Ecotourism Australia's 25th year will be celebrated with a renewed focus on innovation and excellence at the Global Eco Asia-Pacific Conference 21 - 23 November in Hobart.
The conference theme for this important anniversary year is Ecotourism: Fostering Innovation - Sustaining Excellence.
"With 25 years of history (as the first National Ecotourism body in the world) it is important to reflect on the growth of the industry. More importantly is the need to look 25 years into the future to see how we may continue to pioneer and strive for excellence," said Tony Charters, Conference Convenor.
Tasmania is hosting the event for the first time in 10 years and in that time the ecotourism industry has gone through dramatic growth in quality and diversity.
A call for papers will be released soon.
Further information: http://www.globaleco.com.au/
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Innovation & Excellence Key Theme of Global Eco
ATF 2017 - Singapore Hosts 36th Forum
After a highly successful hosting by the Philippines in 2016, Singapore will host the 36th ASEAN Tourism Forum 16 - 20 January 2017. Under the theme Shaping Our Tourism Journey Together, the event will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of ASEAN. TRAVEX - a major trade show in association with ATF - attracts buyers from across the globe who are seeking out ASEAN tourism products. ATF 2017 will see the launch of a year long travel campaign to promote the region. ATF will also bring together other key meetings such as the ASEAN Tourism Ministers meeting, and the ASEANTA Board meeting.
Further information: http://www.atf2017.com/
Call Brussels
Visit.brussels recently installed phones and live webcams in Brussels that enabled locals to talk to travellers and explain in real-time the safe and beautiful scenes in their city. The project ran in collaboration with brand agency Air with phones installed at various popular tourist destinations around the city with live webcams capturing the surroundings. Users wanting to visit the city could go on the website, choose a destination, and make the call over the internet.
Further information: https://call.brussels/#/
PROTECTED AREAS
National Park IMAX Film
A new IMAX 3D documentary film narrated by Robert Redford has been released on the 100th anniversary of the US National Park Service. Filmmakers hope the ‘National Parks Adventure’ will encourage people to visit more than 400 National Parks including monuments, seashores, lakeshores, recreation areas and historic sites spread across 50 states, districts and territories. The film will be shown in more than 400 giant-screen theatres and 60 countries around the world.
Further information: http://www.nationalparksadventure.com/
Eco-Christmas Island
Parks Australia is calling for expressions of interest to develop the first ecotourism concepts at Christmas Island National Park, an Australian territory located around 1,500 km north-west of the Western Australia mainland. The ideas must adhere to the Christmas Island National Park Management Plan and be sensitive to the island environment which is known for its annual red crab migration, seabirds, forests, wetlands, reefs, coastline and other natural attractions. Applications close on 22 April 2016.
Further information: http://eoi-christmas.park
saustralia.gov.au/
ACCOMMODATION
Takeaway Hotel
Scandic To Go is delivering pop-up hotel rooms to any location picked by the customer while still offering free Wi-Fi, room service and breakfast. The Nordic hospitality chain has built a special 18m2 mobile hotel room complete with two beds, bathroom and a terrace area for enjoying the sights of their chosen destination. Locations chosen to date include central Stockholm, a beach in Southern Sweden and a lake in Finland.
Further information: http://www.scandichotels.com/to-go/
TRANSPORT
In-Flight Football
Gulf carrier Qatar Airways is the latest airline to turn its in-flight safety video into an entertainment product by incorporating the Spanish football team it sponsors as participants in the messaging. The new video takes place in a broadcast booth, the team’s touring bus, a stadium’s seats and a football pitch among other sites. Airlines have turned to the in-flight video as part of their content marketing strategies in ever increasing numbers with Air New Zealand leading the way.
Further information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS2CQQfQzEM
Self Service Security
Qylatron is a self-service honeycomb locker system that could provide more efficient carry-on security checks at airports by offering an efficient alternative to the current conveyer belt system. It was created by airport security tech firm Qylur and can cater for up to 600 passengers per hour. The technology has already been trialled at the World Cup in Brazil and the Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco.
Further information: http://www.qylur.com/public/products
DIGITAL MARKETING
Facebook at Work
Club Med has announced a partnership with Facebook making it the first global tourism company to offer Facebook at Work to around 13,000 employees in more than 40 countries around the world. The user-friendly Facebook at Work is based on the Facebook application allowing employees to contact each other via their mobile phones, tablets or computers across time zones, languages and platforms.
Further information: https://www.facebook.com/help/work
INFRASTRUCTURE & INVESTMENT
Gold Coast Airport Upgrade
The Australian Government has approved a major upgrade for the Gold Coast Airport to cater for future growth and increased passenger numbers expected during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. The major redevelopment will almost double the size of the terminal, expand the apron to accommodate five additional aircraft stands and incorporate four new aerobridges.
Further information: http://goldcoastairport.com.au/regulatory/gold-coast-airport-project-lift-major-development-plan/
DESTINATION MARKETING
Aquatic & Coastal
Tourism Australia has launched a new $40 million multi-platform global marketing campaign which highlights the country’s world-class aquatic and coastal experiences. The campaign will complement existing marketing activities under There's Nothing like Australia including food and wine and Indigenous experiences. It will be rolled out over the next six months in key international markets including the US, UK, China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Malaysia and New Zealand.
Further information: http://www.tourism.australia.com/campaigns/
Aquatic.aspx
Golf Guide
Tourism New Zealand and AA Traveller have launched a new guide that showcases New Zealand as a world-class golfing destination. The Great New Zealand Golf Guide provides visitors information on 12 marquee courses, 28 New Zealand Experience courses, regional activities, weather, driving distances and road rules. The guide is due to be launched in early June 2016.
