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Industry - Newsletter
Tourism Talk Edition 242
DON’T MISS OUT ON GETTING YOUR BUSINESS IN THE DISCOVER TASMANIA BOOK
Time is running out for you to get your tourism product in Tasmania’s premier holiday brochure – discover Tasmania Book 2008-09.
Last year saw the successful merger of our two key publications, the ‘Tasmania Holiday Planner’ and Tasmania’s Temptations Holidays ‘Tasmania Book’. The discover Tasmania Book 2008-09 will be updated to include the new Marketing Zones initiative. Our consumer website, www.discovertasmania.com, and the discover Tasmania book are our key resources to motivate consumers to holiday in Tasmania.
Being a part of the discover Tasmania Book means your business, as part of Tasmania’s Temptations Holidays wholesale program, will be included in the State’s key selling tool for Australian travel agents, as well as being used at consumer and trade shows, by visitor information centres, in airports, and for conference and event packs just to name a few.
Applications close on Thursday 24 April 2008
For more information please visit Tourism Tasmania's corporate website and download a copy of the Prospectus.
ADOBE BRINGS WORLD’S BEST PHOTOGRAPHERS TO TASMANIA
Seventeen world-renowned photographers have wrapped up their nine-day Tasmanian Adventure with an exhibition of the work they have produced while road-testing the latest version of Adobe’s Photoshop Lightroom software.
Speaking at the Henry Jones IXL Atrium on Sunday, the Minister for Economic Development and Tourism, Paula Wriedt, congratulated the photographers on their exceptional and inspirational photographic work.
“Your extraordinary work has captured our Island in both familiar and unfamiliar ways: from spectacular wilderness landscapes to fascinating underwater images, to portraits of crayfisherman at work and high-art photography that challenges and inspires,” Ms Wriedt said.
The 17 photographers – who work across a range of photographic genres – travelled from across the world to spend nine-days in Tasmania road-testing Adobe’s latest version of its Photoshop Lightroom software, due for release later this year, returning each evening to bases in Bicheno, Cradle Mountain and Hobart.
Each day they rose before dawn and travelled to the far corners of the region, accompanied by Tourism Tasmania guides, before returning to work on their images using the software until the early hours of the morning.
The entire Adventure team were impressed by the helpfulness and friendliness of the locals they met along the way.
The work produced over the nine days was presented at an informal exhibition at the IXL Atrium in Hobart on Sunday, and will again be showcased in the software handbook, Photoshop Lightroom 2 Adventure, produced by Adventure organisers, O’Reilly Media.
Internationally renowned journalist Leo Laporte joined the photographers on their Tasmanian adventure, broadcasting his top-rating radio show ‘The Tech Guy’ live from Tasmania into the USA last weekend.
Millions more people around the world will see the Tasmanian imagery via O’Reilly’s Adventure website and in a major feature on Tasmania planned for Adobe Magazine later this year.
This initiative is yet another positive outcome of Tasmania’s involvement at G’Day USA 2008 and an example of how Tourism Tasmania is working creatively and innovatively to promote Tasmania as a world-class destination.
The exhibition included an informal auction of selected images from the Tasmanian Adventure and Adobe Photoshop software with all proceeds donated to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal.
US WILDLIFE CELEBRITY FILMS IN TASSIE
North America’s much-loved animal adventurer and wildlife celebrity, Jack Hanna, spent seven days in Tasmania last week filming for his next television series Into the Wild.
The new show, which began airing in the United States in October last year, follows the travels of his family to wildlife destinations around the world and features stories about wildlife, conversation and ecotourism.
The Tasmanian episodes were filmed at various locations including Mole Creek, Cradle Mountain, Latrobe and Bruny Island, and will be broadcast in the United States in October and November 2008.
Jack is best-known for his television show Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures, which reaches 95 per cent of US television households every weekend and has been viewed in more than 60 countries worldwide.
His media appearances alone have made him one of the best-known and well-liked animal experts in the United States.
