Tourism Talk – Industry Newsletter

Issue 281 - 18 November 2009

State Government Boost for Regional Events

The State Government has increased its support for regional events by doubling the value of grants as part of its Tasmanian Regional Event Development program (TRED).

A total of 17 regional event organisers were successfull in sharing in $45,431 in development grants for events to be held in 2010.

The grants are for local, grass-root events and represent part of the State Government’s investment in long-term solutions for events in Tasmania.

The TRED program is an initiative of Events Tasmania and the State’s three Regional Tourism Associations - Cradle Coast Authority, Northern Tasmania Development and Totally South Tourism.

Each RTA contributed $5,000 towards the program, while Events Tasmania contributed $10,000 per region.

The TRED program is a redevelopment of Events Tasmania’s Regional Event Assistance Program grants that have been supporting regional event development in Tasmania for the last five years.

Australia Receives $9m Tourism Increase

Australia’s tourism industry will receive a $9 million boost in co-operative marketing as the government looks to capitalise on growing consumer confidence.

The funding will be for the 2009-10 financial year, and will promote domestic business travel and short-to-medium haul overseas markets.

The funding will be brought forward from Tourism Australia’s 2010-11 budget and will target key markets such as China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand and the Middle East.

Tourism Tasmania is currently exploring ways to access these additional funds for Tasmania.

Hobart Airport Passenger Publication Advertising Opportunities

Hobart Airport has recently launched 'gateway', a high quality, free destination publication targeted at the two million passengers travelling through Hobart Airport each year.

The publication is distributed through the airport terminal and through a range of other distribution points, including airline check-in counters, rental car desks and arrivals halls.

Opportunities exist for interested parties to advertise in this publication.

For more information contact General Manager Business Development, Kathryn McCann on kmccann@hiapl.com.au.

Caravan and Holiday Park - Market Snapshot 

Tourism Research Australia estimates that across Australia in 2007, 8.4 million visitors stayed 41.8 million nights in a caravan or camping accommodation.

Further research shows the caravan and holiday park sector to be one of the fastest growing tourism sectors in Australia with annual growth rates of more than 10% in the past 12 years.

Tourism Tasmania initiated a caravan and holiday park market analysis to provide up to date market information to assist planning for proposed caravan and holiday park developments and expansions.

The market analysis was prepared by Sarah Lebski and Associates to provide an initial investigation into the characteristics of this growing tourism market segment and to provide up to date market information to help plan caravan and holiday park development and expansions.

A snapshot of the report can be found on the Tourism Tasmania corporate website.

For a copy of the full report contact Tourism Tasmania’s Investment Development team (03) 62 308 127

National Festival Coup For Tasmania

An exciting new partnership between the Tasmanian Government and the University of Tasmania will see Tasmania hold the inaugural Australian Shakespeare Festival in Tasmania’s winter of festivals in 2010.

The Australian Shakespeare Festival, to be held over three weeks in August 2010, will explore the works of William Shakespeare through theatre, musical, opera, concert, conference and film.

The State Government has contributed $200,000 in events funding to the inaugural festival.

The festival will be a large-scale addition to the national and international arts festival calendar and has the potential to become the nation’s flagship Shakespeare festival.

Over two million arts patrons worldwide choose Shakespeare festivals as their primary reason to travel. Tasmania’s Shakespeare Festival will provide them with a new and exciting travel option.

In 2010, the Festival will be held in and around Hobart, with plans for future festivals to include events in locations and venues state-wide.

Jetstar Increases Tasmanian services for Summer School Holidays

Jetstar has increased its Tasmanian domestic services in time for the Christmas and summer holiday peak period.

Currently operating 74 weekly interstate return services combined from Hobart and Launceston to the Australian mainland, Jetstar will offer an additional 6 weekly return flights to its base operating schedule to provide 80 weekly return peak period frequencies for the Tasmanian market.

