Edition 192 · May 2024

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

Aircalin has introduced Green Adventures Kits to encourage young travellers to explore the different aspects of sustainability through games and activities. The new eco-adventure kits are provided by Kaelis, the world’s leading independent provider of onboard products and are made entirely out of recycled materials. The multifunctional bag contains a memory game, an educational activity book, recycled carton pencil case, an eye mask and rPET socks.

Further information: https://www.aircalin.co.nz/en/families

Round Seven of the Northern Territory Government’s $1 million Aboriginal Tourism Grant Program is now open. Funding is available to Aboriginal owned and/or majority owned businesses and organisations to upgrade or build new infrastructure or to develop new tourism accommodation on country, cultural tours or experiences. Applications close 31 May 2024. Further information: https://www.tourismnt.com.au/industry-toolkit/grants-funding/aboriginal-tourism-grant-program

Round 28 of the Queensland Destination Experiences Program is open for eligible events between January 2025 to January 2026. The funding can be used the investment toward marketing costs, strategic plan development, hire of temporary infrastructure and engagement of short-term specialised personnel. Submissions close 6 June 2024.

Further information: https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/what-we-do/queensland-events/queensland-events-funding/destination-event-funding

The Business Events Bid Fund Program is providing an additional $4 million to support bids for events being held up to 2029. Managed by Business Events Australia, the program is designed to increase the conversion of bids for new international business events through the offer of financial support at the critical bidding stage where Australia is bidding against international competitors for the right to host. Applications close 30 June 2024.

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

The Gold Coast Airport Draft Master Plan has been released outlining the airport’s strategic vision for the next 20 years. The master plan incorporates future light and heavy rail facilities, as well as on-precinct developments including a health and wellness hub, conference and tech facilities, and a retail village. Public submissions are open until 14 June 2024.

Further information: https://www.goldcoastairport.com.au/masterplan

The Rosie Travel Group has launched the first fleet of electric tourist passenger vehicles as part of its contribution to the sustainable transformation of Fiji’s tourism industry. The F$1 million investment aligns with the Fijian government’s National Sustainable Tourism Framework as the company partners with the private sector and environmentally conscious travellers to respond to the climate change challenge.

Further information: https://rosiefiji.com/ev-fleet-media-release/

Doha’s Hamad International Airport has been named the World’s Best Airport in the World Airport Survey by Skytrax. It also won the World’s Best Airport Shopping and the Best Airport in the Middle East. Singapore’s Changi Airport was named Best Airport in Asia and the World’s Best Airport Immigration Service. For the Australia and Pacific region, Adelaide Airport was named Best Regional Airport and Perth won Best Airport Staff Service, and Brisbane the Cleanest Airport.

Further information: https://skytraxratings.com/hamad-international-airport-is-named-the-worlds-best-airport-2024

IHG Hotels and Resorts is opening its first Kimpton Hotel in Brisbane in 2028 as part of a $1.5 billion mixed-use lifestyle precinct comprising hospitality and retail amenity, commercial offices and residential towers. The luxury hotel will have 155 rooms and suites, a 200-plus-seat signature restaurant and bar, spa, fitness centre, event spaces, and infinity pool overlooking the Brisbane River. The Kimpton brand has more than 70 hotels and 85 restaurants, bars and lounges around the world.

Further information: https://www.ihgplc.com/en/news-and-media/news-releases/2024/ihg-boosts-luxury-portfolio-in-brisbane-with-signing-of-kimpton-in-trendy-teneriffe

Image: Render of the infinity pool at Kimpton in Brisbane’s Teneriffe

Hilton’s 2024 Trends Report has found that sleep quality is one of the most important elements for an enjoyable experience at a hotel when travelling. The global survey identified the continuing rise in sleep tourism and how the hotel chain is continually testing innovative noise-cancelling solutions including premium soundproofing and blackout curtains, ensuring pillows and duvets have a specific size, weight, fibre, and thread count.

