Tahiti on Show at French Travel Workshops

The Islands of Tahiti will be providing some tropical charm alongside the French flair already on offer during this year’s French Travel Workshops hosted by Atout France.

Tahiti Tourisme will be joined at the events by Air Tahiti Nui, cruise operators Aranui Cruises and Paul Gaugin Cruises, as well as accommodation providers including Pearl Resorts and South Pacific Management hotels.

This year, more than 1000 agents are expected to attend the two events to connect and network with key suppliers from throughout France and its regions, including French Polynesia.

The workshops will take place at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth on September 6 and the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins on 7 September.

To register, visit www.franceworkshop.com.au

Kerryn Cook resigns from Cook Islands Tourism

The Cook Islands Tourism Corporation has announced the resignation of Kerryn Cook as General Manager for Australia as of 25^th July 2016.

Since starting in 2011, Kerryn played a crucial role building the presence of the Cook Islands in the Australian market with the destination achieving an 11% growth in Australian visitor arrivals over this period.

With her infectious passion and ‘Kia Orana ’ spirit, Kerryn executed successful roadshow campaigns such as the national It takes a Village trade events. Furthermore, she developed and implemented training tools to assist Cook Islands trade partners, and worked on the concept of the first ever Cook Islands mega famil from the Australian market in partnership with valued airline partner Air New Zealand.

As well as spearheading travel trade partnerships, Kerryn led a successful media strategy securing extensive coverage on Network Ten’s The Living Room and Channel 9’s Getaway. Her tenure was marked by some successful editorial integrations too in a range of national newspaper and magazine titles.

“I have been honoured to represent the Cook Islands in the Australian market over the past 5 years,” says Cook. “It has been a privilege to work with the team in Rarotonga and the team in Australia. I’m extremely proud of what we have achieved for the Cook Islands and know this is only the start for this little paradise.”

Kerryn will be resigning as President of the Treasures of the South Pacific Association, a position she was appointed to in 2015. The not for profit organisation supports the travel industry by providing an information service on their member countries.

“I want to express my deep thanks to our trade partners for all their support and commitment to the Australian Market,” says Kerryn. “As a team we all contributed to Australia’s success and for that I’m so appreciative.”

In the interim, all business enquiries regarding the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation activities in Australia can be directed to Justine White (Marketing and Communications Manager, Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, Australia – justine@cookislandstourism.travel +61 7 5504 5488.

More koalas and komodos ahead for Australia-Indonesia Tourism

Australia can do more to attract Indonesian tourists through greater visa flexibility while Australian expertise in hospitality can help Indonesia welcome more international visitors, according to recommendations from the Indonesia-Australia Business Partnership Group.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry National Tourism Council has welcomed the high priority given to tourism by business groups from Australia and Indonesia in their position paper to ministers in both countries, Two Neighbours, Partners in Prosperity.

The paper included expanding tourism and enhancing hospitality among its specific sectors where significant potential exists for cross-border economic engagement.

To achieve this it recommended freer movement of people, noting that Australia has begun to provide greater flexibility for Indonesian citizens but can do more, and also a skills exchange program to make it easier for Australians with specialist knowledge to help develop Indonesia’s capacity.

Steve Whan, Manager of the National Tourism Council, said: “Australians love heading to Bali and Indonesians love Sydney Harbour. With such a strong foundation for tourism between our two countries, there is great potential for growth.

Here comes the sun…South Australians ready for take-off to Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast has started a major promotional campaign in South Australia in advance of the start of Jetstar’s direct service flights between Adelaide and Sunshine Coast Airport on 30 September.

The campaign includes promotions in cinemas, shopping centres, petrol stations and local media, and should be well received after Adelaide residents experienced one of the wettest and coolest winters in a number of years.

In the first ten weeks of winter, Adelaide’s average temperature was just below 15C and there were 46 wet days out of 72 (up to 10 August). In contrast the Sunshine Coast averaged 22.5C for the same period with an average of over seven hours of sunshine per day.

Many webbed-feet Adelaide folk escaped to the Sunshine Coast via Brisbane over the winter, but for those wanting direct flights, Jetstar’s flights will commence just in time for the South Australian spring school holidays.

Flights will will operate on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday each week and take just over two hours, arriving at Sunshine Coast Airport at 0850, just in time for a swim, spa or gourmet breakfast at one of the region’s renowned markets.

The Jetstar flights will add to the record performance of Sunshine Coast Airport, which has led Australia’s airport sector over the past year with ten successive months as Australia’s fastest growing airport, according to official figures from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE).

Commenting on the pre-launch campaign, CEO of Visit Sunshine Coast, Simon Latchford, said that many South Australians had visited the Sunshine Coast in recent years, but the trip was now easier and the destination offered even more attractions and activities.

“What makes the Sunshine Coast such a special destination for South Australians is the diversity of what we offer,” he said. “Yes we have some of Australia’s finest beaches and an incredible array of water activities, but we also have the richness of the Hinterland, with its outstanding food, markets, rainforest experiences, and high class accommodation. We are confident that we can offer South Australian visitors a truly unique and memorable holiday.”

Brand USA Welcomes New Director for Australia and New Zealand

Brand USA, the destination marketing organisation charged with increasing international tourism visitation to the United States, is pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Fletcher to the role of Director for Australia and New Zealand (effective September 7).

Matt brings to Brand USA more than 10 years of experience in sales and marketing within the travel industry, having worked across tour operations, retail as well as wholesale. Matt has previously held the role of Sales and Marketing Director at Contiki, and was most recently the Global Commercial Development Director also for Contiki.

“I’m delighted and honoured to be joining Brand USA. Having travelled to more than 50 countries, some of my happiest travel moments have been in the USA, and there really is no rival when it comes to the diversity of experiences on offer. As a lover of the great outdoors in particular, for me there’s no greater place to explore than the USA’s national parks,” Matt said.

I’m really looking forward to working with our industry partners, and to continue building on the impressive growth in visitor numbers to the USA from Australia and New Zealand.”

U.S. visitation from the Australia market is at a record-breaking high and generating repeat visitation is a key objective of Brand USA’s local marketing strategy. Over 1.4 million Australians visited the USA last year and with new flights into the USA those numbers are expected to grow.