Edition 161 · October 2021

In this extraordinarily confronting and damaging time in the tourism industry we will continue to publish Tourforce monthly. However, we will not seek to offer advice or updates on COVID-19, as industry bodies and government bodies are best equipped to do this – with destination specific information.

We welcome short stories on innovations, and success stories and stories that reflect the positive things that the tourism industry is doing to ensure that the industry returns and re-builds. Submit stories to editor@tourforce.com

We want to place on record our thanks to those in business, government, research and the not-for-profit sectors who are working to get us through this challenging time.

The Wiggles and Tourism Australia have partnered to inspire tiny travellers and their families from across Australia to Holiday Here This Year. The collaboration will allow the nation’s most-loved children’s entertainment group to share Australian holiday experiences with families in a fun, safe, and memorable way. As part of the partnership, The Wiggles will release a new song and book called The Great Australian Wiggly Road aimed at teaching children how they can become future guardians of Australia by holidaying the Wiggly Way.

Further information: https://www.australia.com/en/things-to-do/family/the-wiggles.html

Australians and Australian visa holders who have a valid passport and their COVID-19 vaccination recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register can now obtain an International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate. The new international certificate provides secure and internationally recognised proof of their COVID-19 vaccination history allowing Australians to travel internationally.

Further information: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/COVID-19/COVID-19-vaccination-certificates

The New South Wales Government has announced a $20 million Regional Events Acceleration Fund to help event organisers, regional councils, not-for-profit organisations, sporting bodies and Aboriginal Land Councils attract, enhance or grow events. Types of events eligible for funding include major sporting and lifestyle, food and beverage, music, art and culture festivals. Applications close 17 December 2021.

Further information: https://www.nsw.gov.au/regional-growth-fund/regional-events-acceleration-fund

Applications are now open for the $110 million Tourism and Hospitality Sector Hardship Grants to assist businesses to retain workers and remain open. Support will be given based on the size of the business and two types of grants are available including the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Hardship Grant and Major Tourism Experiences Hardship Grant for tourism businesses in Queensland. Applications close 22 November 2021.

Further information: https://www.dtis.qld.gov.au/our-work/tourism-hospitality-sector-hardship-program

The Victorian Government has expanded the National Business Events Program in further support for the business events sector in Victoria. The program now offers increased funding amounts up to $90,000 per applicant for business events in Melbourne and up to $25,000 per applicant to hold events in regional areas before 31 December 2023.

Further information: https://www.melbournecb.com.au/plan-event/national-business-events-program/

A new independent low-cost airline is launching in Australia at the beginning of 2022 pending regulatory approval. The new carrier called Bonza was founded by former Virgin Blue executive Tim Jordan and is backed by U.S. private investment firm 777 Partners. The new airline will fly Boeing 737-8 jets on underserved leisure locations in hopes of stimulating new demand and aims to keep costs down by omitting frequent flyer scheme and airport lounges.

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

The Norwegian Cruise Line has launched its first colouring book for adults that taps into the trend for colouring-in to help de-stress and re-focus. The Colour Your World book is filled with illustrations to inspire both mindfulness and wanderlust, showcasing some of the destinations which will be visited by the company’s newest ship Norwegian Prima as part of her inaugural season in 2022. An illustration of Norwegian Prima has also been produced by Manuel di Rita who designed the hull artwork of the ship.

Further information: https://nclmindfulmoments.com/

Richard Branson’s Virgin Limited Edition portfolio has expanded with the debut of Moskito Island in the British Virgin Islands located adjacent to the famous Necker Island. More than 14 years in the making, Moskito Island is one of the most exclusive private islands in the Caribbean comprising two estates each with its own sense of style, architecture and design.

Further information: https://www.virginlimitededition.com/en/moskito-island

Small Luxury Hotels of the World has announced the launch of Considerate Collection a community of actively sustainable luxury hotels. Considerate Collection hotels are featured within a specific section on the website with dedicated content outlining their notable sustainability initiatives. The luxury hospitality brand renowned for its diverse portfolio of over 520 hotels in 90 countries has collaborated with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and the Greenview sustainable tourism management tool.

Further information: https://www.slh.com/considerate

Tourism Australia has launched the next iteration of its Holiday Here This Year campaign. The new campaign will encourage Australians to give the gift of travel this holiday season and highlight the depth and breadth of Australian tourism experiences. Tourism Australia is encouraging the industry to get behind the campaign and share the message via their own channels using the industry toolkit.

