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Welcome to this week’s edition of Talking Tourism newsletter.
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Tourism Bound marks new era in collaboration
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Local government and tourism industry leaders from across the State came together yesterday for the inaugural Tourism Bound. The Tourism WA-run event was developed so delegates could share their knowledge, ideas, research and success stories to help shape the future of tourism in Western Australia. Tourism Bound will help the industry recover from the impacts of COVID-19 by strengthening collaboration across government and industry. Presentations were delivered on a range of topics including destination marketing, the important role of visitor centres, the potential of Aboriginal tourism, an overview of WA’s aviation landscape, and the role of national parks in the tourism space. It also helped clarify the roles and responsibilities of peak tourism organisations in the State, including their relationship with national, state and regional tourism bodies. Tourism WA Acting
Managing Director Derryn Belford said the event marked a new era of collaboration and understanding between tourism organisations, government and industry. Read more on our corporate website.
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Staycations out in front as summer season is off and racing
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Staycations will be in the spotlight as part of the promotion of WA’s most prestigious and largest annual racing festival, the TABtouch Masters (the Masters), supported by Tourism WA, and the TABtouch Perth Cup. Running from November 21 to January 2, the Masters and Perth Cup have the potential to attract tens of thousands of people to Ascot Racecourse over the four races. The staycation campaign will be advertised to both metropolitan and regional areas and will encourage WA locals to extend their race day experience into a staycation, with packages priced from $194 per person. Some packages may include options to incorporate tourism attractions such as Rottnest Island tours or a visit to wineries in the Swan Valley. Read more on our website.
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Wander out Yonder campaign extended
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Almost every region across the State is being featured on 9News’ nightly weather cross thanks to a new Tourism WA partnership. The weather team has spent the week travelling around WA, crossing live from different regions each night. The team started in Kalgoorlie on Sunday, with the live crosses continuing next week. The initiative is part of our continued focus on intrastate travel, through our Wander out Yonder campaign. We’ve also partnered with Qantas Hotels in an offer for West Aussies to use their Frequent Flyer points for a Perth stay. Meanwhile, our Perth Staycations campaign is being extended in partnership with the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) WA, and Destination Perth. The campaign encourages everyone living in regional areas to rediscover our capital city in our Festival of Summer. More information is available on our website.
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Inspirational images added to library
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Spectacular new images of Australia’s South West, Australia’s Coral Coast and Australia’s Golden Outback have recently been added to Tourism WA’s image library. Visitor hotspots including Albany’s historic whaling station, Ngilgi Cave and the Valley of the Giants are just some of the stunning new images added showcasing the South West region. Australia’s Coral Coast has had images covering Exmouth, Coral Bay, Ningaloo Marine Park, The Pinnacles and Turquoise Bay added. Images of Australia’s Golden Outback have been boosted with the addition of Hellfire Bay, Twilight Cove, Lucky Bay, West Beach, Nine Mile Beach and Wave Rock. The image library is free to access and provides the tourism industry, travel media, State Government agencies and convention and event organisations with visual assets to promote the State. Find out more on our website.
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Brits have Wanderlust for Western Australia
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Tourism WA partnered with Wanderlust magazine to keep Western Australia on UK travellers’ wish lists through inspirational digital articles and a virtual consumer event for readers of the magazine. The event attracted 539 attendees, the most popular Wanderlust has run to date. The online talk included a presentation by TV presenter Monty Halls and Wanderlust journalists who have visited WA on Tourism WA-hosted trips, as well as Trailfinders’ head of Australian product to provide inspiration and answer questions. Content centred on WA’s extraordinary nature and wildlife with a focus on road trips, including the Coral Coast Highway, the Gibb River Road and the South West. Reader engagement was really high with comments such as ‘I've never had Australia on my bucket list but tonight has truly changed my mind!.’ Wanderlust readers are committed adventure seekers,
87 per cent plan to travel in 2021 with Australia coming top of their wish list (#2, just behind Japan). Watch the talk here.
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Image: Matt Jelonek
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Winning on the menu at 2020 Hospitality Awards
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A host of outstanding hospitality venues and staff from around the State were acknowledged at the 2020 AHA-Aon Hospitality Awards for Excellence on Monday night at the White Claw Gala Ball, Crown Perth. This year the Awards, sponsored by Tourism WA, attracted a record number of entrants, with categories including dining, employee and entertainment awards. Among the winners were Bruce Strickland, who was awarded the Hospitality Industry Lifetime Achievement Award; Boston Brewing Co. in Demark, which was crowned WA’s Best Regional Hospitality Venue; and joint winners The Old Synagogue and the Royal Hotel who took out Perth’s Best Hospitality Venue. For the full list, go to the Australian Hotels Association website. AHA (WA) Chief Executive Officer Bradley Woods
said WA’s hotels, pubs, bars, restaurants and taverns had shown incredible resolve despite dealing with the turbulence of COVID-19.
