Tourism Talk

Issue 306 - 7 December 2010

In this issue:

Return of the Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

Mark WebberThe Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge is back. A new partnership between the State Government, Mark Webber Challenge Management Pty Ltd and its event management company Octagon Australia, will bring the event back to the state for the next three years. The last event, held in 2008, resulted in global media exposure for Tasmania worth more than $7 million.

The adventure race will feature the traditional mountain biking, trail running and kayaking and may be expanded to include swimming, white water rafting, caving or ropes courses. In the new partnership, the State Government will invest $400,000 a year for three years, securing an event which will help position Tasmania as a world-class adventure travel destination.

The Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge will run over four days from 5 December to 8 December 2011.

New Coordinator of Industry for the North

Liz.Schibig-EdgarTourism Tasmania welcomes Liz Schibig-Edgar in her role of Coordinator Industry Development North. Liz brings with her a wealth of tourism experience having held positions with Hepburn Regional Tourism Association and with Northern Tasmania Development in a Tourism Development and Marketing role. Her most recent appointment was with the West Tamar Council as the Tourism Marketing Officer. Liz has also been a member of the Launceston, Tamar & the North Zone Marketing Committee. 

Liz will be located in Tourism Tasmania's office in Launceston. Tourism Tasmania's Coordinators of Industry Development work with operators, regional and local tourism associations and local government on destination and product development. Liz can be contacted on 6336 3212, 0419 329 802 and email Liz.Schibig-Edgar@tourism.tas.gov.au

Zone Marketing Evaluation

Tourism Tasmania will soon be emailing all operators, seeking up to 120 people to participate in an evaluation of Tourism Tasmania's Zone Marketing strategy. One of the benchmarks of Zone Marketing was to evaluate the program 3 years after its introduction and to make necessary adjustments based on feedback from a broad range of industry. The evaluation is being undertaken by Deloitte and will involve discussion groups conducted in up to 10 locations across the state before the end of next February. Tourism Tasmania are interested in hearing the views of operators who participate in zone marketing activity, those who have done so previously and later declined and operators who have never participated.

Information about the evaluation will also be published soon on this website.

International Markets - Presentations Online

Man standing at lecturnTourism Tasmania's international representatives recently held a series of workshops in Tasmania to give operators the chance to learn more about the promotion of Tasmania in our international markets. The workshops were well received with many operators later commenting on how valuable they found the presentations. Topics covered included consumer differences and key trends in each market, how the digital environment is affecting each market and programs for the coming year.

See the Tourism Tasmania website for the presentations on each market.

Training the Travel Trade Trainer

Tourism Tasmania recently hosted Tourism Australia's travel trade trainer for the UK, Mr Glen Davis. Glen was in Tasmania on a seven day familiarisation (famil) during which he experienced a range of products from around the state. Glen provides training and knowledge support to travel agents in the UK market to help them more confidently and effectively sell and promote Tasmania. Glen will use the knowledge gained on his visit to better train this important group of sellers of Tasmanian product. After the famil Glen described Tasmania as "an amazing place - all the animals, the friendly people, the scenery, the food, the wine – awesome. I've already been putting it all into practice in my training sessions – it has been a massive help."

Glen visited Tasmania with the support of Tourism Tasmania's Visiting Journalist Program (VJP). The program hosts media and representatives of the international travel trade who visit Tasmania to experience our tourism products firsthand. And for industry, hosting media through VJP provides a cost-effective marketing tool as operators who participate in the program often see significant coverage of their product and a subsequent increase in business.

For more information see our Visiting Journalists Program.

No Leave, No Life TV show - marketing opportunity

No Leave No LifeTourism Australia has partnered with the Seven Network, Southern Star Entertainment and Virgin Blue to bring the second series of the No Leave, No Life TV Show to the airwaves this Saturday at 6:30pm – helping to raise awareness of the impact of hoarding annual leave and inspiring employees to use their leave in Australia. As part of the campaign Tourism Australia published the No Leave, No Life magazine, giving industry the opportunity to drive business through holiday offers. In February 2011 Tourism Australia will again be giving industry the opportunity to reach a massive national audience through their tactical offers.

Opportunities to advertise in the February 2011 edition of the No Leave, No Life special offers magazine are still available so if you wish to get involved see the Prospectus [PDF 1MB]

Women in Tourism

Women in TourismWomen in Tourism Tasmania (WITT) celebrated its first 12 months in operation recently after its launch in 2009 by the Minister for Tourism, Michelle O'Byrne. WITT was founded to provide support, mentoring and networking opportunities to all women in the tourism industry in Tasmania. WITT holds bi monthly events throughout the year to enable women working or studying in the tourism industry to come together, network and to make new friends and business contacts. WITT is also committed to supporting a worthy cause each year. In 2010 the group raised a total of $1292.00 for the Tasmanian Branch of the Breast Cancer Network Australia. If you're interested in becoming a member or know someone who might, you can find out more by visiting the Women in Tourism website.

TigerTOUR Updates

The following new products have been added to the Tourism Tasmania TigerTOUR database.

Accommodation:

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

Christmas with the TSO
Hear all your Christmas favourites and sing along too!
Sat, 11 Dec 2010
Hobart

Glenorchy Carols By Candlelight
Tasmania's premiere outdoor music venue
Sat, 11 Dec 2010
Hobart

Bawdy Panto
Bawdy Panto returns with another hilarious original twisted tale.
Wed, 15 Dec - Sat, 18 Dec 2010
Hobart

See all events

Contact Us

For comments or to share your news email the editor at talk@tourism.tas.gov.au

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