The prominent wildlife celebrity is in Tasmania at the invitation of Tourism Tasmania, as a direct result of Tasmania’s successful involvement in G’Day USA earlier this year.
DONNA HAY SHOWCASES TASSIE PRODUCERS
Last weekend Tourism Tasmania joined forces with renowned Australian chef and successful publisher, Donna Hay, to promote some of the State’s finest produce at the Tasmanian Showcase event in Sydney.
The Showcase event was part of a joint marketing initiative of Tourism Tasmania’s new Partnerships and Event Marketing Unit, Donna Hay Magazine and Domayne homewares stores.
Tasmania was on display throughout two Domayne stores in Sydney, with Discover Tasmania signage, eight trade tables, promotional videos, and Tasmania showbags containing product samples and a discover Tasmania holiday planner.
This event was an ideal opportunity for the Tasmanian producers – including Anvers Confectionary, Blue Hills Honey, Huon Aquaculture, Webster Fresh Walnuts, and the Tasmanian Gourmet Sauce Company – to connect with the highly respected Donna Hay brand as well as providing them the chance to talk directly with consumers.
Donna Hay gave cooking demonstrations using Tasmanian produce at the Domayne Alexandria store in Sydney, while Donna Hay Magazine’s food editor Justine Poole demonstrated the same recipes in the Auburn Domayne store.
To further capitalise on the promotion, the June/July edition of Donna Hay Magazine will include an on-location Tasmania feature article.
The Donna Hay crew were in the State earlier this year, supported by Tourism Tasmania’s Visiting Journalist Program, shooting the 10-page feature set on Bruny Island and showcasing only Tasmanian produce.
With a circulation of more than 100,000 and an estimated readership of around 320,000 worldwide, the Donna Hay Magazine feature will keep Tasmania produce and the destination top of mind with Donna Hay readers.
The winter edition of Donna Hay Magazine featuring Tasmania goes on sale on 4 June 2008.
TV SHOW TO ENCOURAGE AMERICANS TO GET HITCHED IN TASMANIA
Tasmania could be welcoming an influx of American bride and grooms following a familiarisation visit from a US trade agency, The Art of Travel.
The concept of jetting off to an exotic location with your wedding party in-tow is popular with affluent American families. The Art of Travel were in the State researching destinations for a website “Get Hitched Down Under” (not yet live) that will ultimately promote Tasmania as the ideal wedding destination.
The website will focus on the benefits of weddings in Tasmania and put interested couples in touch with a group of wedding designers.
While the Art of Travel will do all the travel coordination for the wedding party, the wedding designers will require a general knowledge of the locations in Tasmania for weddings, have contacts with officiants, wedding designers in Tasmania, and an ability to know who to contact for each part of a wedding.
It is hoped that the web site will link through to Tourism Tasmania’s consumer website, discovertasmania.com, giving exposure for the State’s experiences and generating business for the industry.
LATEST VISITOR STATISTICS
Tourism Tasmania’s latest survey data on visitors to Tasmania for the year ending December 2007 is now available.
The Tasmanian Visitor Survey (TVS) has recorded a steady performance for the State for the year ending December 2007, with an estimated 824,100 scheduled air and sea visitors, an increase of two per cent on the previous year.
Intrastate travel continues to dominate activity in the State with Tasmanians taking 5.7 million overnight and day trips in their home state in the year ending December 2007, an increase of eight per cent on the previous year (National Visitor Survey).
Interstate visitation grew by three per cent (TVS) and international visitation was also up (five per cent) on the previous period (International Visitor Survey).
In addition, cruise ship visitors to Tasmania grew by 15 per cent (Tasmanian Ports Corporation), whilst navy ship visitors were down five per cent (Navy HQ Tasmania).
For more information and the full survey data please see the website.
ONE MILLION BRITS RECEIVE TASSIE TRAVEL FEATURE
In a huge boost to the State’s publicity in the United Kingdom, leading British newspaper the Telegraph released a 16-page Tasmania travel supplement to its millions of readers over the weekend.
