Edition 181 · June 2023

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

Tony Charters AM is convening the National Public Sector Fleet Managers’ Conference in Melbourne 28-29 November 2023 with the primary focus of sustainability and transitioning to a Net Zero fleet.

Some 30% of Australia’s vehicle fleet is operated by government agencies.  The conference brings Commonwealth, State and Local Government Fleet Managers together with vehicle manufacturers and suppliers of services such as telemetry, EV components and specialised vehicle fit-outs.

This year the focus is on transitioning to Net Zero and will examine trends in moving to green fleets, policy, partnerships in fleet management and learnings from nations who are further down the EV path.

Further information on registration and exhibiting: https://www.npsfmc.com/

Applications are open for Tourism Australia’s international business events marketing partnership initiative that supports activity and projects completed by 30 June 2024. The Advance Program provides funding and the opportunity for Australian industry to access financial support and leverage Tourism Australia’s expertise to increase the number and value of business events and to deliver best-practice marketing to grow international delegate attendance at confirmed international business events. Applications close 31 July 2023.

Further information: https://businessevents.australia.com/en/resources/information-for-australian-businesses/partnership-programs/advance-program.html

The Reviving International Tourism Grant (RITG) Stream 2 Digital Uplift Program has $3 million in funding to support international ready Australian tourism businesses undertake digital uplift activities including website overhaul/audit, online booking capability, integration and automation of systems, production of brochures, social media modernisation and accessibility upgrades. Applications close 4 July 2023.

Further information: https://revivinginternationaltourism.smartygrants.com.au/RITGStream2

Applications are open for the $1 million Boosting Accessible Tourism Experiences Grant to support the development and enhancement of tourism products and smaller scale infrastructure to make it more accessible. The funding provides support for sole traders and small tourism and events businesses to develop or enhance accessibility or infrastructure and visitor experiences. It is part of the Queensland Government’s $12 million Year of Accessible Tourism program with applications closing 30 June 2023.

Further information: https://www.dtis.qld.gov.au/tourism/funds/boosting-accessible-tourism-experiences-grant

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation has launched a new startup competition to support women tourism tech entrepreneurs and innovators across the Middle East. The initiative gives innovators the chance to compete for enhanced capacity building and visibility in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen. Applications close end of July 2023.

Further information: https://www.unwto.org/news/unwto-launch-women-in-tech-startup-competition-middle-east

The Qantas Group is looking to establish a $400 million climate fund to provide direct investments in sustainability projects and technologies, as the airline works towards its emissions reduction targets. The Qantas Climate Fund will be the largest sustainability investment initiative of any airline globally. It will target direct investment in technologies, projects, and managed sustainability funds that align closely to the airline’s targets, as well as research and development partnerships.

Further information: https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-to-set-up-climate-fund-as-it-tracks-towards-net-zero/

The Lufthansa Group is the world’s first airline to offer a fare for climate-friendly flying by using Sustainable Aviation Fuels and contributing to high-quality climate protection projects. The new Green Fares will be offered by Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, SWISS, Edelweiss, Eurowings Discover and Air Dolomiti on more than 730,000 flights per year for fights throughout Europe and North Africa.

Further information: https://www.lufthansagroup.com/en/newsroom/releases/green-fares-lufthansa-group-is-the-worlds-first-airline-group-to-offer-an-own-fare-for-more-sustainable-travel.html

Air New Zealand new Skynest pods will be available on ultra-long-haul flights from September 2024. The six-pod configured sleep zone will be located between Premium Economy and Economy including a full-size pillow, sheets and blanket, ear plugs, a separate reading light, a personal device USB outlet, a ventilation outlet, and lighting designed for rest.

Further information: https://www.airnewzealand.com.au/press-release-2023-air-nz-announces-more-about-its-worlds-first-bunkbeds

West Australian tourism operator RedSands Campers and Roev has signed a MOU to develop Australia’s first fully electrified 4WD Camper for the recreational hire market. RedSands will be working closely with Roev to supply data and specifications of its fleet, which will enable Roev to customise a fit for purpose electrification solution. As part of the project, RedSands Campers will also partner with the G’Day Group to install charging infrastructure and bespoke campsites at some of their iconic Kimberley properties.

Further information: https://www.redsandscampers.com/redsands-joins-forces-to-electrify-australias-first-4wd-campers/

Hurtigruten Norway has revealed concept plans for the world’s most energy-efficient cruise ship set to launch in 2030. The initiative called Project Sea Zero could significantly improve the sustainability record of the broader cruise industry. The new zero-emission ship is modelled at 135 metres long, with 270 cabins that hold 500 guests and 99 crew. It will feature numerous firsts including retractable sails with solar panels, artificial intelligence manoeuvring, contra-rotating propellers, and multiple retractable thrusters.

