Edition 125 · June 2018

It is not too late to offer a paper for the concurrent workshop sessions of the Global Eco Asia-Pacific Tourism Conference if you can bring expertise across one of the following areas:

• Ecolodge design and ecotourism masterplanning
• Indigenous ecotourism initiatives
• Reef-based ecotourism
• Ecotourism policy and planning

The conference theme this year is Ecotourism – it’s time… 

• It’s time to bring the benefits of ecotourism to communities;
• It’s time to recognise the business benefits of ecotourism;
• It’s time to embrace ecotourism for the conservation of natural and cultural heritage; and
• It’s time to celebrate the existing and emerging leaders in ecotourism.

The 26th Global Eco Asia-Pacific conference is being staged in Townsville, Queensland, Australia 26-28 November.

View the keynote speaker program at https://globaleco.com.au/2018/speakers/keynote-speakers

To offer a paper go to https://globaleco.com.au/call-for-papers

Finavia, Helsinki Airport’s operator, has implemented new feedback technology in bathrooms throughout its terminal to help boost customer satisfaction and track usage data. Passengers using the bathroom can give the system positive or negative feedback about the cleanliness of the space. The technology also counts the number of visitors to bathrooms and when the system receives several complaints within a short amount of time, it sends an automatic alert to the airport’s cleaners.

Further information: https://www.finavia.fi/en

Sea Life Trust has unveiled plans to create the world’s first open water sanctuary for beluga whales in Iceland. The marine welfare project, created in partnership with Whale and Dolphin Conservation, is the first of its kind to be created for cetaceans and hopes to encourage the rehabilitation of more captive whales into natural environments in the future. Backed by a donation from Merlin Entertainments and supported by the world’s largest chain of aquariums, the sanctuary in Klettsvik Bay will include a landside care facility and visitor centre set to be completed in 2019.

Further information: http://www.sealifetrust.org/beluga-whale-sanctuary

Brand USA has partnered with Spotify for its latest campaign – Hear the Music, Experience the USA. The integrated marketing campaign utilises the power of music to enhance discovery and exploration options with more than 20 customised playlists as envisioned by five innovative artists bringing the unique cultural sounds of their cities to life.

Further information: https://www.visittheusa.com/music

RACT Destinations and Gordon River Cruises have introduced their new environmentally conscious vessel Spirit of the Wild. The unique 33-metre catamaran features a hybrid propulsion system, allowing for quiet cruising on the UNESCO Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Listed Gordon River. New on-board experiences also include a character-based interpretation program and a menu featuring the best Tasmanian produce on offer.

Further information: https://www.gordonrivercruises.com.au/2018

SITA, the air transport industry’s technology provider has announced the launch of a major research project to explore the potential of blockchain. More than 100 top IT executives have been invited to join the Aviation Blockchain Sandbox, a SITA Lab initiative to accelerate the understanding of blockchain technology for airlines, airports and other industry stakeholders to use in the future.

Further information: https://www.developer.aero/Blockchain/Aviation-Blockchain-Sandbox

As part of a new campaign, Switzerland Tourism has launched a new series of pop-up hotels in 11 major cities across the country offering visitors the chance to spend a night in places not usually associated with overnight stays. The pop-up hotels aim to provide guests with new experiences from different and surprising perspectives, while encouraging them to see almost untouched, and sometimes unknown tourist paths.

Further information: https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-au/swiss-pop-up-hotels.html

Sunshine Coast Council has approved the development of an integrated resort development which will create a new coastal village just ten minutes from Sunshine Coast Airport comprising a 220 room 5-Star Westin Coolum Resort & Spa, serviced apartments and extensive conference and recreation facilities. The Yaroomba Beach project is expected to be completed by 2021.

Further information: https://www.yaroombabeach.com.au/

Instaroom is a web-based concierge platform for hoteliers, designed to connect directly with travellers to increase direct hotel bookings and lower overall distribution costs. It centralises all communications across different messaging platforms including integration across multiple channels such as Facebook, WeChat and email. First Hotels, Scandinavia’s leading collection of hotels with more than 90 unique properties throughout Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Spain, was one of the first hotel partners to utilise the technology.

Further information: https://instaroom.travel/

Tourism Northern Territory has released panoramic Google Street View footage of seven Northern Territory landscapes and National Parks allowing travellers to experience and explore via computer screens, tablet or mobile device. The collaboration between Traditional Owners, Tourism Northern Territory and Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife used Google Street View Trekker technology to map the beauty and uniqueness of natural landscapes to inspire travel.

Further information: https://northernterritory.com/promotions/google-street-view

The Banyan Tree portfolio of premium resorts, hotels, residences and spas has continued to build on its core value of driving sustainable development, implementing a host of initiatives to improve conservation and environmental practices for 2018 and beyond. Focusing on seven primary topics including climate change, pollution and waste, leadership and biodiversity, Banyan Tree has vowed to repeat the assessment process every five years to ensure its efforts remain relevant in a rapidly changing environment.

