Edition 199 · January 2025

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

Los Angeles has welcomed a new attraction ideal for families looking for something a little different. The Balloon Museum is an immersive inflatable art experience which invites guests to play, touch and feel their way through an exhibition of more than 20 world-renowned artists specialising in balloon and inflatable art.

Further information: https://balloonmuseum.world/

The Fijian Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has launched a new initiative designed to empower tourism products and experiences by providing financial assistance in the form of a grant. Registered tourism businesses can apply for the Pilot Tourism Micro and Small Enterprises Fund for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The funding aims to support the expansion of visitor experiences and long-term sustainability of community benefits.

Further information: https://mtca.gov.fj/2509-2/

Tourism Northern Territory has opened round eight of the Aboriginal Tourism Grant Program to support majority owned Aboriginal businesses and organisations to develop Aboriginal cultural tourism experiences and tourism product. The funding supports the Northern Territory Aboriginal Tourism Strategy 2020-2030 vision to inspire visitors to connect with one of the world’s oldest cultures through immersive tourism experiences, which sustain the sector for future generations. Applications close 7 March 2025.

Further information: https://tourismnt.com.au/industry-toolkit/grants-funding/aboriginal-tourism-grant-program

The Events Tasmania Marketing Grant Program provides funding to event organisers to support marketing initiatives that promote and attract audiences to events held in Tasmania between 1 January and 30 June 2025. It is designed to cater for both large and small events with two tiers of funding available for either intrastate or interstate visitation targets. Applications close 1 May 2025.

Further information: https://www.eventstasmania.com/grants_and_funding/grant_program/events_tasmania_marketing_grants

Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport and Western Sydney University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to drive education, training, and job opportunities ahead of the airport opening in 2026. The partnership builds upon research investigating the customer experience at airports including improving accessibility for people with hidden and physical disabilities, enhancing cultural accessibility, supporting community engagement, promoting health and wellbeing, and using art to make airports better places to transit and dwell.

Further information: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/newscentre/news_centre/feature_story/sydneys_new_24-hour_airport_and_western_sydney_university_join_forces_to_support_jobs_take_off

Luxury hospitality company Belmond is launching a new sleeper train in the United Kingdom in 2025. With 18 passenger cabins (15 suites and three Grand Suites), the Britannic Explorer will depart from London offering three-night journeys with a choice of three routes to Cornwall, the Lake District and Wales. Belmond which is owned by French holding company Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton already operates two sleeper trains with the United Kingdom including the Royal Scotsman and the British Pullman.

Further information: https://www.belmond.com/trains/europe/uk/britannic-explorer/

Four Seasons hotels and resorts and the maker of the world’s most advanced electric vehicles, the Lucid Group, have created a sustainable lifestyle partnership. The collaboration highlights each companies’ commitment to environmental stewardship and the growing desire for added flexibility and unique, eco-friendly experiences. The program will roll out across Four Seasons properties in the United States with additional properties in North America, Europe, and the Middle East to be added in the future.

Further information: https://press.fourseasons.com/news-releases/2024/lucid-partnership/

The Friends of the Earth’s 2024 Cruise Ship Report Card ranks 21 major cruise lines and 243 cruise ships according to four environmental criteria sewage treatment, air pollution reduction, water quality/scrubber use and transparency. All cruise ships were included with data gathered from the internet, government, industry, and other public sources to determine the grades assigned to cruise lines.

Further information: https://foe.org/cruise-report-card/

The Mondrian Gold Coast Hotel and Residences is the lifestyle hotel brand’s first Australian property opening in 2025. Part of the global Ennismore hospitality group, the five-star property at Burleigh Heads is one of 11 properties worldwide. The 24-floor Mondrian Gold Coast will comprise 208 studios, suites, and homes, including two and three bedroom beach houses with private plunge pools and the penthouse Sky House.

Further information: https://mondrianhotels.com/mondrian-gold-coast/

The Peninsula Hot Springs, just an hour from Melbourne, has just opened its new luxury accommodation. Overlooking a private lake, the eco-conscious lodges nestle into the bushland with nature-inspired architecture, bespoke amenities and furniture and original scenic artwork by local Mornington Peninsula artists. They have been designed as the ultimate sanctuary to connect, rejuvenate and sleep.

Further information: https://www.peninsulahotsprings.com/accommodation/eco-lodges

Airbnb have launched the Short-Term Rental Regulation Toolkit designed to assist local governments across Australia leverage opportunities and address key regulatory levers for the short-term rental industry. It is based on years of experience, research, and dialogue with communities across Australia. Airbnb is partnering with governments to help create evidence-based regulations to ensure short-term rentals contribute to sustainable communities across Australia for the long-term.