Further information: https://press.hurtigruten.com/pressreleases/hurtigruten-norway-unveils-its-first-zero-emission-cruise-ship-worlds-most-energy-efficient-cruise-vessel-3257567

Image: Visual concept of Hurtigruten Norway’s Sea Zero initiative. Credit: VARD Design

The Banyan Tree Group has launched a new initiative aimed at providing travellers with authentic and immersive experiences that encourage a deeper connection with each destination while honouring the heritage and traditions and contribute to creating more opportunities for local communities. The Stay for Good Program is inspired by the concept of regenerative tourism and is reflected in the range of sustainability-related activities provided to guests. The program will be progressively rolled out to all Banyan Tree Group properties worldwide.

Further information: https://www.banyantreegroup.com/offers/stay-for-good

Disneyland Resort’s Paradise Pier Hotel is being reimagined into the first fully Pixar hotel in the United States. Architecture of the 15-story high-rise hotel will be a tribute to Pixar’s creativity with accents reminiscent of the studio’s iconic animation. The hotel lobby atrium will also feature character-inspired images from popular films, as well as a host of Pixar-inspired amenities and activities to keep guests entertained throughout their stay.

Further information: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/

The Snowies Alpine Walk project will deliver a world-class, multi-day walk along the Snowy River and in Kosciuszko National Park in Monero Ngarigo Country. The 55-kilometre, 4-day walk will extend existing alpine walks to link the resorts of Guthega, Charlotte Pass, Perisher and Lake Crackenback. The self-guided or guided walk options has potential to become a landmark ‘must-do’ experience for both domestic and international visitors as it includes reaching the summit of Australia’s highest mountain the 2,228-metre Mount Kosciuszko.

Further information: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/parks-reserves-and-protected-areas/park-management/community-engagement/walking-tracks-and-trails-in-national-parks/snowies-alpine-walk

Image: On the Guthega to Charlotte Pass Track looking out towards the Main Range and the headwaters of the Snowy River.Credit:Julie Bishop/DPE

Phillip Island (Millowl) is set to become the first tourist town in Australia with ‘sensory inclusive’ status. Phillip Island Nature Parks has partnered with KultureCity to train 50 businesses in identifying sensory overload and making attractions and restaurants a safe space for people with autism, stroke, dementia, and PTSD. The Penguin Parade, Churchill Island, Antarctic Journey at the Nobbies, and the Koala Conservation Reserve are currently the first tourism attractions in Australia to be officially certified.

The Further information: https://www.penguins.org.au/visit/accessibility/

Tourism Northern Territory has launched its new ‘Road trip differently’ campaign, encouraging travellers to explore the Northern Territory from its tropical Top End to its vast outback and the Red Centre. There is a range of two to 14-day self-drive itineraries for clients to choose from, such as its short two-day Darwin to Adelaide River route where travellers can check out the waterhole in Berry Springs National Park, or Wangi Falls at Litchfield National Park. The Northern Territory Road Trip Guide offers walking tracks, swimming, Aboriginal rock art and camping.

Further information: https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt0a1258326b2bae62/blt7fc17effbb0c3e0a/63e9e1ad723591743bc4d224/NT_Road_Trips_Guide.pdf

Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia has launched Wintjiri Wiṟu a cultural experience at Uluru. Developed in partnership with the Anangu community, it combines ancient storytelling with state-of-the-art drone, laser, and light projection technology. Wintjiri Wiṟu or beautiful view out to the horizon in the local Anangu language tells part of the Mala ancestral story which sits between Kaltukatjara (Docker River) and Uluru. Designed and produced by world-renowned media architecture studio RAMUS, it features 1,100 drones luminously choreographed from an environmentally sustainable purpose-built platform floating above the desert.

Further information: https://www.ayersrockresort.com.au/wintjiri-wiru

Tropical North Queensland has launched a First Nations Tourism Action Plan to embrace the full potential of Indigenous tourism in the region. The plan is a roadmap for First Nations tourism by embracing its potential and connecting visitors in a respectful way to Country, culture, and people. It aims to increase the number of Indigenous tourism experiences and people employed in the region by 2032. The plan is funded by the Queensland Government through the Year of Indigenous Tourism program.

Further information: https://tourism.tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/FNTAP-spreads.pdf

The Commonwealth Bank is joining forces with Canadian mobile travel marketplace Hopper to make it easier for customers to book domestic and international flights, accommodation, and rental cars. Expected to launch in 2024, the CommBank app will integrate with Hopper Cloud to offer customers the lowest price on 300 airlines, 2 million hotels and 100 rental car companies globally. The new digital travel experience will allow customers to dream, plan, book, and manage their travel finances all in one place.