Further information: https://stories.hilton.com/2024trends-sleep

The Crystalbrook Collection is expanding its portfolio of luxury sustainably led hotels to Australia’s capital. The new hotel is set to open in 2027 and will be located on Bunda Street as part of a major transformation of Canberra Civic Centre. The hotel will have 238 rooms and suites, Eléme Day Spa, pool, sauna and gym facilities, as well as multiple restaurants and rooftop bar with views stretching across to Lake Burley Griffin and Parliament House.

Further information: https://www.crystalbrookcollection.com/canberra

Dublin City Council is partnering with OpenAI to showcase the potential of Artificial Intelligence to enhance the visitor experience, destination branding, tourism engagement, and itinerary planning. The collaboration includes the development of A Day in Dublin Itinerary Planner using GPT-4 to showcase the potential of generative Artificial Intelligence to support unique and bespoke travel recommendations for visitors instead of generic to-do lists.

Further information: https://www.dublincity.ie/news/dublin-city-council-and-openai-announce-partnership-show-potential-ai-support-europes-tourism

The Flinders Street Wharves Marine Tourism Hub will be an iconic tourist destination in Townsville comprising commercial marina berths and a unique floating function, bar, and restaurant venue. It is a key component of the $30 million Flinders Street Wharves redevelopment which will rejuvenate the historic Burns Philp building into an integrated destination for dining and entertainment, events and marine tourism activities including access to Magnetic Island, the Museum of Underwater Art and the Great Barrier Reef.

Further information: https://www.dts.qld.gov.au/news/latest/2024/townsvilles-flinders-street-wharves-set-to-become-iconic-tourism-hub

The new Wellness Way in Outback Queensland features hot artesian springs, pools, spas and bathhouses that blend luxury with the rugged charm of the outback. It covers a wide range of towns across 24 locations including Mitchell, St George, Cunnamulla, Eulo, Yowah, Quilpie, Blackall, Barcaldine, Ilfracombe, Longreach, Winton, Julia Creek, Mount Isa, Gilberton and Talaroo.

Further information: https://www.dts.qld.gov.au/news/latest/2024/new-wellness-way-shows-the-path-to-relaxation-and-rejuvenation

A campaign is being rolled out in the Northern Territory to inspire young people, First Nations Territorians and people living with disability to pursue a career in tourism. The NT Choose Tourism campaign is delivered by Tourism NT, funded by a $450,000 grant from the Australian Government.

Further information: https://www.isacnt.org.au/choose-a-career-in-tourism#msdynttrid=0FgHh0lBsT3uojmNDuRqA0bLwlVBaSkPTspoedTD5-E

Visit California has unveiled a US$50 million advertising campaign and new tourism initiative in a decade. With a focus on fun, the Ultimate Playground is a new global brand platform which invites international and domestic visitors to experience a whole lot of fun in a state known for its free-spirited nature. The three-month ad campaign will run in Australia, U.S.A., Canada, Mexico, the U.K. and China.

Further information: https://industry.visitcalifornia.com/more/newsroom/childhood-rules-launch

Guide Dogs Queensland has announced a new project aimed at supporting Queensland’s tourism business owners and operators to help make their tourism experiences more accessible and inclusive for all. The free information and training sessions are done by orientation and mobility experts where you will get the opportunity to learn how to make your tourism, events, hospitality or community spaces accessible for people living with low vision or blindness.

Further information: https://qld.guidedogs.com.au/get-resources/accessible-tourism/

Qantas Airways is investing $10 million over 10 years in the Reef Restoration Fund to support scientists, Traditional Owners and local tourism operators restoring corals across the Great Barrier Reef and other iconic Australian coral reefs. Building on a 15-year partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, the new fund that will help accelerate the restoration of Australia’s reef systems including investment in Coral IVF programs, corals with increased heat tolerance and world-first portable coral nurseries.