Further information: https://www.airbnb.com.au/e/ppap_au-policytoolkit

The latest fDi Tourism Investment Report released by the Financial Times, in collaboration with UN Tourism, offers an in-depth look at global greenfield investment trends in tourism. The Global Greenfield Investment Trends in Tourism report identifies an increasing focus on sustainable tourism investments as destinations leverage innovation and technology, including AI and blockchain to reduce environmental impact while enhancing visitor experiences, and the growing involvement and appetite of sovereign wealth funds.

Further information: https://www.fdiintelligence.com/special-report/tourism-investment-report-2024-84264

Old Young’s and Gingin Gin has unveiled plans for a $30 million Cathedral of Gin located in the Swan Valley wine region less than 30 minutes from Perth. The proposed 45,000 square metre development will include a state-of-the-art sustainable distillery with multiple event, bar, restaurant and immersive tasting gin experiences, and a secret bar. Designed by architects Cumulus Studio, the structure is an artistic tribute to Old Young’s original tin shed and will cater for 500 visitors each day, as well as have 10 luxury accommodation suites.

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

The Queensland Government has committed $5 million to Australian Adventure Tourism Group for a new ecotourism project at Airlie Beach. The Whitsunday Skyway project will feature a one kilometre all-weather cable car ride that soars 430 metres above sea level offering visitors 360-degree panoramic views of the Whitsunday islands and hinterland. The $100 million project is currently undergoing approvals at State and Federal levels before construction commences.

Further information: https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/101634

UN Tourism is looking for projects that are leveraging digital technologies to enhance tourism, promote sustainability, and drive economic growth. The Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge is open to individuals, teams, and companies from across the globe. Winners will gain support and guidance from digital innovation industry experts to develop and implement their projects, as well as have access to an extensive network of potential investors. Applicants must submit a detailed proposal and plan for implementation by 31 March 2025.

Further information: https://www.unwto.org/news/un-tourism-launches-global-artificial-intelligence-challenge

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, in partnership with Cosmos Studios, Air Asia, and Agoda, has launched a new integrated experience which invites players to explore and engage with the culture and diversity of Southeast Asia via the Roblox universe. The Great Metaverse Hunt game aims to make learning an interactive and immersive experience by exploring the destinations of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam online.

Further information: https://www.visitsoutheastasia.travel/guides/imaginasean-metaversegame/

The New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service has opened a 56-kilometre multi-day walk in Kosciuszko National Park. The Snowies Alpine Walk on Monero Ngarigo Country links the alpine locations of Guthega, Charlotte Pass, Perisher and Bullocks Flat with newly constructed track. Walkers can choose to do any section of the track as a single day walk or combine sections for a four-day walking experience. Accommodation is available throughout the National Park and in alpine villages.

Further information: https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/experiences/snowies-alpine-walk

Aotearoa New Zealand is a step closer to becoming the world’s first dark sky nation. Kaikōura on New Zealand’s South Island has been designated an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, bringing Aotearoa a step closer to its goal of becoming the world’s first dark sky nation. It is the country’s third area to gain the status alongside Great Barrier Island and Stewart Island. The Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust is now aiming for the township of Kaikōura and the surrounding area to become an International Dark Sky community.

Further information: https://kaikouradarksky.nz/

The Vienna Tourist Board released a groundbreaking marketing initiative aiming to garner widespread attention for Vienna and its esteemed cultural institutions by tapping into the popular concept of micro-dosing. The Microdose Vienna campaign was crafted for the United States of America and United Kingdom markets with the slogan ‘Take a Trip to Vienna’ featuring a curated selection of pills which embodied an aspect of Vienna’s heritage experiences.

Further information: https://b2b.wien.info/en/microdose-vienna

Qantas is partnering with Surf Life Saving Australia to promote water safety ahead of summer and support their mission to achieve zero preventable deaths in Australian waters. The four-year alliance will see the launch of the Beach Passport, a new online training tool which provides the public with basic water safety knowledge in time for the peak summer holiday period.

Further information: https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/surf-life-saving-australia-teams-up-with-qantas-to-make-waves-in-beach-safety/

TUI, one of the United Kingdom’s leading travel brands, has partnered with AccessAble and Sign Live to develop detailed hotel accessibility guides and introduced interpreting services for British Sign Language users via video relay. The TUI Accessible Holidays Strategy team also has specialist training and knowledge to enable those with access needs to book accommodation that meets their needs.

Further information: https://www.accessable.co.uk/tui

The Australian Government has launched a new national partnership to support greater participation and opportunities for First Nations people and businesses. The First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership which comprises representatives from each state and territory, will provide leadership and guidance on respectfully embedding Australia’s rich cultural heritage into visitor experiences. It will also investigate and establish a permanent First Nations national tourism peak body to provide guidance and strategic support to grow the sector.