Jetstar Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Buchanan, said the airline would consider further extension of these services pending demand levels and a review of future opportunities for its Tasmanian operations.

West Coast to Benefit from New Tourism Experience

A new wildlife experience on Macquarie Harbour’s Bonnet Island will give visitors to Tasmania a rare opportunity to get up close to native birdlife at sunset.

The island is home to a thriving colony of Little Penguins and Short-tailed Shearwaters, that return each evening at dusk to their burrows on the island.

Bonnet Island is also the site of a lighthouse dating back to the late 1800s.

The Bonnet Island Experience brings together Tasmania’s core brand appeals of food and wine, history and heritage, and nature in a unique, wild and remote setting.

The State Government supported the development of the visitor experience at Bonnet Island with a grant of almost $200,000 through the Tourism Promotion Plan’s Product and Experience Development Grant Program.

The Bonnet Island Experience is a Federal Hotels initiative under its Pure Tasmania brand. In addition to Federal Hotels investment and the Government’s Tourism Promotion Plan grant, the Parks and Wildlife Service has contributed $3,000 to the project.

The project is a good example of a collaborative approach to tourism investment and development.

Launch of Great Western Tiers Cycle Touring Trails

Last week saw the opening of the Great Western Tiers Cycle Touring Trails by the Minister for Tourism Michel O'Byrne and Meander Valley Council Mayor Mark Shelton.

The trails have a strong interpretation element, with over eight hours of podcasts supported by a series of markers throughout the 300 kilometres of trails.

The scenery, features and stories in the podcasts share the insights and anecdotes of people who are connected to the region.

The project was a partnership between the Meander Valley Council, the Great Western Tiers Tourism Association and the State Government.

The State Government provided $149,200 from the Tourism Promotion Plan to develop the four themed cycle touring routes.

In 2008 alone, Tasmanian visitor surveys indicate that 21,600 visitors participated in a cycling experience, spending $47 million and accounting for 376,400 room nights.

Eco and Adventure Tourism Guide Training

Tasmanian Polytechnic are currently enrolling for the following courses: Certificate III Tourism (Guiding); Certificate IV Tourism (Guiding); Certificate IV Outdoor Recreation

For further information contact Jeanette Cross at Jeanette.Cross@polytechnic.tas.edu.au or telephone 03 6233 8720.

Golden Backpack Award Winners

The winners of the Golden Backpack Awards were announced in Sydney recently.

The awards are Australia and New Zealand’s only dedicated awards program for the independent travel sector. Run by TNT Magazine, the market-leading publisher of backpacker titles, the Golden Backpacks saw a national campaign in print and online to gather votes from consumers in more than 30 categories.

Backpackers voted for their favourite hostel, tour and backpacker night in every State and Territory in Australia and across the Tasman.

Winners of the Tasmanian awards were:

  • Best Hotel - Central City Backpackers
  • Best Tour/activity - Under Down Under
  • Best Backpacker Night - The Pickled Frog.

Clydesdale Manor Finalists In National Accommodation Awards 

Clydesdale Manor, one of Tasmania’s most awarded small hotels, was the only Tasmanian finalist at the recent Hotel Motel and Accommodation Association’s (HMAA) 2009 National Inaugural Awards for Excellence, held at Cockle Bay Wharf in Sydney.

With in excess of 400 nominations across the various accommodation categories Clydesdale Manor was one of only 5 finalists in the sought after category of Hosted Accommodation.

Sheffield Motor Inn Wins Award

Congratulations to Sheffield Motor Inn for winning this year's Best Golden Chain Motel in Tasmania – 2009. The Motor Inn was voted for by guests as providing the best facilities and service in Tasmania.

TigerTOUR Update

There are no new additions to the TigerTOUR database.

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

Coming Events

Point to Pinnacle Road Run and Walk

A 21.4km recreational walk or run from Wrest Point Boardwalk to the pinnacle of Mt Wellington.
Sun, 22 Nov 2009
Hobart

See all events

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