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Welcome to this week’s edition of Talking Tourism newsletter.
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Melbourne to Kununurra direct flights now on sale
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East coast visitors can experience the unique scenery and stunning natural attractions of Australia’s North West, with tickets for the ‘Kimberley Express’ flights from Melbourne to Kununurra now on sale. Launching on May 15, 2020, the direct route initiative is the result of a partnership between the State Government, through Tourism WA and the Kimberley Development Commission, and the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley, the East Kimberley Marketing Group, Alliance Airlines, Virgin Australia and APT, as well as the tourism and business community. With a flight time of less than five hours one-way, effectively halving the current travel time to the region, the Alliance Airlines-operated service will be sold through Virgin Australia. It will run three times a week between May and August 2020 from Melbourne to Kununurra on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Economy tickets are priced from $399
one-way all inclusive, with business class seats also available. Tourism WA will invest in marketing the new flight route on the east coast and promote the Kimberley as an exciting holiday destination leading into the 2020 season. Marketing will include cooperative travel partnerships and media partnerships across the second half of 2019. Regional Tourism Organisation Australia’s North West will also support the flights through marketing activity. For more information, read the story on our corporate website.
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Diamonds to compete for Constellation Cup
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Australia's national female netball team, the Samsung Diamonds, will be looking to extend its six straight Constellation Cup winning streak at this year's test, with the side set to take on the New Zealand Silver Ferns at RAC Arena on Sunday, October 27. Perth will host the final showdown of the four-match Constellation Cup, which will be a rematch of last week's World Cup Final where New Zealand beat Australia by one goal, with two games apiece to be held on each side's home soil. The opportunity was secured through Tourism WA and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, and is anticipated to attract both interstate and international visitors to WA and generate national and international media exposure. As part of this event, young fans will also be able to sharpen their skills at Netball Australia coaching clinics and other opportunities with the Diamonds. For
more information, visit our corporate website.
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Top Tourism Town Awards finalists
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The public is encouraged to cast their vote in the 2019 GWN7 Top Tourism Town Awards. Twenty towns have been selected as finalists across the categories of GWN7 Top Tourism Town Award and GWN7 Emerging Tourism Town Award. Each finalist has entered material including a video and itinerary to showcase why their town is a great holiday destination. The winners of each category will take out a package to promote their town via television broadcast while those voting can go in the draw to win a holiday in WA or a voucher for any RAC Park or Resort. The winning towns will be decided based on a combined score made up of public votes and input from a panel of industry judges. The awards are run by Visitor Centres WA and are supported by Tourism WA, GWN7, Vanguard Press and RAC Parks and Resorts. To take a look at the finalists’ entries and enter a vote, visit the website before 5pm August 25.
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Join in the conversation with Tourism WA
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You are invited to join Tourism WA Managing Director Brodie Carr and the Tourism WA leadership team for an update on all of the exciting projects we currently have under way. The event, being held at Optus Stadium’s River View Room on August 15, from 4:30pm to 7pm, will also provide an opportunity to network with Tourism WA staff. Learn more about Tourism WA’s $12m International Marketing Boost; our Narrative Project; our marketing campaigns; this year’s WA Gourmet Escape; recent and future events; destination development and aviation. RSVP by August 5 to Nancy Antoine.
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ITOs discover Aboriginal experiences first-hand
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Representatives from five influential Inbound Tour Operators (ITOs) experienced Aboriginal guided experiences in Broome and Cape Leveque last week on a Discover Aboriginal Experiences famil hosted Tourism WA. The group enjoyed a range of experiences including touring with local Yawuru man Bart Pigram from Narlijia Experiences Broome, who told the story of the region’s fascinating past and present. Travelling further north to Kooljaman on the Dampier Peninsula, the group enjoyed tour experiences with local Bardi men Brian Lee and
Bundy, including mud crabbing, fishing and sampling bush fruits and medicines.
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Destination WA’s winter series returns
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Destination WA has returned for its eighth season, featuring 13 episodes of WA’s best winter getaways including a series of stories featuring Aboriginal tourism products, supported by Tourism WA. This Sunday tune in to see Josh Whiteland from Koomal Dreaming on a Ngilgi Cave Cultural Tour in Yallingup, and next week check out Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours’ Wadjemup Aboriginal Tour on Rottnest Island. Destination WA’s Winter Series airs in WA on Sundays at 5.30pm on Channel 9 and 9HD, and nationally from August 10 at 12.30pm on the Nine Network. All stories from the series are available online here.
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Humpback whale season underway in Coral Coast
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Humpback whale season has begun at WA’s World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Marine Park on Australia’s Coral Coast. Various operators in Coral Bay and Exmouth are now offering full-day interactive whale tours where guests can swim alongside this fascinating mammal. An additional two-year trial approved by the State Government (for 2019 and 2020) allows various local businesses to operate in-water interactive tours. The Coral Coast is a temporary home for up to 35,000 whales migrating along the coastline each year.
