Tourism Talk – Industry Newsletter

Issue 270, 17 June 2009

Visitor Numbers Keep Rising

Tasmania is continuing to defy the national trend of a weakening domestic travel environment by posting a third consecutive quarter of positive visitor growth.

The Tasmanian Visitor Survey (TVS) results for the year ending March 2009 confirmed Tasmania’s position as a leading domestic travel destination, with overall visitation to Tasmania increasing by seven per cent compared with the year ending March 2008.

A record 896,800 people visited Tasmania in the year ending March 2009. And the results show they’re staying longer (up four per cent to 7.45 million nights) and spending more (up seven per cent to $1.43 billion).

Growth was strongest in the number of interstate holiday visitors to the State. In the year to March 2009, there were 14 per cent more holiday visitors to Tasmania than the previous year, a positive result especially considering that this does not include the Easter period.

The only significant impact of the global financial crisis has been a nine per cent decline in the number of business visitors to the State. In contrast, the number of convention and conference visitors has increased by an impressive 22 per cent.

In contrast to Tasmania’s ongoing positive performance, interstate overnight travel at the national level declined in the year to March 2009 according to the National Visitor Survey (NVS) result. Nationally, interstate visitor nights fell by 10 per cent, overnight trips declined by six per cent, and overnight spend dropped by 10 per cent.

The TVS is a destination survey providing a detailed picture of visitors to Tasmania and is conducted through interviews and a self-completion questionnaire of targeted passengers as they depart Tasmanian ports. It has a sample size of around 9,000 interstate visitors per year.

Detailed information on the Tasmanian Visitor Survey for the quarter ending and year ending March 2009 can be found on this website in research snapshots. 

Zone Marketing Presentations - Free presentations for businesses

Tourism Tasmania invites operators to a review of the activities undertaken to support Zone Marketing in its first year of operation and an update on new opportunities to market their business and support their zone destination.

Tasmanian Tourism Conference 2009

The Tourism Industry Council Tasmania (TICT) is holding the 2009 Tasmanian Tourism Conference on Tuesday, 7 July, at the Country Club Tasmania, Launceston.

The theme of the conference is 'Cool Climate – Hot Ideas!'. The annual conference is a great opportunity for operators from around the state to come together to network and hear presentations on the latest developments in the industry from a range of engaging and informative speakers.

The conference will run from 9:00am to 4:30pm, followed by an informal dinner at the venue. As in previous years, there will again be an extensive trade exhibition showcasing a variety of products of interest to operators from all sectors of the tourism industry.

Climate Change Workshops 2009

The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, supported by Tourism Australia, is holding a series of climate change workshops across Australia during June and July.

The workshop in Tasmania will be held in Hobart on Monday 13 July.

The workshops will provide up-to-date information to tourism operators on what climate change means and what you need to do to deal with it.

These practical and hands-on workshops will cover the most suitable and cost-effective measures of ensuring that the Australian tourism industry remains well-informed, well-prepared and competitive in the face of climate change.

Those attending will have the opportunity to learn specific skills and gain the tools needed to deal with climate change and minimise the impact on their business. The interactive workshop format will include case studies of what has, and hasn't, worked.

The knowledge sharing workshops are free of charge but you must register to attend.

More information can be found on the Tourism Australia website

Tassie features in Film Festival

A film on fishing in Tasmania is the main feature film in this year's 'Rise - Fly Fishing Festival'. The festival is the world’s largest fishing film festival, and a premier event on fly fishers’ calendars across three countries and two continents.

The film, called The Source – Tasmania, captures the spectacular beauty of the island and its quality as a fishing destination and describes Tasmania as ‘Australia’s fly fishing wonderland’. The film features anglers battling huge sea trout and stalking tailing trout in ‘crystal clear highland lakes'. Nick Reygaert, the film's Director and Producer, said that for wilderness and big trout, Tasmania can provide an experience to rival any fly fishing destination on the planet.

The festival is held from June to July and will be followed by the annual two-day Tasmanian Trout Expo, giving aficionados a real-life opportunity to experience the island’s renowned fishing scene.

Held in Cressy, the ‘Trout Fishing Paradise’ in northern Tasmania, the Expo brings together Tasmania’s fishing enthusiasts in an event that includes displays and activities of ‘all things trouty’, from a major draw of $10,000 for capturing the Tagged Trout to competitions for the heaviest fish and ‘mystery weight’ categories.

The festival is held throughout Australia. The film will screen in Tasmania at the State Cinema in North Hobart on Wednesday, June 24th, from 8.30-10.30pm.

Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre Wins Two National Awards

The Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre won two awards in Museums Australia’s Multimedia and Publication Design Awards, held last month in New South Wales.

The Centre was awarded best website and best poster by a panel of judges selected from museums across Australia.

The Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre is owned and operated by the West Tamar Council, and the website was a collaborative project between West Tamar Council staff, designer Julia Dineen, from Julia Dineen Designs and Professor Chris Keen from e-logistics.

The website portrays the character and the experiences of the Beaconsfield Mine & Heritage Centre and aims to inspire visitation. It provides visitors with an understanding of how they can experience the history of Beaconsfield and the Tamar Valley at the Beaconsfield Mine & Heritage Centre.

A secondary purpose of the site is to act as a central reference point for research and history in the Tamar Valley. This provides online information on family history, the history of the centre, the collection and local historical photographs.

The winning poster is for promotion of the Heritage Centre, and is displayed in the Launceston Travel and Information Centre. The purpose of the poster is to encourage visitors to enquire at the Information Centre for further details. The website can be viewed at www.beaconsfieldheritage.com.au.

TigerTOUR Update

There are no recent additions to TigerTOUR.

Tourism Tasmania’s Product Consultants can assist you to update your business details, email: TigerTOUR@tourism.tas.gov.au or phone: (03) 6230 8229.

Coming Events

Festival of Voices
A four day mid-winter gathering of singers and a celebration of the human voice
Friday, 9 - 12 July 2009
Hobart

See all events

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