Talking Tourism

Hell’s Bell ready to ring in Perth Festival finale

A 300kg starter’s bell will ring in the beginning of Perth Festival’s 2020 free family-friendly, public finale Highway to Hell, on Sunday, March 1. The ‘Hell’s Bell’, a large starter's bell (supplied by the same company that made the original AC/DC Hell's Bell) was unveiled last week as excitement builds ahead of the finale. Highway to Hell features local and international artists performing in the world's largest homage to AC/DC. It will take place along Canning Highway from Applecross to Fremantle on the 40th anniversary since original AC/DC front man, Bon Scott, was laid to rest at Fremantle Cemetery. The event includes more than 130 free community activities spanning 10km of Canning Highway, creating the world's longest stage. Highway to Hell has attracted visitors from as far afield as the US, UK and Japan and is supported by Tourism WA. For more information, read the story on our corporate website.

Asia Pacific’s largest agri-tech event coming to Perth

Perth will welcome visitors from more than 20 countries when it hosts Australia's premier agrifood tech event in February 2021. AgriFutures Australia evokeAG is expected to attract more than 1,000 delegates including farmers, start-ups, innovators, researchers, businesses, government, universities and investors. evokeAG will partner with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Business Events Perth (BEP) and the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation to showcase innovations in agriculture and food production and attract investment from across Australia and the Asia Pacific. Tourism WA provides funding support to BEP to help attract business events to WA. In 2018-19, BEP secured conferences and corporate and incentive meetings which generated around $153 million for the WA economy. evokeAG will be held on February 16-17, 2021. For more information, read the Agriculture and Tourism Ministers’ media statement.

One month to go until Socceroos vs Kuwait in Perth

Socceroos Head Coach Graham Arnold was in Perth on Wednesday to mark one month until Australia takes on Kuwait at HBF Park in Perth. The two nations are currently sitting first (Australia) and second (Kuwait) on Asia’s Group B standings. Next month’s match between Australia and Kuwait at HBF Park will the first time Australia has played in Perth since September 2016. The State Government, through Tourism WA, partnered with Football Federation Australia (FFA) to host the Round 2 qualifier match in Perth, as well as a Round 3 match in 2021 – possibly at Optus Stadium.

New foodie campaign launches in New Zealand

Tourism WA recently partnered with Flight Centre in a campaign targeting New Zealanders to book a foodie-themed holiday in WA. The ‘Eat, Drink, Explore Perth and Beyond’ campaign featured a special Air New Zealand Perth airfare with accommodation and tour options in Perth, Swan Valley, Fremantle and Margaret River. It also featured foodie walking tours, Swan Valley gourmet cruises and Margaret River vineyard tours. The campaign aimed to leverage opportunities from TV show MasterChef Australia, which aired in New Zealand in November.

‘There’s Still Nothing Like Australia' campaign roll-out

The first phase of Tourism Australia’s new international recovery campaign, 'There’s Still Nothing Like Australia', was launched this week. The campaign, which is supported by the $25 million allocated to Tourism Australia through the Australian Government’s National Bushfire Recovery Fund, aims to stimulate demand in the short-term and gradually rebuild Australia’s reputation as a desirable destination. Tourism Australia is drawing inspiration from its long-standing and highly successful global campaign platform, ‘There’s Nothing Like Australia’, by reminding the world that ‘There’s Still Nothing Like Australia’. Tourism Australia is working closely with partners to roll out the campaign globally over the coming weeks. The campaign's global broadcast ad will be unveiled at the Destination Australia Conference in Adelaide on March 12, 2020.

WA’s Hutt Lagoon features in Qantas’ new safety video

As part of Qantas’ Centenary celebration, the airline has created a new inflight safety video that will take passengers on a trip down memory lane. ‘A Century of Safety’ spans 10 decades and showcases some of the moments that have made Qantas the world’s safest airline over their 100 year history. The video is historically accurate to the last detail, to transport passengers through the ages. Peter Allen’s I Still Call Australia Home has also been adapted to suit each decade, from the 1920s ragtime, right through to the stadium rock of the 1980s. As part of Tourism WA’s ongoing partnership with Qantas, the video concludes at WA’s striking Hutt Lagoon pink lake, with the iconic children’s choir singing. The safety video can be viewed here.

Ngurrangga tours joins Signature Experiences collective

Ngurrangga Tours is WA’s latest Aboriginal tourism operator to be elevated to the Discover Aboriginal Experiences (DAE) collective. Ngurrangga Tours’ Clinton Walker helps visitors experience the Pilbara through the eyes of the traditional owners, and learn about the landscape and rock art of the Murujuga and Millstream-Chichester National Parks. The DAE collective is part of the larger Tourism Australia Signature Experience of Australia Program, which is marketed internationally. Western Australia is now represented by seven operators.

West Oz Active Adventure Tours win LUXlife Award

West Oz Active Adventure Tours has taken out the Best Adventure Tour Operator category in the 2020 LUXlife Travel and Tourism Awards. Now in its fourth year, the awards recognise tourism businesses responsible for making dream holidays come to life. West Oz Active Adventure Tours is based in Karijini National Park and offers experiences including canyoning, hiking, climbing, abseiling and tubing. LUXlife is a bimonthly luxury lifestyle magazine, distributed digitally group-wide to a circulation of 238,000, with recipients in more than 170 countries. Find out more about the awards here.

State Government looks to extend Indian Pacific’s journey

The City of Fremantle has welcomed State Government plans to extend the Indian Pacific’s service from the East Perth train station to Fremantle, with some of the preliminary work already underway. The State Government spoke about the plans to coincide with the Indian Pacific’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Read the City of Fremantle’s media release for more information.

Opportunities for nature-based activities in Dwellingup

Expressions of interest are being sought for new commercial nature-based activities in Lane Poole Reserve, Dwellingup. A number of opportunities are available through the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the Shire of Murray, including a cafe/kiosk at the Dwaarlindjirraap (Baden Powell) day use area, with the potential for bicycle or paddle equipment hire, and an in-park shuttle service for the mountain bike trails. Nearby, within the Dwellingup town site, expressions of interest are also being sought for trail and visitor-based commercial activities at the Dwellingup National Trails Centre. For more information, read the Environment Minister’s media statement.