Further information: https://www.banyantree.com/

The owner and operator of The Peninsula Hotels will transition towards towards a ban on plastic straws by 1 November 2018 in its operations around the world. This is a first step in the company’s global approach to transition away from single use plastics including water bottles, packaging and bathroom amenities by 2020.

Further information: https://www.hshgroup.com/en/media/press-releases

The TreadRight Foundation supports more than 50 sustainable tourism projects worldwide to ensure the environments and communities visited by tourists remain vibrant for generations to come. Their award-winning sustainability efforts have included tourism initiatives to stem wildlife crime, support for social enterprises and clean ups.

Further information: https://www.treadright.org/

The new Dunedin Destination Plan sets out key goals and six main action areas that will underpin city marketing and destination management. The plans vision is to attract new visitors, students, migrants, workers and investors whilst maintaining and improving quality of life and economic vibrancy for residents. The action areas within the plan will be led and implemented by a range of city stakeholders including Enterprise Dunedin and departments within the Dunedin City Council.

Further information: http://dunedinnz.com/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/652852/Dunedin-Destination-Plan-web.pdf

Australia India Business Council and Australia India Travel and Tourism Council recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together on the common and mutually beneficial goals to promote bilateral business including travel and tourism in both countries.

Further information: http://www.aittc.net.au/

The operation of the Western Australian Visitor Centre has been awarded to The Tourism Group which has experience in the operation and accreditation of visitor centres across Australia. The centre will run on a new model which will include technological upgrades, product demonstrations and consumer education on topics such as safe driving, weather, seasonality, camping and other relevant topics.

Further information: https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2018/06/Western-Australian-Visitor-Centre-under-new-management.aspx

The 4th Forum on Gastronomy Tourism was recently organised by the UN World Tourism Organisation with delegates from 52 countries hearing from a diverse range of expert speakers on new techniques and technologies in preparing, marketing and managing the strong linkage between tourism and gastronomy. The conference has also examined how countries can relate their gastronomy tourism strategies to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda.

Further information: http://affiliatemembers.unwto.org/event/4th-unwto-world-forum-gastronomy-tourism

A new report by the Cruise Lines International Association has revealed that in 2017 the Australian cruise market grew by 4.4 percent with more than 1.34 million Australians taking an ocean cruise. With changes in infrastructure and regulatory policy there is a potential to increase homeporting of vessels in Brisbane, Melbourne, Fremantle and Adelaide, as well as visiting regional ports such as Broome, Eden, Geraldton and Gladstone.

Further information: https://www.cruising.org.au/Home

Millions of Australian employees are researching and booking their next holiday when they should be working according to a new study. The research reveals two in three Australian workers (equivalent to eight million people) actively plan their next escape at work. It shows the average Aussie employee spends 57 minutes a week hunting for cheap flights and hotels, which equates to cumulative total of 7.6 million hours a week.

Further information: https://www.finder.com.au/2-out-of-3-australians-admit-to-planning-holidays-while-on-the-job

New research from InterContinental Hotel & Resorts has unveiled that almost two million full-time Australian workers haven’t been on a holiday or taken annual leave in over a year. Furthermore, over half a million Australians won’t take annual leave due to the stress they will return to if they are away from the office. The report also asked Australians what their ideal accommodation needs are as well as the key reasons for booking accommodation.

Further information: https://www.ihgplc.com/news-and-media/news-releases/2018/more-than-a-third-of-australians-feel-too-busy-with-work-to-take-a-holiday

According to new research from the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, developed in conjunction with American Express Global Business Travel, business travellers are increasingly demanding to control their travel experiences to align programs with organisational objectives and resource constraints. The study, titled ‘Balancing Business Travel Tools & Policy for the Traveller Experience’ also reveals that quality of life and autonomy during business travel are elements increasingly valued by travellers.

Further information: https://www.amexglobalbusinesstravel.com/press-room/new-research-reveals-flexibility-quality-life-critical-business-traveller-satisfaction/

The Western Australia Tourism Conference will be held in Perth from 3-5 September 2018. The event will provide an opportunity for professional and business development, networking and presentations for industry-leading speakers.

Further information: http://www.tourismcouncilwa.com.au/wa-tourism-conference

The 5th European Ecotourism Conference will be held in Tbilisi, Georgia from 10-12 September 2018. The conference provides learning and networking opportunities for sharing information and is a platform for stakeholders including researchers, academics and tourism professionals to present their ecotourism research and case studies.

Further information: http://ecotourism.ge/conference2018/

The Australian Cruise Conference will be held in Broome from 12-14 September 2018. The event will feature speakers with a capacity to influence deployments, destination growth and economic dispersal.

Further information: http://www.australiancruiseassociation.com/conferences

The 27th World Youth and Student Travel Conference will be held in Edinburgh from 18-21 September 2018. This is the leading trade event for the global youth, student and educational travel industry. Since 1992 youth and student travel professionals have been gathering annually to trade, network and take part in seminars and workshops.

Further information: https://www.wystc.org/