Further information: http://www.newzealand.com/int/golf/
RESEARCH
Vacation Deprivation Study
Expedia has released the results of the 2015 Vacation Deprivation Study, an annual study of vacation habits among 9,273 employed adults aged 18 years of age and older across 26 countries in Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and South America. The study found that the median number of paid annual leave days available to workers is just less than 25 days per year in addition to public holidays and workers collectively take about 20 of them, leaving 20% unused.
Further information: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/expedias-2015-vacation-deprivation-study-europe-leads-world-in-paid-vacation-time-while-americans-and-asians-lag-300178727.html
Cutting Carbon Emissions
A new report ‘Travel & Tourism 2015: Connecting Global Climate Action’ has been published by the World Travel and Tourism Council showing that many travel and tourism companies are on course to cut CO2 emissions by 50% by 2035. It highlights the progress made by many of the world’s leading airlines, airports, hotels, cruise lines, car rental companies and technology companies in the last decade.
Further information: http://www.wttc.org/research/policy-research/travel-and-tourism-2015-connecting-global-climate-action/
Travel Trends Report
ABTA have released the latest Travel Trends Report which reveals the 12 Destinations to watch for 2016. The report also highlights emerging and key trends in travel which will influence holiday habits in the year ahead. The survey generated responses from a nationally representative sample of 2003 consumers using an online research methodology and related to holiday booking habits in the 12 months to August 2015.
Further information: http://abta.com/tips-and-latest/reports-and-trends/travel-trends-2016
World Tourism Barometer
According to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, international tourist arrivals grew by 4.4% to reach a total of 1,184 million in 2015. Some 50 million more tourists (overnight visitors) travelled to international destinations around the world last year as compared to 2014.
Further information: http://mkt.unwto.org/barometer
SKILLS & TRAINING
Aboriginal Tourism Business Coach
17 Aboriginal tourism businesses from Western Australia will receive advice and mentoring for more than three years as part of the State Government’s $4.6 million Aboriginal Tourism Development Program 2015-2018. Coaches will evaluate each operator’s compliance, finances, staffing, systems, accreditation, product offering and delivery before implementing an annual action plan of business development and marketing initiatives.
Further information: : http://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/News-Media/NewsArticle/Business_coaches_to_boost
_Aboriginal_tourism/302?cid=tt391
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
Solar Powered Boat
In consultation with Queensland National Parks, the owners of Adels Grove have purchased two 10 passenger solar powered tourist boats to operate boat in the Lawn Hill Gorge, Boodjamulla National Park. Adels Grove is located 3,500 km from Brisbane on the Queensland and Northern Territory border and has been operating as a tourist facility for over 40 years offering accommodation and camping facilities, fuel and a store for travellers.
Further information: : http://www.adelsgrove.com.au/
GRANTS & FUNDING
Tourism Infrastructure Funding
A total of 12 grants with a combined value of almost $3 million have been approved to fund a range of tourism projects in Western Australia. The Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure program is an Australian Government initiative which aims to boost tourism by making regional destinations more appealing to visitors through the infrastructure improvements. It is funded through revenue from the National Passenger Movement Charge.
Further information: http://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/News-Media/NewsArticle/Tourism_demand_drives_
infrastructure_funding/294?cid=tt391
Tourism Demand-Driver Infrastructure
Funding is available under the Tourism Demand-Driver Infrastructure Program 2016-17 to support rojects that deliver a broad benefit across the tourism sector. This Australian Government program is administered by Tourism Northern Territory and aims to support the delivery of infrastructure that contributes to the national Tourism 2020 strategy by driving demand, improving quality and increasing tourism expenditure. Applications close 15 April 2016.
Further information: http://www.tourismnt.com.au/en/industry-resources/grants-and-funding/tddi-201617
ACCREDITATION & CERTIFICATION
Travelife
The first Rainforest Alliance properties have joined ABTA's Travelife program which has hotel members in 57 countries worldwide. Under an agreement signed in late 2014, all hotels and accommodations meeting Rainforest Alliance’s certification criteria can join Travelife and utilise the scheme's promotional channels. So far 15 hotels from six different countries across the Caribbean, Central and South America have become Travelife members as a part of the partnership.
Further information: http://travelifecollection.com/
CONFERENCES & EVENTS
Global Tourism Summit
The World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit will place in Dallas, Texas from 6 - 7 April 2016. The conference theme ‘Travel Beyond Boundaries’ will focus on how travel and tourism will respond to migration, climate change, terrorism, security and border policies.
Further information: : http://www.wttc.org/summits/the-global-summit-2016/
Australia Youth Tourism Conference
The inaugural WYSE Exchange Australia Youth Tourism Conference will be held in Sydney on 8 April 2016. The WYSE Travel Confederation, in partnership with Destination New South Wales and Backpacker Operators Association NSW, is hosting the conference as part of a 3-day international youth and backpacker travel trade event.
Further information: http://exchange.wysetc.org/youth-tourism-conference-2/
International Conference on Sustainable Tourism
The 7th International Conference on Sustainable Tourism will be held in Valencia, Spain from 18 - 20 May 2016. The conference aims to find ways to protect the natural and cultural landscape through the development of new solutions which minimise the adverse effects of tourism.
Further information: : http://www.wessex.ac.uk/16-conferences/sustainable-tourism-2016.html
Asia Pacific Tourism Association
The 22nd annual Asia Pacific Tourism Association Conference will be held in Beijing, China from 1 - 4 June 2016. The event is organised by Asia Pacific Tourism Association and the Beijing International Studies University.
Further information: http://apta2016.wix.com/index