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G2G PASS and G2G NOW explained
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WA has transitioned to a controlled interstate border, meaning travellers to WA now need to complete a registration and declaration using G2G PASS or G2G Now. The G2G Pass is for people travelling from 'very low risk' jurisdictions (Queensland, Tasmania, ACT and the Northern Territory). Each G2G PASS will be scanned by an authorised officer upon arrival and every traveller will undergo a health screening at Perth Airport. G2G Now is for people travelling from 'low risk' States, who still need to quarantine on arrival (Victoria and New South Wales). Anyone who has been in either Victoria or New South Wales, who has knowingly come into contact with someone from these States in the 14 days prior to entering WA, will be required to quarantine for 14 days.
South Australia has moved from the ‘very low risk’ category to a ‘medium risk’ category, which means no one will be allowed into WA if they have been in South Australia in the previous 14 days, unless they meet new exemption requirements. Check the WA Government website for further information.
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New grants support digital innovation
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Digitally innovative tourism businesses can apply for a new grant program launched to support the technology-led ideas of businesses in rural and remote Australia. The Innovate with nbn Grants Program recognises and showcases individuals, businesses or organisations that are lifting digital participation and stimulating regional communities with funding to help develop their idea. The grants have seven categories, with one focussed on tourism. Category winners will receive a $10,000 grant, with an overall grant of up to $25,000 for the most outstanding application across all categories. Find out more here.
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William Bay National Park back open for business
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Stage one and two of the William Bay renewal project is now complete, with the park reopening to public on Tuesday. As one of the Great Southern Region's tourism drawcards, the park’s diverse landscapes and turquoise waters attract more than 300,000 visitors each year with this number expected to increase as a direct result of the upgrades. The State Government invested $4.4 million in the project over two years, which so far includes newly sealed roads to provide easier and safer access to the eastern end of the park as well as over 200 parking bays, which more than doubles the park’s parking capacity. In addition there are three new fully accessible toilet-change room facilities at Greens Pool, Elephant Rocks and Madfish Bay. The next stage of the renewal project is now underway and will include access paths to beach, new interpretative signage and a lookout.
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Positions available on Australia’s South West Board
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Australia’s South West (ASW) is seeking Expressions of Interest for two available skills-based Board positions beginning in February 2021. The candidates will be selected by the Board, based on the required skill sets aligning with ASW’s strategic goals. The Board is focusing on the skills of: finance and accounting, business relationships and networks, strategic technology and tourism industry knowledge and experience (desirable). Interested applicants should follow the instructions in the nomination pack. Nominations must be received by the Chief Executive Officer by 5pm on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 and all eligibility criteria met for the nomination to be deemed valid.
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Register for regional workshops and networking this November
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November: Registrations are closing soon for Tourism Council WA’s training workshops and the Tourism Connect networking function throughout the region this November. Attend the training workshops to upskill your business, then join Tourism Council CEO Evan Hall at the networking event to discuss important industry issues. Join Tourism Council WA in Chittering (November 24), registrations closing tomorrow, and Joondalup (November 26). For the full schedule of events and to secure your spot, visit TCWA’s website.
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Online workshop – Growing wine tourism and exports
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November 17-20: Wine Australia in partnership with ATEC and Hydra Consulting have combined the popular ‘Growing Wine Tourism’ and ‘Growing Wine Exports’ programs, to deliver new-look hybrid online workshops that cover both wine export and wine tourism training at introductory and advanced levels. The training comprises four, three-hour online sessions and participants can choose to select only Wine Tourism or Wine Exports. Find out more and register for the workshops here.
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FACET celebrates its 30th birthday
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November 21: The Forum Advocating Cultural and Eco-Tourism Inc (FACET) is inviting members of the tourism industry join them in celebrating their 30th birthday with an event at the Claremont Yacht Club. The evening begins at 6.30pm with drinks followed by a buffet dinner and entertainment. Find out more information and register here.
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WAITOC AGM
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December 1: The Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC) will hold their Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 1 December at 5.30pm at the Crown Convention Centre. For RSVPs and further details, please email admin@waitoc.com. Refreshments and networking will follow the completion of the presentations.
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Tourism Council WA’s Xmas Tipple
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December 4: Registrations are closing soon for Tourism Council WA’s Xmas Tipple. Don’t miss out on your chance to join the tourism industry’s biggest Christmas party on December 4. Xmas Tipple is the time to catch up and relax with others in the tourism industry and reflect on the year that was. Join Tourism Council WA for great local beverages, an array of food, and amazing prizes. For more information and to register for the event, visit TCWA’s website.
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Skål Christmas event
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December 10: Enjoy lunch with travel and tourism industry friends at the Duxton Ballroom for the 2020 Skål International Perth Christmas networking lunch. Tickets to the event include a two course sit down lunch and four hour drinks package. Book here.
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Destination Australia 2021
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March 4: Tourism Australia will host the seventh annual Destination Australia conference on March 4, 2021 at the ICC Sydney. After the unprecedented challenges of 2020, the conference will focus on the future of Australian tourism, with high profile speakers sharing consumer insights, global trends and discussing key opportunities for the tourism industry in a post COVID-19 world. Destination Australia will also be offered online for those unable to attend in person. Watch a recap of last year’s event here and stay tuned for more information on speakers and how to register.
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