Further information: https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-commits-10-million-to-help-restore-the-reef/

A 2.5-million-acre remote and sparsely populated area in Southern Oregon has been certified by Dark Sky International making it the world’s largest International Dark Sky Sanctuary. Located in Lake County, the Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary provides stargazing opportunities and other adventures for astro-tourists. There are also plans to expand the sanctuary across 11.4 million acres to help promote dark sky conservation including data collection for sky quality monitoring, community outreach, and educational events.

Further information: https://www.southernoregon.org/dark-skies/oregon-outback-dark-sky-sanctuary/

The Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions will waive the annual licence fee for more than 400 operators conducting business in national parks and conservation reserves from July 2024. It is part of a four-year trial for T class licences under the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984. The Government is also supporting a Tourism Council Western Australia initiative to deliver new industry standards involving national park tourism operators who achieve enhanced Sustainable Tourism Accreditation, an accessibility assessment, and commit to reducing their emissions.

Further information: https://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/news/2024/fee-waiver-support-tourism-operators-was-national-parks

The Commercial Bear Viewing Association, through the Conservation Licence Fee initiative, has raised USD$300,000 for bear conservation. This sustainable approach to wildlife tourism aims to ensure the long-term survival of bear populations and foster greater awareness among visitors and local communities. It also allows commercial bear viewing operators to voluntarily contribute a portion of their profits to support habitat restoration, research, education, and community outreach.

Further information: https://www.bearviewing.ca/news/commercial-bear-viewing-association-raises-300000-for-bear-conservation-through-innovative-conservation-licence-fee/

The World Wide Fund for Nature and Agoda have renewed their partnership which will see the online travel agency donate USD$1 for every booking on its global platform with selected properties in tourist destinations under the Eco Deals Program. These funds will go towards supporting conservation projects in Southeast Asian countries spanning marine, forest, and wildlife preservation. The program runs until 3 December 2024.

Further information: https://www.agoda.com/ecodeals?ds=UqCi2lLvAj%2BdH3wa

VisitScotland is partnering with The Travel Corporation and the Travel Foundation to accelerate the de-carbonisation of the tourism supply chain in Scotland. The National Tourism Organisation aims to become the world’s first net zero destination by developing and delivering responsible tourism experiences and itineraries that have a positive social or environmental impact on communities and visitors.

Further information: https://www.treadright.org/project/shaping-a-net-zero-destination/

A new report developed by the Alliance, the World Travel and Tourism Council and UN Tourism provides insights, guidance, and case studies to assist businesses to identify and reduce impacts on nature and invest in protecting biodiversity. The Nature Positive Travel and Tourism in Action report includes practical examples that encourage tour operators and travellers to embark on journeys that contribute to conservation. Developed in collaboration with ANIMONDIAL, the report involved consultation with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the World Commission on Protected Areas.

Further information: https://sustainablehospitalityalliance.org/a-united-vision-for-nature-nature-positive-report-marks-new-collaborative-era-in-travel-tourism/

Hostelworld has unveiled a new framework dedicated to communicating and elevating sustainability practices in the industry. Developed in partnership with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, the ‘Staircase to Sustainability’ framework introduces a universal measurement system tailored for hostels to communicate their sustainability management practices. The framework also serves as a guide for the climate-conscious traveller looking to make informed choices when selecting accommodation.

Further information: https://global.hostelworld.com/staircase-to-sustainability

Destination Phillip Island has released the Phillip Island and San Remo Tourism Destination Management Plan – Towards 2033. The purpose of the plan is to recognise the value of tourism by ensuring it is a positive force for people, nature, and economy over the next 10 years. It is designed as a framework that will evolve over time to provide strategies and measure success to guide tourism management and its impacts on our community. The Tourism Collective worked with representatives from Destination Phillip Island, Bass Coast Shire Council and Phillip Island Nature Parks to create the plan.

