as a holiday destination to Free Independent Travellers (FIT) in China. This campaign will run for 13 weeks from May 29 to August 31. Fliggy is the world’s largest online travel platform with over 200 million users. Tourism WA encourages all WA tourism operators who are currently active in China or are keen to enter the China market to participate in this campaign. Read more and download the prospectus on the Tourism WA corporate website.

 

Invitation to Tender - PR services in South East Asia

Tourism WA is seeking an innovative Public Relations agency, in-market, to represent services across Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. The agency will be required to work with key media and influencers across South East Asia, Tourism WA and tourism industry partners to generate stories that educate and inspire potential travellers about the extraordinary holiday and event experiences on offer in Western Australia. For more information head to the Tourism WA corporate website. Interested parties should note the closing date is 2.30pm (WST – Perth) on Tuesday, May 23, 2017.

 

Tourism WA media kit available now

Tourism WA produces a media kit each year which provides information about Western Australia's destinations and tourism industry. Download the latest media kit from the Tourism WA corporate website. Email media@westernaustralia.com if you require the kit in a different format, or if you need images.

 

Save the date for China Travel Mission 2017

The Tourism WA China Travel Mission aims to increase awareness of WA as a holiday destination and enables WA operators to establish and increase business opportunities with key trade partners in China and Hong Kong. The dates for the 2017 mission have been confirmed for October 22 – 25, with the host city to be announced soon. Highlights of last year’s mission in Shanghai include WA industry round table discussions, one-on-one appointments with 45 key outbound tour agencies from mainland China and Hong Kong, and networking functions. The full prospectus will be available in June/July 2017. Read more on the Tourism WA corporate website.

 

Nominations open for tourism awards

Nominations are now open for the prestigious 2017 Perth Airport Western Australian Tourism Awards. Celebrating its 45th year, the awards recognise and reward business excellence within WA’s tourism industry. With 31 categories to choose from, including festivals and events, adventure tourism, tours and transport, food, wine and accommodation, there is a category to suit every tourism business. Gold medallists in categories 1 - 25 will become automatic finalists in the national Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, which will be hosted in Perth in early 2018. With the support of Tourism WA, Tourism Council WA offers a number of entrant support initiatives to nominees. Nominations close on Friday, June 9, 2017. For more information on the awards, including the process, important dates and entrant support initiatives, visit the Tourism Council WA website.

 
 

 

INDUSTRY EVENTS

Visit Tourism WA’s corporate website for a comprehensive list of workshops, conferences and other events that may be of interest to WA’s tourism industry. To list or update your industry event, email media@westernaustralia.com.

 

Training workshops scheduled across WA

May - June: Tourism Council WA (TCWA) has released its schedule of industry-relevant workshops for the first half of 2017 in Albany, Broome, Esperance, Exmouth, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Kununurra, Mandurah, Margaret River and Perth. The workshops, funded through Tourism WA, include topics covering digital marketing, customer service, introduction to tourism, media and PR, and getting your business ready to service the Chinese market. For more information or to register head to the TCWA website.

 

WA State Heritage and History Conference

May 11 – 23: With the theme 'connections', this inaugural conference will explore the threads that connect places with their past and how history helps our understanding of heritage. Subject areas will include heritage conservation and development, historical research, cultural and heritage tourism, collections management and interpretation.

 

Perth Hotel & Venue Development Breakfast

June 8: Tourism Council WA (TCWA) and Property Council of Australia (WA Division) present the latest insights on hotel, venue and precinct development at the Perth Hotel and Venue Development Breakfast to be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. Speakers include Minister for Tourism Hon Paul Papalia CSC MLA, Perth Stadium CEO Mike McKenna and CBRE Hotels Senior Director David Kennedy. Registrations are now open, visit the TCWA website for information and tickets.

 

FACET Creating Brand Energy Workshop

June 16: Spend a morning with marketing guru and author of ‘Creating Brand Energy’, Cath Sutherland of Conscious Business. Cath will guide you through her unique creative process to uncover your brand energy and show you how to harness this energy to create a healthy business culture, powerful brand and successful business. This workshop will benefit any business or organisation across all sectors, whether you’re a small business owner or corporate professional. To be held at Matilda Bay from 8.45am – 12.30pm.

 

WA Regional Tourism Conference

September 11 – 13: Albany will be the host town for the inaugural 2017 WA Regional Tourism Conference, funded by Tourism WA. The event is suitable for tourism operators from across Western Australia to attend and is presented in partnership by Tourism Council WA, Visitor Centres WA, Caravan Industry Association WA, Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC) and Australia’s South West. Visit the Tourism Council WA website to find out more.

 

Australian Event Symposium

September 14 – 15: The two-day conference in Queensland will focus on Events, Technology and the Art of the Unexpected. Exploring how business, public and special events can produce unforgettable experiences through the use of technology. It will also focus on the connection between events and tourism, looking at how the two industries can work together more effectively. For the full program and to register visit http://eventsymposium.com.au/.

 

2017 FACET Conference

October 9 – 11: Save the date for this year’s FACET conference, supported by Tourism WA, themed ‘Celebrate our parks’. Working with the newly established WA Parks Foundation, the conference will deliver an informative and innovative program and provide a platform to raise awareness and appreciation of our unique and ancient landscapes.

 

 
 

 

For upcoming Tourism WA sponsored events head to the Tourism WA corporate website