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National Landscapes Stakeholder Newsletter – February 2012 |
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Turn your BIG tourism idea into reality!Sometimes you need a little help turning your big ideas into reality – that’s where T-QUAL Grants Tourism Quality Projects (TQP) comes in. TQPs are grants designed to help Australian tourism operators and destinations lift the quality and variety of Australia’s tourism experiences.Applications are now open and will be assessed through a competitive selection process. For more information and how to apply, visit www.ret.gov.au/tqual, phone (02) 6243 7604 or email tqualgrants@ret.gov.au. Applications close 5:00pm (AEST) on Thursday 19 April 2012. |
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Announcements |
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Support for tourism businessesEnterprise Connect is now helping eligible Australian tourism businesses transform and reach their full potential. The Australian government program provides a range of services, including independent business advice, tailored advisory service funding, workshops, market intelligence and networking opportunities. Tourist accommodation providers, tourist attractions, tour operators, travel agencies and businesses offering local food and beverage tasting experiences are invited to apply for assistance. To check your eligibility, visit the Enterprise Connect website or call the hotline on 131 791. |
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Program Updates |
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Clear regional communication – a new tool for you!At our National Landscapes Forum in November last year, participants requested some help with the vital task of communicating with their regional stakeholders. As agreed at the Forum, Tourism Australia has developed a Communications Plan templatefor Steering Committees to ensure that all stakeholders understand opportunities to contribute, their own role and the role of others.The Communications Plan identifies ways in which stakeholders can participate, encourage long term commitment, raise awareness of the benefits arising from selection as a National Landscape and build confidence in the region’s capacity to work together to attract visitors.The template includes a Think TANK (ideas and topics for discussion amongst your steering committee to assist with compiling a 12-month plan), a list of available tools and a Stakeholder Communications Worksheet designed to help build a local stakeholder engagement plan and develop community relationships to assist in promoting the National Landscape and achieving results. |
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The Kakadu National Landscape becomes “Australia’s Timeless North”In October 2011, the Steering Committee operating with a working title of “Kakadu / West Arnhem / Nitmiluk” National Landscape unanimously adopted the name “Australia’s Timeless North” to reflect the union of regional stakeholders. The Landscape includes the key attractions of Kakadu, Nitmiluk, Mary River, West Arnhem Land and Garig Gunack Barlu National Parks, along with the townships of Manigrida, Jabiru and Katherine.Australia’s Timeless North aims to effectively position the Landscape in the market as a region of immense physical beauty that exemplifies the coexistence between mankind and nature through the world’s oldest and continuous living culture. Travellers to Australia’s Timeless North can expect an intimate spiritual journey in a region of wetlands, waterfalls, escarpments, savannah woodland, stone country and mangrove coastal plains. The region undergoes dramatic seasonal changes, with some cultures segregating the calendar year into six distinct seasons. |
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Lindsay Stacpoole joins the Tourism Australia National Landscapes teamLindsay has joined the National Landscapes team in a support role and works three days per week (Tuesday – Thursday). In her role as Destination Development Coordinator, she will also assist in the successful delivery of other business unit projects including Aviation, the Aussie Specialist Program and Indigenous Champions Program.Lindsay has worked for Tourism Australia for nearly 10 years, most recently in the Trade Events department, bringing great insight and support to the team. |
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Marketing Update |
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New DVD outlining the benefits of participating in Australia’s National Landscapes ProgramA four and a half minute DVD has been produced to assist steering committees to spread the National Landscapes message to the wider stakeholders and industry. Informative and inspiring, the DVD is a great and useful tool to help with communicating what the program is about and getting people on board. Watch the video... |
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New brochure for Australia’s National LandscapesDid you know that Australia’s nature motivates people to travel here more than any other concept (based on research conducted by Tourism Australia in 2010)? This is why the National Landscape Program is so important – it is a partnership between tourism and conservation to ultimately provide the customer with new and engaging experiences encouraging increased awareness, visitation, dispersal and length of stay within and around Australia’s most distinct natural environments.The new five-page brochure explains what the program is all about, how it works, where it’s headed, key achievements as well as the roles and responsibilities of the Committees and Program Managers. Download the brochure now! |