Further information: https://www.visitphillipisland.com.au/destination-phillipisland/destination-management-plan

The Australian Tourism Industry Council has launched a new online program set to empower tourism operators to improve their environmental sustainability. The Tourism Emissions Reduction Program is designed to boost the competitiveness of Australia’s world-class attractions to visitors who are increasingly looking for sustainable tourism experiences. It is part of the $8 million Quality Tourism Framework which provides industry and operators with a suite of online training and accreditation programs to enhance their quality, accessibility, and sustainability.

Further information: https://www.qualitytourismaustralia.com/home/tourism-emissions-reduction-program/

UN Tourism has partnered with the European Committee of the Regions for a comprehensive study of the significant impact and potential of tourism in fostering socio-economic development in rural areas. The report highlights the potential of rural tourism to contribute to the resilience of regional and local communities, addressing challenges such as depopulation, inequality, and limited access to basic services. It provides a roadmap for policymakers, local governments, and stakeholders to harness the potential of rural tourism while addressing its challenges.

Further information: https://www.unwto.org/news/european-committee-of-the-regions-and-un-tourism-break-new-ground-with-study-on-rural-tourism-and-development-in-europe

The World Travel and Tourism Council have launched the Sustainability Readiness Roadmap to support the travel sector as it moves from voluntary to mandatory sustainability reporting under new regulations to halt climate change and protect nature. To accompany the roadmap, a new report Navigating the Sustainability Journey has analysed the three most influential sustainability reporting frameworks that have emerged globally to decode reporting, identify relevant compliance standards, and evaluate data.

Further information: https://researchhub.wttc.org/product/navigating-the-sustainability-journey-the-impact-of-mandatory-reporting-on-travel-tourism-2024

Tour Guides Australia is offering a three-day micro-credential training course across several locations for people wanting to develop foundation knowledge and skills to enter the workforce.

Further information: https://tga.org.au/events/

Best known for its restaurant rating system, the Michelin Guide has launched the Michelin Keys program, a new international benchmark to identify the best hotels around the world. Hotels earn one, two or three Michelin Keys based on their performance in five categories including excellence in architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall personality and character, value for the price, and a significant contribution to the neighbourhood or setting.

Further information: https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/news-and-views/michelin-guide-hotels-distinction-michelin-key

The Global Wellness Institute has released the first-ever time-series dataset on the wellness tourism market from 2012 to 2022, and projecting forward to 2027. This compilation of 15 years of data provides a clear snapshot of wellness tourism’s growth and how the travel trend will continue to reshape the tourism industry. Wellness tourism has consistently been one of the fastest-growing sectors as involves activities associated with the pursuit of maintaining or enhancing one’s personal wellbeing.

Further information: https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/global-wellness-institute-blog/2024/03/25/a-decade-of-wellness-tourism-first-ever-compilation-of-10-years-of-market-data/

Austrade have launched a new business events data dashboard to help the sector better understand and plan for business events travellers across Australia. Created by Tourism Research Australia, the interactive dashboard provides official statistics on business events and related travel expenditure including spending behaviour, type of event and venues attended, as well as the number of days spent at events.

Further information: https://www.trademinister.gov.au/minister/don-farrell/media-release/delivering-data-business-events

Bespoke travel operator and luxury specialist Audley Travel has released new insights into the premium travel market unveiling the current and future travel preferences for consumers. The Premium Travel Report is the first report of its kind commissioned by Audley and revealed that despite the current economic climate, the average spend per person on a two-week trip including travel, accommodation and activities was over US$10,000. The research was conducted in March 2023 with 2,000 respondents aged over 18 years who had taken a vacation abroad in the last five years and plan to in the next 12 months.

Further information: https://www.audleytravel.com/us/media-center/audley-reveals-research-into-premium-travel-market

According to the latest research from the World Travel and Tourism Council, the travel industry will reach a record $11 trillion in 2024, supporting nearly 348 million jobs globally. Produced in partnership with Oxford Economics, the 2024 Economic Impact Report combines data from governments and industry groups with travel forecasts to determine the sector’s future.