Further information: https://www.commbank.com.au/articles/newsroom/2023/05/reimagining-banking-hopper.html

The team behind one of TreeClimb has unveiled a new location in the Kutipo Forest of Adelaide. The $1.3 million-dollar tree-based zip-line and high ropes adventure course sits within 15 aerial acres within a Forestry South Australia site. The new design includes multi-level challenge courses and extended zip-line loops overlaying part of the Heysen Trail.

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

The U.S. Travel Association has launched a first-of-its-kind initiative which consists of more than 100 examples of sustainable travel practices from a diverse cross-section of more than 50 travel businesses including airlines, hotels, attractions, and government agencies. Journey to Clean allows travellers to have a better understanding of sustainable options and make decisions that best align with their values. It also highlights policy priorities to strengthen sustainable travel including the focus areas of grant programs, tax incentives, free trade agreements and public-private partnerships.

Further information: https://www.ustravel.org/press/travel-industry-unites-help-travelers-choose-sustainable-options

KAYAK has unveiled the 2023 City Index for Mindful Travelers which ranks more than 160 cities around the world based on 28 factors including mass transit, airport carbon accreditation, air quality and local markets. The study focused on those factors that sustainability-minded visitors may take into account when making travel choices. The e-survey was conducted among 10,000 participants from the USA, Canada, Australia, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Sweden, and the U.K.

Further information: https://www.kayak.com/mindful-traveler

SEE Turtles has taken over management of the Travellers Against Plastic campaign in collaboration with Crooked Trails. The Travelers Against Plastic aims to get single use plastic out of the tourism industry while helping to keep plastic waste out of natural areas in destinations around the world. The campaign works with tour operators and conservation organisations to encourage travellers to use less plastic while traveling and to participate in efforts to clean up plastic waste in the destinations where they visit and work.

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

The inaugural Travel Green List have been unveiled by Wanderlust who has championed responsible travel since its founding 30 years ago. The list celebrates the champions of sustainable travel and highlights the destinations, accommodation providers, and tour operators leading the way in sustainable tourism.

Further information: https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/travel-green-list

The South Australian Tourism Commission has launched the South Australian Agritourism Sector Plan 2025. The plan aims to take the knowledge and learnings developed through the state’s reputation in wine tourism and apply it to other types of on farm visitor experiences in the agritourism market. A working group will also be established to undertake consultation with industry and develop an action plan to achieve the 2025 target.

Further information: https://tourism.sa.gov.au/support/industry-resources-and-tools/sector-development/agritourism

The Travel Foundation has worked with Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership to launch a new toolkit for destination management organisations and train operators. The Connecting Climate, Community and the Visitor Economy toolkit features tips, case studies and ideas to highlight the opportunities for more climate-friendly travel within the rail leisure market. It also aims to promote the potential for rail, other public transport, and active travel options in relation to tourism.

Further information: https://www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk/new-community-rail-and-destination-toolkit/

Project Tōnui is a white paper by Regional Tourism New Zealand which examines the past, present and future of regional tourism in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is seeking to better understand the future role, function, and resourcing requirements of Regional Tourism Organisations by examining the history of the tourism sector, its current state, future demands, and needs. Tōnui describes the aspiration amongst Regional Tourism Organisations for a tourism system that is prosperous and productive for communities, the whenua and manuhiri.

Further information: https://rtnz.org.nz/project-tonui/

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation has announced the winners of its Awake Tourism Challenge which celebrates the start-ups that are reshaping the sector globally. Entrants were judged on how they are contributing to the development of an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable tourism sector with a focus on six core themes. The competition attracted more than 2,000 entrants from 120 countries worldwide from which an expert jury selected 15 winners.

Further information: https://www.unwto.org/unwto-awake-tourism-challenge

The Australian Government launched a campaign as part of its broader commitment to attract workers to tourism. The campaign highlights the benefits of tourism jobs such as flexibility, seasonal or part-time work and the opportunity to work while touring Australia. Austrade is delivering the campaign and has developed a range of resources to help businesses recruit mature age workers.

Further information: https://www.austrade.gov.au/tourismbusiness

The European Travel Commission and Eurail have launched the third edition of the Rail Tourism Awards which recognise the most impactful marketing campaigns that promote train travel as a sustainable tourism model across Europe. The objectives of the awards are to searching for the best marketing campaigns that encourage travellers to explore Europe in a conscious and eco-friendly manner by train. Applications are open for national and local tourism authorities, rail organisations, marketing agencies, and other entities operating in Europe’s tourism sector.

Further information: https://railtourismawards.com/about/

Destination New South Wales has released new research on the market segment based around outdoor and nature experiences. The Domestic Nature-Based Tourism in New South Wales report includes activities such as visiting national parks, whale or dolphin watching, going to the beach, visiting botanical gardens, visiting farms, bushwalking and/or rainforest walks, visiting wildlife parks, zoos and/or aquariums and bird watching.