Further information: https://www.trademinister.gov.au/minister/don-farrell/media-release/new-partnership-boost-first-nations-tourism

Travel platform Evaneos and Roland Berger has launched the world’s first tool to measure the degree of exposure to overtourism in 70 of the world’s 100 most popular destinations. The Overtourism Index aims to serve as a decision-making aid for tourism industry stakeholders enabling an objective approach to this modern issue. The index can also serve as a tool to help travel trade consumers select the most appropriate holiday packages for their clientele.

Further information: https://tourismanalytics.com/news-articles/overtourism-index-new-tool-to-fight-destination-overload

Australian Geographic Travel recently launched Conservation Travel and Sustainable Tourism Framework inviting travellers to experience an innovative form of sustainable tourism. Australian Geographic Travel is aiming to redefine the travel industry’s relationship with the environment as a catalyst for conservation by incorporating sustainable practices, supporting local communities, and contributing to scientific research.

Further information: https://australiangeographictravel.com/articles/can-a-tour-help-conservation-travel-company-leads-the-way

Jacada Travel has released a whitepaper that explores the sustainability practices of 191 properties across 45 countries focusing on positive impact tourism which goes beyond sustainability to actively regenerate ecosystems, empower communities and create lasting benefits. The Beyond Sustainability: Positive Impact Tourism in 2024 study highlights success stories and real-world examples that aim to spark innovation and encourage others to adopt innovative strategies.

Further information: https://www.jacadatravel.com/beyond-sustainability-positive-impact-tourism/

Green Destinations has unveiled the Top 100 list of innovative and effective Good Practice Stories from destinations across the world that inspire responsible tourism leadership. Each destination has submitted a unique Good Practice Story that details sustainable tourism practices that businesses and organisations have adopted to contribute towards making it a better place for their community, travellers, and environment.

Further information: https://www.greendestinations.org/2024-top-100-unveiling/

The Destination Water Risk Index offers guidance for hotel companies, developers, and their stakeholders to prioritise water stewardship in destinations facing water scarcity. The report incorporates nine risk metrics to help hotel owners, operators, and their stakeholders better understand and evaluate water risks and their implications to future-proof the industry. It also rates a total of 379 destinations across 63 countries in terms of high to low risk.

Further information: https://sustainablehospitalityalliance.org/resource/destination-water-risk-index/

The Greenlandic Government has passed a new tourism law that will come into effect from 1 January 2025 to manage visitors by focusing on sustainable and low-impact travel experiences. The Act on Tourism Activities will categorise different areas of Greenland into green, yellow, and red zones with stricter access restrictions placed on the most vulnerable locations. This aims to protect the island’s sensitive ecosystems, cultural heritage sites, and traditional hunting grounds. The act also introduces new ownership requirements for tourism businesses ensuring companies remains in local hands.

Further information: https://www.nuna-law.com/2024/11/26/new-act-on-tourism-activities-in-greenland/?lang=en

Fáilte Ireland has published a new Tourism Policy Framework designed to pave the way towards a resilient and sustainable tourism sector in 2030. This policy provides a blueprint to guide efforts to further develop Ireland as a sustainable visitor economy that channels tourism revenue into communities across the country, enabling them to flourish and thrive, and making them better places to live and visit. It also supports the commitment to enhancing the environmental sustainability of tourism businesses, aiming to meet government targets for carbon emissions and energy efficiency by 2030.

Further information: https://www.failteireland.ie/Utility/News-Library/Failte-Ireland-Welcomes-New-Tourism-Policy-Framewo.aspx

Visit Finland has published a new climate action plan which serves as a roadmap for the Finnish tourism industry towards low-carbon tourism. It aims to provide practical tools for stakeholders on the tourism industry to implement climate measures by utilising nature-based solutions and promoting cooperation.

Further information: https://www.visitfinland.fi/ajankohtaista/uutiset/2024/ilmastotoimintasuunnitelma-hyodyttaa-koko-matkailualaa

Accommodation Australia and the Australian Government have launched a new digital hub to support workforce growth and development in the tourism, hospitality, and travel industries. The platform called ‘eeger’ aims to serve as a central source of information for jobs, training, and career development. It seeks to address skills shortages by connecting employers with job seekers. It also combines job listings, training opportunities, and career insights in one platform with registrations open ahead of its March 2025 launch.