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The Kimberley features in the January edition of Downunder Travel BulletinThe Kimberley in Western Australia is one of the world’s greatest wilderness areas, covering an astonishing 423,000 square kilometres with 13,000 kilometres of coastline and more than 2,500 islands and reefs.The article provides details to trade around the world on how to get to the Kimberley region and of things to experience when there. View the Downunder Travel Bulletin January edition or for more information on The Kimberley including a suggested itinerary, visit Tourism Australia’s Media website. |
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Eco Luxury in Australia’s National LandscapesGetting back to nature doesn’t always mean ‘roughing it’. January’s Media e-Newsletter looked at all the ways you can indulge in a little luxury in Australia’s National Landscapes. Have a read and next time you visit one of the Landscape regions, why not try one of these 5-star experiences for yourself! |
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FacebookThings to do on Facebook for Australia fans Tourism Australia has introduced a new ‘things to do’ tab on the Australia Facebook fan page that allows Australian businesses to add their pages and events directly onto the Australia page. Acting as a directory for fans of Australia the tab allows users to search for places and events by location, experience and date – and then click through to find out more. Information added will receive exposure to the 2.1 million Australia Facebook fans around the world. To add listings visit facebook.com/seeaustralia, click ‘things to do’ on the left then ‘add your Facebook page’ at the bottom of the screen.Facebook Posts Every week the Tourism Australia Facebook page (www.facebook.com/seeaustralia) receives over 1,000 photos submitted by fans right around the world. The industry is also invited to participate by submitting their news stories to Tourism Australia or by posting their photos to our Facebook wall. The best stories and photos are selected every day and featured on Tourism Australia’s social media platforms (including Facebook with 2.1 million fans, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram).Like ‘Australia’ and visit the weekly fan photo album for ideas on what content Tourism Australia’s Facebook fans engage with the most.Ningaloo – Shark Bay FANTASTIC NEWS: Numerous dolphin calves born over the last few weeks. This regular beach visiting cutie is yet to be named… any ideas? Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, Shark Bay, WA.
Just before Christmas, this story was posted on Facebook and received 4,762 ‘likes’, 452 comments and 763 people shared this with their friends! By the way, the name Static was chosen as the dolphin calf is part of a research program involving echo locations and follows the theme of its mother’s name Shock. |
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Other News |
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Awards for Port Arthur’s conservation and sustainabilityFresh from being named Tasmania’s Best Major Tourism Attraction at the recent Tasmanian Tourism Awards, the Port Arthur Historic Site has received more plaudits. The Historic Site received two Awards for Excellence from the Interpretation Australia Association (IAA), announced at its annual conference in Perth, Western Australia, last month.IAA’s Gold Award was presented for the conservation and interpretation of the Separate Prison, which is in the final stages of a long-term conservation project. The Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (PAHSMA) also picked up the Association’s Silver Award for its innovative Education Program.Other Awards for Excellence were presented to Port Arthur by the Keep Australia Beautiful Committee for its environmental and sustainability initiatives, including the site’s energy efficiency measures and fire suppression project.The Historic Site’s win in the Tasmanian Tourism Awards enter it into the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards being held in Cairns next month.
Diary Dates
| NT Industry Briefing (Darwin) |
Tuesday 28 February 2012 |
| Great Barrier Reef Landscape Launch (Cairns) |
Friday 2 March 2012 |
| Qantas Australian Tourism Awards (Cairns) |
Friday 2 March 2012 |
| NLRC Meeting & Planning Day (Canberra) |
Tuesday 6 – Wednesday 7 March 2012 |
| STO/Parks Meeting (Sunbury, Victoria) |
Tuesday 27 March 2012 |
| Steering Committee Chair Teleconference |
Wednesday 4 April 2012 |
| Forum 2012 (hosted by GSWE in Albany, WA)* |
Tuesday 18 – Thursday 20 September 2012 |
*Steering Committee Chairs please consider inviting an additional two representatives from your Landscape who might attend the Forum – there will be Early Bird incentives for early RSVPs this year!
Spread the Word Please feel free to include any of these articles in your newsletters or forward to your own distribution lists.
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