Talking Tourism

Road trips magazine to feature in Weekend West

Keep an eye out for Tourism WA’s 24-page WA Road Trips magazine in this Saturday’s edition of The Weekend West. Taking inspiration from Tourism WA’s Road Trips Guide, the editorial content was written by The West’s travel team and features road trip routes across the state. The liftout showcases WA’s spectacular scenery along with travel tips and how to make the most of your journey throughout the Road Trip State. This liftout is part of Tourism WA’s domestic road trips campaign to encourage intrastate dispersal. An interstate campaign has also been launched in partnership with national broadcaster Macquarie Radio Network. Earlier in November, Tourism WA hosted radio presenter Steve Price in WA’s South West, where he broadcast live shows from Albany and Bunbury from November 12 to 15. A range of destination content, including interviews with local operators, featured as part of his national program, Nights with Steve Price, broadcast on 3AW (Sydney), 2GB (Melbourne) and 4BC (Brisbane) and 47 regional locations in NSW, VIC and QLD. The campaign also includes commercial radio advertisements, press and social activity.

Aboriginal tourism experiences showcased on Destination WA

This week’s episode of Destination WA’s Summer Series, supported by Tourism WA, explores one of the world’s oldest surviving cultures with Dillon Andrews from Bungoolee Tours in the Kimberley, and Clinton Walker of Ngurrangga Tours in the Pilbara. You will also experience the marine wonderland of Ningaloo Reef from a glass-bottomed boat tour with Ningaloo Coral Bay, let Fremantle Tours showcase new bar and dining hotspots in the eclectic port city, and go on an epic adventure in Karijini National Park with Flying Sandgroper Tours. The show’s Summer Series includes 12 stories dedicated to Aboriginal tourism, which have been funded through the WA State Government’s Aboriginal Tourism Development Program in partnership with the WA Indigenous Tourism Operators Council. Destination WA is supported by Tourism WA, together with regional tourism organisations Australia’s North West, Coral Coast, Golden Outback, Destination Perth and local operators. Destination WA’s Summer Series airs in WA on Sundays at 5.30pm and nationally on Saturdays at 12.30pm on the Nine Network.

Flight Centre campaign launches in the UK

Tourism WA has teamed up with Flight Centre to launch its Road Trip campaign in the UK. The campaign aims to increase visitation and regional dispersal in WA by showcasing a range of extraordinary road trips including a new fly/drive package along the Coral Coast and two-week trips through the South West and Kimberley. Running from November until the end of December, the activity includes retail posters and digital screens in Flight Centre’s 80 shops, e-newsletters, a supplement with The Times and content and holiday offers in consumer magazines. Pre-campaign agent training was also part of the campaign.

European travel agents experience the Kimberley

Tourism WA recently hosted German and Swiss travel agents from travel wholesaler and retailer, Boomerang Reisen, on a trip to Western Australia's Kimberley region. The group experienced a Kimberley Wild tour, with opportunities to sleep under the stars, and visited Emma Gorge and El Questro station. Other experiences included a flight over the Bungle Bungles, as well as trips to Lake Argyle, Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing, Broome, Cape Leveque and more.

Dreamtime stories on the Swan join Fringe World festivities

Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours has partnered with Fringe World to offer a cruise on the Swan River as part of Fringe Festival. Dreamtime on the Derbarl Yerrigan is a river cruise with a difference, with guests enjoying Dreamtime stories told by Noongar guide Walter McGuire while onboard the Crystal Swan. Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours, which runs tours at Elizabeth Quay and Yagan Square, receives assistance and support from Tourism WA though the Aboriginal Tourism Development Initiative – a Perth program funded by Indigenous Business Australia, City of Perth, Tourism WA and the WA Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC). Book tickets online through Fringe World for the cruise, which departs on January 24 and February 14, 2019.

New open-topped double-decker bus tour launches in Perth

Perth Explorer’s new open-topped double-decker bus took its maiden cruise this week with a special tour to showcase its new multilingual commentary available in eight languages. Tourism Minister Paul Papalia attended the launch and jumped on board for a short tour of Kings Park before Parliament. Perth Explorer Hop On Hop Off tour has 12 stops, including Kings Park, Northbridge, Crown Perth, Elizabeth Quay, Bell Tower, city shopping malls, Perth Mint, WA Art Gallery, Yagan Square, Optus Stadium and Watertown, and takes two hours from start to finish. It is the only hop on hop off tour to offer expert commentary in eight languages. Visit the website for more information.

Perth in National Geographic’s Best Trips 2019

Western Australia’s capital city has been named by National Geographic as one of the places to visit for 2019. Lauded for its world-class beaches, Swan Valley wineries, urban-chic hotels and the waterfront development at Elizabeth Quay, Perth makes its mark as Australia’s best kept secret. The incredible rock formations and coastal cliffs of Western Australia also get a mention. National Geographic has a global online audience of 27 million. Read the article here.

Perth a top destination in Conde Nast Traveller

Perth has been included in Conde Nast Traveller’s Top Holiday Destinations for 2019. The coverage comes off the back of Tourism WA’s UK team pitching stories to Conde Nast Traveller’s editorial team and hosting its publishing director, Simon Leadsford, on an inaugural press trip to WA this year. The article highlights Qantas’s new London to Perth direct flight, as well as the Gourmet Escape, Ningaloo Reef, Rottnest Island, Cottesloe Beach, Elizabeth Quay and new hotels, to name a few.