Further information: https://www.tourism.australia.com/en/about/our-campaigns/holiday-here-this-year.html

Disney has launched a new immersive dining experience at the Epcot Centre Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The Space 220 themed restaurant blends state-of-the-art technology with a fine dining menu, providing an eating experience like nothing else on Earth. Guests board a Stellarvator (space elevator) to ascend 355 kilometres to the Centauri space station providing a taste of what astronauts on the International Space Station experience every day.

Further information: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/epcot/space-220/

A rare beachfront property has come onto the market offering potential investors the opportunity to purchase a 500m² house sitting on a commanding 852m² block facing Australia’s Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.  Located in the coastal village of Flying Fish Point just south of Cairns, the area is bounded by Wet Tropics World Heritage Area – in an area famous for the unique flightless Cassowary.

The design provides great flexibility for extended family or guests.  It features 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, huge open plan living areas and a fully accessible bathroom.

For more information visit: https://www.obrienrealestate.com.au/6698040

A new three-level pontoon has been developed by Lady Musgrave Experience and funded by the Growing Tourism Infrastructure Fund. The Lady Musgrave HQ pontoon is located in the Lady Musgrave Island Lagoon providing accommodation for up to 24 people, as well as an underwater observatory, sundeck, dive/snorkelling platform and environmental data collection stations.

Further information: https://ladymusgraveexperience.com.au/lady-musgrave-hq/

Pullman Hotels and Resorts, part of the Accor group, has introduced a group of fitness ambassadors from around the world to lead the Pullman wellbeing and fitness initiatives. Pullman Power Fitness offers guests a state-of-the-art workout experience that positions Pullman as the world’s first boutique fitness hotel brand. It replaces the one-size-fits-all hotel gym environment with a bold, artful, social approach to contemporary fitness.

Further information: https://press.accor.com/pullman-introduces-the-fitness-squad/?lang=en

Intrepid Travel has undergone a re-branded focused on empowering communities, protecting the planet and creating a more equitable experience for all travellers. The tour operator has also launched a new global portfolio of travel experiences in more than 50 countries that will bring the company’s renewed purpose to life. Intrepid has also unveiled over 20 commitments to empower communities, protect the planet and create a more equitable experience for all travellers.

Further information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4Ut8JLQUAg&feature=emb_title

The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada has released its Indigenous Culinary Directory to provide media, travel trade and consumers with information about Indigenous culinary experiences across Canada. With local ingredients, unique spins on traditional flavours and fusion recipes, Indigenous-owned food businesses are serving up dishes that have a deep connection to their communities and providing economic benefit.

Further information: https://indigenoustourism.ca/tools-resources/indigenous-culinary-directory/

Ballistic Beer Co has launched a new range of Reef beers available exclusively in regional Queensland which will help support restoration and research efforts along the length of the Great Barrier Reef. 10 cents from every can of Reef Lager, Reef Pale and Reef Red will be used to support causes that are important to locals like protecting the reef. Ballistic Beer Co expanded its footprint beyond their Brisbane venues and merged with two regional craft breweries to create Ballistic Whitsundays and Ballistic Bargara.

Further information: https://www.cqu.edu.au/cquninews/stories/research-category/2021-research/ballistic-beer-to-aid-cqu-marine-research

KindTraveler is a hotel booking service and media platform that enables travellers to positively impact the community and environment in the destination they visit. It partners with a range of local charities operating within wildlife, equality, nature preservation and education. Travellers can choose to donate to a local charity or to a global charity when they book a stay at a partner hotel. In return for their donation travellers can enjoy special hotel rates and perks.

Further information: https://kindtraveler.com/

Adventure World Travel has released its new Make Travel Matter Journeys series endorsed by the TreadRight Foundation. Designed with the fundamentals of sustainability in mind, the carbon neutral trips seek out accommodation with sustainability practices and make use of low carbon transportation. The inaugural collection includes wildlife focused journeys in Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, Colombia, Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, Borneo, North India and South India.

Further information: https://www.adventureworld.co.nz/maketravelmatter/

The Queensland Tourism Industry Council has launched the national Accessibility self-assessment module developed by the Australian Tourism Industry Council in consultation with accessible tourism experts TravAbility. The self-assessment module is the latest tool to join the suite of best practice programs under the national Quality Tourism Framework and aims to help businesses evaluate how inclusive their experience offering is for people with a disability. Businesses that complete the module will receive a category specific Accessible Tourism badge to use on their website and in promotional material.