Further information: https://wttc.org/news-article/travel-and-tourism-set-to-break-all-records-in-2024-reveals-wttc

The 2024 State of the Cruise Industry report has confirmed that 2023 passenger volume globally was above 2019 levels and the travel trade is helping to grow that demand. Driving cruise’s popularity is the ability to visit multiple destinations and value for the money. Other notable global findings from the report include a rise in new and younger cruisers such as Millennials and multi-generational travel. It also highlights that expedition and exploration are the fastest-growing sectors of cruise tourism.

Further information: https://cruising.org/-/media/clia-media/research/2024/2024-state-of-the-cruise-industry-report-live-web4-4-9-230.ashx

Condé Nast Traveler has named coolcationing as one of the biggest travel trends to expect in 2024. The new international tourism trend means that tourists are increasingly choosing cooler destinations due to concerns about climate change, hotter temperatures, and destinations such as Iceland, Finland and Scotland being less crowded.

Further information: https://svenska.yle.fi/a/7-10054512

https://travelsavvywanderer.com/2024/01/16/coolcationing-in-norway-travel-trend-2024/

Tourism New Zealand and the New Zealand Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment have released new research to better understand visitor perceptions of sustainability in relation to holiday destination and operator choice.

Further information: https://www.tourismnewzealand.com/assets/insights/industry-insights/TNZ-and-MBIE-Consumer-Sustainability-Key-Findings-Report.pdf

Welcoming more than 200 delegates to Brisbane, the Global Sustainable Tourism Summit is your chance to be part of important conversations about the risks and opportunities, and future of sustainable tourism. Delving into topics including global travel trends, indigenous engagement, regenerative tourism, wildlife tourism, cruising, sustainable accommodation, and accessibility in nature, there are more than 50 speakers on the program representing Tourism Australia, Intrepid Travel, Accor, WWF-Australia, Flight Centre, Virgin, Parks and Wildlife Agencies, State and Regional Tourism Organisations and myriad certified destinations and tourism operators.

Limited tickets remain for our Scenic Rim Sustainability Tour (4 June) and the World Environment Day Cocktail Function (5 June), which features a conversation with Australian Age of Dinosaurs co-founder, David Elliot OAM.

Don’t miss out – register before 28 May: www.ecotourism.org.au/conference

The Victorian Tourism Industry Council has announced the Choose Tourism Careers Expo and Summit which will be held in Melbourne on 18 June 2024. The event will showcase the diverse career pathways that exist in tourism, hospitality, and events industry via a full day program of workshops, keynote presentations, and networking.

Further information: https://www.vtic.com.au/public/123/files/Choose-Tourism-Careers-Expo-2024-Prospectus-web-v2.pdf

The Australian Cruise Association Annual Conference will be held in Adelaide from 4-6 September 2024. The event is for national and international cruise lines, shore excursion operators, port authorities, provedores, shipping agents, and tour businesses.

Further information: https://tourism.sa.gov.au/news-articles/adelaide-to-host-major-cruise-conference-as-state-gets-set-for-record-breaking-season

The North America Meaningful Travel Summit will be held in Eugene, Oregon from 30 September to 2 October 2024. The event brings together industry leaders, destination managers, tourism professionals, and community-led organisations to share best practices focused on prioritising meaningful travel within the tourism industry.

Further information: https://www.tourismcares.org/willamette-summit

The Adventure Travel World Summit will be held in Panama from 7-10 October 2024. The event attracts tour operators, destination representatives, travel writers, and thought leaders from across the globe to explore travel trends and develop new connections.

Further information: https://events.adventuretravel.biz/summit/panama-2024

The 24th World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit in Perth (Boorloo), Western Australia from 8-10 October 2024. This is the first time the event will be held in Oceania and attracts airlines, hotel operators and investors, and cruise lines.

Further information: https://wttc.org/events-webinars/global-summit/2024-perth