Press Release

Sunday 2 December 2007

TASMANIA PROMOTED OVERSEAS AS ISLAND JEWEL
Tasmania will be touted as an ideal tourist destination to millions of overseas radio and television audiences.

A Hong Kong film crew and German radio station SWR3 have been touring Tasmania to promote the state as an exciting and vibrant destination for overseas visitors.

The radio and television networks alone have audiences of millions of people, Minister for Tourism, Arts and the Environment, Paula Wriedt, said.

“The visits are helping to spread the word about the natural beauty and wonderful experiences on offer in Tasmania to the important South East Asian and European travel markets,” she said.

The delegation was in the state at the same time as Tasmania’s inaugural International Symposium, which was designed to help the state’s tourism industry to market their services to international visitors.

Sixty winners of a promotion by the German radio station are currently touring Tasmania with its crew and feeding daily broadcasts about their trip back to Germany.

SWR3 is the biggest public radio station in Germany and averages 3.1 million listeners per day and 20 million clicks on its website each month.

Earlier this year, Tasmania was featured in a four-week promotion which offered 30 trips for two people to the Island State.

“The campaign has also been supported by website promotions, outdoor billboards and editorial in the SWR3 magazine – all providing further promotion for Tasmania,” Ms Wriedt said.

The Hong Kong film station TVB has also just wrapped up a visit to Tasmania, a documentary called “The World’s Last Paradise” was made.

TVB is one of the most influential TV stations in Hong Kong with 2.1 million household viewers. Its cable network in China reaches 52 million households.

“Tasmania has the potential to be one of the world’s most prominent tourist destinations in a highly competitive global market,” Ms Wriedt said.

“Media promotions like these are just one of the many ways in which Tourism Tasmania is putting our island State on the map, and pursuing international tourism growth.”

Retail travel agents from the UK and Ireland also spent several days travelling around the state at the end of last month.

“The 26 agents and two hosts will take this knowledge back home and be better able to explain the Tasmanian tourism experience to potential visitors,” Ms Wriedt said.

“The United Kingdom is one of Australia’s most important source markets and Tasmania’s share is 4.2 per cent or approximately 29,000 visitors annually.”

The winners and German Radio SWR3 crew are available for interview TODAY (DEC 2) from 10am -12 noon at The Cataract Gorge in Launceston. Contact Natalie Geard from Tourism Tasmania on 0400 192 046.

For further information contact Tourism Tasmania's Communications Unit

(03) 6230 8244
email mediainfo@tourism.tas.gov.au