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Vanuatu unveils new marketing campaign

After an extensive research and development phase, Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) has released a new campaign across Australia, New Zealand, the tourism industry and community in Vanuatu.

In a new destination brand positioning for the South Pacific nation, the campaign asks potential travellers to leave the everyday behind and ‘Answer the call of Vanuatu’.

Filmed over 18 days across multiple islands in the archipelago, the campaign focuses less on things to see and do, and more on the emotional impact of life-changing moments.

Along with product immersion, there will be presentations by senior executives from MMPRC and the chance to network with Maldivian resorts, marketing teams and tour groups.

Registered attendees will also be in the running to win a trip for two to the Maldives, which includes return flights, transfers, accommodation, and meals.

Registrations close on 4 September, and can be done so here, or by contacting Tamara Kobiolke on 0455 116 832 or at tamara@fiftyfive3.com.

Broadway Inbound announces four new shows for New York City travellers

West Side Story, Jagged Little Pill, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, and Girl From The North Country will all join The Broadway Collection this August to captivate audiences from around the globe.

The new shows will begin performances in late 2019 and early 2020. FIT tickets are now available for West Side Story, Jagged Little Pill and Tina: The Tina Turner Musical; group tickets are now available for Girl From The North Country.

Agents are advised to contact their preferred wholesaler for client bookings.

Bali’s Seminyak Wine Carnival arrives in September

Bali-based food and wine lovers best grab their diaries, for a new event is on the horizon set to celebrate the best of the island’s drinking and dining scene.

Taking place on 7 September is Seminyak Wine Carnival, hosted by wine specialist VIN+ at its central outpost in the middle of town from 1pm local time.

More than 1,500 guests can expect a day of tasting, learning, buying and celebrating with some of the island’s top foodie talent.

A selection of Bali’s best restaurants will be treating guests to their adored dishes, all to be partnered with sample wines from around the globe.

The festival is not just about eating and drinking, with masterclasses on throughout the day, along with live music at sunset.

Perth primed to welcome first passengers of Tokyo direct flight

Perth is gearing up to welcome its first planeload of visitors on the inaugural All Nippon Airways (ANA) direct flight service from Tokyo on September 1.

The historic nine-hour ANA flight – the first to fly direct between Perth and Japan since 2011 – is fully booked with 184 passengers and is due to touchdown in Perth about 8:15pm local time on Sunday.

Multiple media platforms in Japan are promoting the flights through a Tourism WA, Tourism Australia and ANA advertising campaign featuring popular singer and actor Nissy touring the Pinnacles, Kings Park, Rottnest Island, Fremantle and the Swan Valley.

Trade familiarisations and travel agent training will also raise awareness of the direct service and Western Australia as a holiday destination.

New Caledonia to become training ground for Wallabies ahead of Japan competition

New Caledonia Tourism has announced that the South Pacific island destination will welcome the Wallabies for training ahead of rugby’s showpiece in Japan next month.

Between 23 August and 6 September, New Caledonia will host the Wallabies’ 35 players and 24 coaches and managers.

During their time in New Caledonia, the team will train for their upcoming matches in Japan – with some sessions open to the public – as well as hold tactical and strategic meetings.

The team will also enjoy the best of New Caledonia, with a range of team building activities organised for the players, coaches and managers.

Santa Monica set to pop up at Pier One Sydney Harbour

This spring, Sydneysiders will be able to feed their culinary souls with a taste of laid-back Santa Monica living without leaving home, with LA’s beach city set to pop up at the luxurious Pier One Sydney Harbour.

Launching on 22 September 2019, Santa Monica at Pier One Sydney Harbour will bring the beach city to life along the iconic waterfront with a curated menu of SoCal-style food and beverages.

Credit: Anna Kucera

The activation will also feature live cooking demonstrations from award-winning Santa Monica chefs, free wellness and fitness experiences, an organic mini-farmers market, and live music sunset sessions.

Santa Monica at Pier One will run for six weeks, with a trip to Santa Monica up for grabs each week of the activation.

Aussies go loco for Los Cabos

According to recent visitor arrival and overnight hotel statistics, there has been a 29 per cent year-on-year increase (in visitation to Los Cabos, Mexico from the Australian market.

Australia is now the number one long-haul market, and third-highest inbound international market, into the destination after the US and Canada.

Rodrigo Esponda, executive director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board, said: “Australia is a strong and rapidly developing market for Los Cabos, and we have invested into key strategic campaigns to help raise the awareness of Los Cabos.

“This, combined with strong support from the travel trade industry, means we are seeing great results.

“More and more people from Australia are travelling to Los Cabos as part of a broader holiday to the United States, and that’s exactly how we position Los Cabos – a perfect add-on destination to a US holiday and a kind of ‘two-nation vacation’, tapping into the 1.35 million Aussies that travel to the US every year.”

Solomon Islands mourns passing of tourism pioneer Shane Kennedy

The close-knit Solomon Islands travel community is in mourning following the death of “larger-than-life” tourism pioneer Shane Kennedy, who passed away in Brisbane on Friday.

As the owner of the King Solomon Hotel in Honiara and the Gizo Hotel in Gizo in the Western Province, Kennedy was prominent on the tourism scene and actively involved with communities in both areas.

A North Stradbroke Islander, Kennedy and wife Suzie first become involved with the Solomon Islands when they bought the King Solomon Hotel in 2002. He then purchased the Gizo Hotel in 2009.

A keen WWII historian, Kennedy also purchased the iconic Plum Pudding Island in the Western Province.

Further cementing the Kennedy name in the Western Province, Shane’s brother Dan joined him on the local tourism scene when he purchased the iconic Fatboys Resort.

Tourism Solomons CEO Josefa “Jo” Tuamoto thanked Kennedy for the huge contribution he made to the Solomon Islands tourism sector.

“We are deeply saddened by the news of Shane’s passing,” Tuamoto said.

“He was a truly larger-than-life character who worked incredibly hard with and for the local community and, in the process, made a huge difference to many people’s lives as a major employer.

“He will always be remembered for the success he achieved in placing the Solomon Islands and particularly Gizo on the world tourism map.

Kennedy leaves behind his wife Suzie, son Shamus and daughter Ngaio May.

Dubai releases half-yearly tourism figures

Dubai Tourism’s latest visitor figures for the first half of 2019 have been revealed, with 8.36 million international overnight visitors welcomed during the first six months of the year.

India, the largest group to visit Dubai, saw a decline of eight per cent, whereas Australia, which ranked 13th, saw an increase of three per cent, with 120,000 Australians visiting Dubai in the first half of 2019.