Further information: https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/nature-based-tourism-to-nsw-snapshot-ye-dec-2022.pdf

New consumer research from Tourism New Zealand shows beautiful landscapes and scenery remain a key driver for those actively considering visiting Aotearoa New Zealand. The reports provide a detailed overview of the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours of Active Considerers across Tourism New Zealand’s key markets as well as emerging markets. The research was conducted between July to December 2022 on Active Considerers defined as those aged between 18-74 years old who are seriously considering visiting New Zealand in the next three years.

Further information: https://www.tourismnewzealand.com/news-and-activity/new-zealands-beautiful-landscapes-and-scenery-key-driver-for-potential-visitors/

Research from Southern Cross Travel Insurance reveals that the rising cost of living will have a significant impact on Aussie travel plans this year, with more than eight in 10 Australians who plan to travel over the next 12 months admitting they will need to reduce travel costs because of rising costs of living. The Future of Travel 2023 research was commissioned to better understand if travel behaviours in Australia have changed since emerging from the pandemic last year. The online survey was conducted by YouGov in January 2023 using a nationally representative sample of 1,028 Australians aged 18 years.

Further information: https://www.scti.com.au/future-of-travel

The Airservices Australia’s Travel Sentiment Index 2023 report indicates that governments and airlines should shoulder the burden of how to manage carbon emissions in air travel. The report also indicated that the airline industry should prioritise the reliability of flights, increasing the number of flights on offer, and improving flight times between key destinations.

Further information: https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/flying-critical-to-wellbeing-of-a-third-of-australians/

The Google Travel Insights provides a single location to access important market data, industry insights and relevant tools allowing businesses, marketing professionals and others to gain real insight into the state of play at any given time. It is a section of the wider Google platform and is geared towards those operating within the travel and tourism industry. It is intended to help businesses develop a deeper understanding of current levels of demand for travel, see how this demand is evolving over time, pinpoint where demand for travel is coming from, and view key performance data and analytics.

Further information: https://travelinsights.withgoogle.com/intl/en/

The Luxury Escapes annual report of travel trends and habits has revealed Australians are more motivated to book an escape than ever before, with bucket list holidays and immersive tourism experiences a priority as travel tops the discretionary spend list. The survey of 4,000 Australians found more than half of respondents were more motivated than ever to travel post-pandemic with food, wellness and sustainability driving motivators for travel in 2023. Australian owned Luxury Escapes is one of the world’s leading luxury travel providers with more than seven million members globally.

Further information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19nv2vp6eD3H1NDOKFj6VAWB9drFzD5sh/view

New South Wales was Australia’s top destination for caravan and camping visitors according to the Caravan and Camping State of the Industry Report 2023. The report is an annual review of all caravanning and camping tourism figures, recreational vehicle manufacturing, caravan imports, accommodation figures and caravan and campervan registration statistics for 2022. It provides and analysis the national economy along with historical trends to help inform industry of the current situation and the trajectory of the future of the caravanning and camping industry.

Further information: https://caravanstats.com.au/

The Australian Festival Industry Conference will be held at Luna Park, Sydney from 30-31 August 2023. It is the Asia Pacific’s leading event for festival management personnel who deliver quality music, arts and culture, food and drink, ideas, and sporting festivals.

Further information: https://australianfestivalconference.com.au/

The annual Cruise360 Australasia event will be held at the Royal International Convention Centre in Brisbane from 6-7 September 2023. Organised by Cruise Lines International Association the event will feature industry representatives from cruise lines, government, ports, industry suppliers and partners.

Further information: https://www.cruising.org.au/ccms.r?TenID=CLIA

The Adventure Travel World Summit in Hokkaido, Japan from 11-14 September 2023. Over 800 tour operators, destination representatives, adventure travel writers, and thought leaders from across the globe gather to explore travel trends and develop new connections.

Further information: https://events.adventuretravel.biz/summit/hokkaido-2023

The Centre for Aviation will hold its Pacific Aviation Summit at Brisbane Airport from 14-15 September 2023. The summit will explore the major issues facing aviation, including the recovery of the Chinese market, changes in passenger behaviour, tourism trends, insight on government thinking, and sustainability.

Further information: https://apas23.capaevents.com/home

The Green Destinations Global Conference will be held in Tallinn, Estonia from 9-10 October 2023. The event will see sustainable destination management leaders provide collective and new solutions towards a responsible future of tourism.

Further information: https://www.greendestinations.org/gd-2023-estonia/

The World of Barbie is making its debut at Santa Monica Place and allows fans of all generations to explore a life-size Barbie Dreamhouse. Visitors can try out several Barbie careers in various interactive rooms and sit behind the wheel of a full-size Barbie Camper Van. The production will feature a bespoke Barbie exhibit where guests can see how Barbie, her Dreamhouse and various vehicles have evolved over the years.

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