Further information: https://www.qtic.com.au/industry-development/accreditation/accessibility-module/

Global search engine Google is placing an eco-certified badge next to verified hotels that are making an effort to reduce their carbon footprint such as waste reduction efforts or using sustainably sourced materials. To qualify, hotels need to be certified by independent organisations like Ecotourism Australia’s Eco Certification program, Green Key or EarthCheck. The company is also working to improve this feature by partnering with Travalyst to help develop a standardised approach to calculate carbon emissions for air travel.

Ecotourism Australia Chair, Claire Ellis, said it was another great opportunity for Ecotourism Australia’s members to stand out in the global market. “Both domestically and internationally, sustainability is becoming much more important to our visitors. With our planned domestic border openings and resumption of international travel, this recognition of quality from one of the industry’s heavyweights will give our Ecotourism Australia members – especially our 110 certified accommodations – a great boost at a time when they really need it,” she said.

Further information: https://blog.google/products/travel/building-sustainable-future-travel/

Tourism and Events Queensland has released a summary of the Nature-based Tourism Strategy 2021-24 which aims to capitalise on the evolving consumer demand for natural experiences by maximising Queensland’s world class natural and cultural assets. The strategy provides a series of recommendations for nature tourism operators and key industry and government stakeholders. It provides practical advice on how tourism operators can reimagine their visitor experience to better meet the needs of an ever-changing nature-based tourism market.

Further information: https://cdn2-teq.queensland.com/~/media/A6E1E464DEE6468FBF4876368BFAEF8B.ashx?vs=1&d=20210804T183317

The World Tourism Organisation and Netflix have partnered to publish a report which sheds light on how best to maximise the social, economic and cultural benefits of screen tourism and recommendations on how to leverage internet entertainment services. The Global Report on Cultural Affinity and Screen Tourism highlights the need to invest in skills and training that develop the local film and creative sectors, as well as infrastructure and production capacity.

Further information: https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/book/10.18111/9789284422838

The new Tourism Management Action Strategy outlines actions to be implemented over the next 15 years in collaboration with the tourism industry on managing and protecting the Great Barrier Reef into the future. The strategy aims to reduce regulatory burden by supporting best-practice high standard tourism and transformational world-leading visitor experiences. It was developed jointly with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Traditional Owners, Marine Park users and key stakeholders.

Further information: https://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/our-partners/tourism-industry/tourism-management-action-strategy

Western Australia is the first State to develop an activity-specific strategy for safe and sustainable hiking experiences. The Hiking Strategy: Bushwalking and Trail Running in Western Australia 2020-2030 was involved a review of existing literature, a community survey, targeted interviews, industry forums and public consultation. A new steering committee guided by the Trails Reference Group will develop an implementation plan encouraging cross-industry advocacy and strengthening hiking groups and their volunteers.

Further information: https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/department/publications/publication/wa-hiking-strategy-bushwalking-and-trail-running-in-western-australia-2020—2030

A new consumer sentiment survey by Amadeus has highlighted that greater clarity on restrictions and guidelines will be key to unlocking increased traveller confidence. The current international guidelines around where and how to travel are confusing, making travellers less likely to book business and/or leisure travel. Travellers are also exhibiting increased openness to embrace technology and share health data so they can start travelling again. The research is the third in a series 9,074 consumers were surveyed across France, Germany, India, Spain, Russia, Singapore, the U.A.E., the U.K. and U.S.

Further information: https://amadeus.com/en/insights/themes/rebuild-travel

A new report from Travalyst explores the options available to the tourism industry in the year ahead, how to collectively build a more sustainable and balanced future. The Re-emergence of Travel report brings together key emerging trends and insights from across the industry to identify the ways COVID-19 could impact the future of tourism, and the role that the industry can play to ensure a transformational future.

Further information: https://travalyst.org/the-re-emergence-of-travel/

The Industry Snapshot Report is a compilation of data resulting from a survey of adventure travel industry operators on topics such as destinations, activities, and industry business practices. 2020 was a particularly challenging year for the tourism industry, and this data serves as one way to track COVID-19’s true effects and adventure travel’s recovery.

The Industry Snapshot Report offers those working in adventure travel with critical industry benchmarks, and those outside the industry with perspective on the health, outlook, and characteristics of this dynamic environment.

Further information: https://www.adventuretravel.biz/research/2021-adventure-travel-industry-snapshot

The 24th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s General Assembly will be held in Marrakesh, Morocco from 30 November – 3 December 2021.

Further information: https://www.unwto.org/event/general-assembly-twenty-fourth-session

The British Columbia Tourism Summit will be held online from 3 – 4 November 2021. The virtual event in collaboration with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council is open to all tourism stakeholders and leaders from around the globe.

Further information: https://bctourismsummit.com/