The travel supplement, which supports Tourism Tasmania’s international marketing strategy, was a cooperative promotion with Qantas and Tailor Made Travel.
The Saturday Telegraph has a circulation of 1.2 million, with a readership that exceeds 2 million each week.
The print supplement was supported by an online campaign, where advertising banners took users through to a designated Tasmania Tourism page with destination content, competitions and links to www.discovertasmania.com.
The UK is Tasmania’s biggest international visitor market, with 30,000 visitors to the State each year. The campaign taps into the “experience seeker” traveller segment that is attracted to Tasmania’s nature and wildlife offerings and presents a strong prospect of future visitors to our State.
In a further boost to Tasmania’s exposure in the UK Telegraph, the respected broadsheet’s Motoring Editor, Peter Hall, is currently in the State to compete in Targa Tasmania.
Peter’s participation in the 17th annual Targa was secured through Tourism Tasmania’s Visiting Journalist Program.
Peter’s Targa experience will be featured in a series of motoring articles for the Telegraph newspaper, as well appearing on Telegraph TV and on the Telegraph website, where Peter has already been blogging during the race (www.telegraph.co.uk).
Peter’s navigator, freelance journalist Franca Davenport, will be writing her own Targa features for numerous lifestyle and car magazines.
BOOSTING TASMANIA’S INTERNATIONAL SALES POTENTIAL
Earlier this month Tourism Tasmania hosted 23 Inbound Tour Operators from across Australia for a workshop and tour aimed at expanding their knowledge of Tasmania’s tourism experiences and boosting Tasmania’s international sales potential.
The three-day tour was sponsored by the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC), Qantas and Tourism Tasmania.
The 23 visiting agents were selected on the basis of their potential to increase overseas visitors to the State.
ITOs are the primary link between Tasmanian tourism operators and the key international travel wholesalers, such as Goway and ATS Tours in North America and JTB in Japan.
The familiarisation program is part of Tourism Tasmania’s International Marketing Plan and aims to educate agents on the major selling points of Tasmania, assist with itinerary planning and increase awareness of the product available for the international market.
The half-day workshop conducted by Tourism Tasmania provided local tourism operators with a valuable opportunity to meet with the ITOs one-on-one.
The ITOs then had the opportunity to experience our tourism product firsthand as they toured south-eastern Tasmania for the remainder of their visit.
Tourism Tasmania conducts a series of three ITO familiarisation tours each year, with a different regional focus for each visit.
CHOCOLATE KING ON BURNIE PHONEBOOK COVER
Latrobe resident and chocolate-maker Igor van Gerwen is featured on the cover of this year’s Burnie Yellow™ and White Pages® directory.
The theme for the 2008/09 directory cover is 'Celebrating Australian Flavour' and Igor has been recognised for his contributions to Australian flavour in Tasmania’s north-west.
Nominated for the cover honour by members of the local Burnie community, Igor is renowned for creating some of Australia’s most mouth-watering confections at Anvers Confectionery, which he established in 1989, before expanding to open the Tasmanian Tourism Award-winning House of Anvers in 2002.
Igor paid tribute to the north-west coast’s exceptional food and beverage producers and said he is very grateful for the community recognition.
TIGERTOUR UPDATE
Tourism Tasmania’s TigerTOUR database feeds information about tourism product directly into the consumer website discovertasmania.com.
Here’s a summary of recent additions to the TigerTOUR database. Tourism Tasmania’s Product Consultants can assist you updating your business details, email: TigerTOUR@tourism.tas.gov.au or phone: (03) 6230 8229.
New tourism product added to TigerTOUR
Accommodation:
- Oatlands Retreat, Oatlands
- Beachs N’ Greens, Greens Beach
Attractions:
- Wavesong Art Studio, Beaumaris
- Tamar Island Wetlands Reserve and Interpretation Centre, Launceston