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WA on Hollywood’s radar
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A travel guide for Western Australia has featured in an article published in The Hollywood Reporter, which has an estimated monthly audience of just under 24 million. Tourism WA’s US PR team recently hosted journalist Kathryn Romeyn in Perth, Margaret River and Manjimup. The article details famous Hollywood names who have visited some of the state’s most iconic destinations – from Chris Hemsworth’s record breaking quokka selfie to Katy Perry’s visit to Margaret River – confirming WA is indeed fit for the stars.
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Winter sunshine for NZ agents
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Kiwi agents from Tandem Travel experienced the transformation of Perth first-hand on a recent famil with Air New Zealand. Tourism WA partially supported the visit, hosting a walking tour of Perth to showcase the city’s new hotels, eateries and urban precincts, as well as a river cruise to the Swan Valley, followed by a half-day foodie tour. It was the first visit to Perth for each of the eight agents. While in Perth they also headed to Fremantle Prison, Fremantle Markets and Scarborough Beach Sunset Markets.
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New project set to streamline WA tourist attractions
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The Tourist Attractions Regulatory Mapping and Reform Project, led by the Department of Treasury in collaboration with Tourism WA, requires industry input to help streamline the establishment or expansion of new tourist attractions in WA. The project is one in a series under the Streamline WA reform initiative. By sharing your experience through this survey, you will assist the project team in identifying and developing solutions for issues affecting your business the most. The survey will be open until September 1. For more information on the project, please visit the Department of Treasury's website or contact the project team.
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Tourism accreditation re-branded
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Following more than 20 successful years of recognising high-quality tourism businesses, the Australian Tourism Accreditation Program has been re-branded to better promote your business. The new Quality Tourism Framework will combine multiple tourism accreditation, business development and awards programs into a single, user-friendly online tool to develop your business and grow your market, paired with new, modern branding to promote your status as a Quality Tourism Accredited Business. To find out more, visit the website.
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Workshops for Kalgoorlie, Margaret River and Perth
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Tourism Council WA will be holding workshops in Margaret River, Perth and Kalgoorlie over the next few months, covering topics including social media and digital marketing, customer service and strategic marketing. Registrations for the Margaret River workshops close Monday, August 12. For the full schedule and to register, click here.
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Skål International networking lunch
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August 8: Skål International Perth is hosting an August Networking Lunch at Heirloom Restaurant, Fraser Suites from 12:30pm. This event is open to all involved in WA’s travel and tourism industry. Cost is $65 for guests and $55 for Skål International members, including a two-course course lunch with drink on arrival. To register and make a payment, visit the event holder’s website.
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Australian Hotels Association’s 2019 Devil’s Lair Gala Ball
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August 26: The Australian Hotels Association’s 2019 Devil’s Lair Gala Ball will host the presentation of the Perth Airport WA Accommodation Awards for Excellence on Monday, August 26 at The Westin Perth. This event recognises and acknowledges WA’s accommodation industry, celebrating our state’s leading properties and the outstanding staff who drive their ongoing success.The Accommodation Awards for Excellence is recognised as one of the top 10 events in WA, showcasing the finest food, beverages, theming and entertainment. For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, visit the AHA website.
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FACET offering an Astrotourism Workshop
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September 2: Join FACET, the WA Parks Foundation and Geoparks WA for a half-day workshop showcasing the latest WA astrotourism developments and explore the opportunities our unique night skies can offer. A stargazing experience is included. Astrotourism is an emerging sector of the tourism industry and is gaining in popularity around the world. Western Australia has one of the best dark night skies on Earth and is well placed to take advantage of this natural asset. For more information and to register, click here.
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Australian Event Awards and Symposium
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September 16-18: The Australian Event Awards and Symposium is being held in Perth for the first time this year, after a successful bid by Tourism WA, Perth Convention Bureau, VenuesLive and the Events Industry Association. This year’s theme “Creating Connections, Breaking Barriers” aims to bring together event industry leaders as well as offer a variety of sessions exploring the latest event trends and communication techniques. The Symposium will be held at Optus Stadium, with the two-day program concluding with an Event Awards Ceremony where the 2019 winners will be announced. Details of the program and booking information can be found here.
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Regional Tourism Conference registrations now open
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September 16-18: The 2019 WA Tourism Conference, which is supported by Tourism WA, will be held in Karratha in September. The conference will provide delegates with opportunities for professional and business development, networking and engagement with industry colleagues, and the chance to hear from industry-leading speakers on critical industry issues and innovative ideas. To assist tourism businesses from across WA to attend the event, the City of Karratha is offering a subsidy for those who will be flying or driving long distances. Accredited accommodation providers are also offering discounts to delegates. For more information and to register for the conference, click here.
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