Further information: https://accommodationaustralia.org/Portals/1/Documents/Media%20Releases/2024%20-%20Updated/2024%20Dec09%20MR%20-%20AA%20EEGER%20Launch%20Release%20041224%20-%20FINAL.pdf

Travel Counsellors has partnered with Green Tourism to help hotels gain sustainability certification recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Participating hotels will be guided through the process of implementing sustainable practices from energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction to water conservation and biodiversity protection. Green Tourism is also compliant with the Travalyst coalition criteria which aims to create industry alignment and consistency in the sustainability certifications shown on travel booking platforms.

Further information: https://www.green-tourism.com/travel-counsellors/

The International Centre for Responsible Tourism has unveiled the winners of the annual Global Responsible Tourism Awards which includes small community projects to major tour operators from all corners of the world. The six winners provided innovative ideas for protecting and educating travellers about fragile natural landscapes and culture, as well as replicable activities to reduce carbon and improve accessibility for travellers.

Further information: https://icrt.global/2024-global-award-finalists/

Virtuoso, the leading global network specialising in luxury and experiential travel, has partnered with travel trend forecasting agency Globetrender to unveil a report which explores seven key trends set to shape the luxury travel landscape in 2025. The Virtuoso Luxury Travel Trend Watch 2025 offers insights into how and why the affluent will be travelling in the years ahead based on data from Virtuoso’s 2024 Brand and Travel Tracker Survey of its global high-net-worth/ultra-high-net-worth clientele.

Further information: https://globetrender.com/product/luxury-travel-trend-watch-2025/

The Expedia Group have released their annual report that examines the experiences travellers are seeking in the year to come. The Unpack ’25 report provides travellers and partners with inspiring information to help them get ahead of next year’s travel trends including Goods Getaways, JOMO Travel, and a traditional value vacation type for Gen Z. It is based on first-party data from Expedia brands including Expedia, Wotif and Stayz, as well as global research conducted by OnePoll among 25,000 adults across 19 countries who have travelled for leisure or plan to in the next three years.

Further information: https://www.expedia.com/unpack-travel-trends/

The annual Skyscanner Travel Trends Report shows Australians are keen to get the most value for their money in 2025 seeking budget-friendly destinations and affordable flights. The report shows the top factors influencing Aussie travellers’ destination selections include weather, attractions, food, and culture, reinforcing their desire to seek out experiences that bring people together. Results are based on flight and hotel search data, trusted industry insights, and a specially commissioned consumer behaviour survey by OnePoll conducted in July 2024 with 20,000 respondents globally.

Further information: https://www.skyscanner.com.au/travel-trends

Contiki has released the findings from their annual Voice of a Generation report which surveys over 1,000 Americans aged 18 to 35 years old about the psychographics that will influence 2025 travel landscape. The research reveals Millennial and Gen Z travellers are a travel-first generation willing to make sacrifices to travel more from the downward trend of bleisure trips to the upward trend of spontaneous escapism.

Further information: https://www.contiki.com/six-two/article/voice-of-a-generation-2024-usa/

Travel technology leader Amadeus in partnerships with Globetrender has released a report that highlights five key trends which could reshape the travel landscape in the coming year. The Amadeus Travel Trends 2025 report allows businesses in travel and tourism anticipate the needs and demands of tomorrow’s travellers. It draws on Amadeus’ proprietary and other leading industry data to power global tourism recovery past pre-2019 levels.

Further information: https://amadeus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/amadeus-reveals-travel-trends-2025

A new report from GSIQ Tourism Insights analyses the global online tourism conversation in all major countries and languages. The Tourism Conversation 2024 identifies which tourism issues are intensifying, which are emerging, and which are fading. Data is collected from all major online sources including news sites, social media, forums, blogs, reviews, and messenger services, covering text, video, and audio. GSIQ Tourism Insights is a specialised division of GSIQ a global research and insights agency specialising in intelligence analysis for the international sports, sponsorship, and tourism industries.

Further information: https://gsiq.biz/the-tourism-conversation-2024/

The 35th Annual Council for Australasian Tourism and Hospitality Education Conference is being held in Brisbane from 10-13 February 2025. Hosted by The University of Queensland this is the largest academic conference for tourism, hospitality, and events in Australasia.

Further information: https://leishman.eventsair.com/cauthe-2025-conference/

The International Indigenous Tourism Conference is being hosted in Montréal, Québec from 25-27 February 2025. The largest Indigenous tourism conference in the world offers opportunities to connect with industry professionals, Indigenous tourism operators, destination marketing organisations, and government representatives.

Further information: https://indigenoustourism.ca/itac-bringing-the-2025-international-indigenous-tourism-conference-to-montreal/

Tourism Australia will host the annual Destination Australia Conference at the International Convention Centre Sydney on 19 March 2025. The event will see a range of topics covered including aviation, marketing trends, future distribution landscape, agritourism and sustainable growth.

Further information: https://events.tourism.australia.com/destination-australia-2025/