December 2007 Edition
Regional Tourism News
Tourism Marketing Zones Tourism Tasmania and the Cradle Coast Authority recently conducted the first of a number of workshops throughout the state to design the new way forward in cooperative marketing. Recent market research found that while Tasmania has a very high awareness in the market place few people understand the sort of experiences on offer within the different areas of Tasmania. This lack of knowledge has made it difficult to convert desire to visit Tasmania into taking the next step to source information and actually make bookings. Tourism Tasmania, using the eyes of it’s marketing company Love, has proposed to create five marketing zones that offer distinct experiences in each of the regions; North West, West Coast, Hobart and Launceston Environs East Coast. The Bass Strait Islands will be treated separately. Each Zone will have its own marketing committee to develop it’s marketing plan and funds from the industry will be matched by up to $100,000 from Tourism Tasmania to implement the marketing plan. The two meetings held in Ulverstone on the 5th and Strahan on the 6th were attended by over sixty operators. The proposal was well received as it will allow each marketing zone to target their specific target markets and better meet the needs of the travelling public and the requirements of industry. To obtain copies of the outcomes of the workshop or information about membership of the committees, contact Wayne Bolton, Coordinator Industry Development, Tourism Tasmania – North West; 03) 6431 6285 or wayne.bolton@tourism.tas.gov.au
Festivals Australia – Event Funding Festivals Australia provides funding assistance to Australian regional and community festivals for the presentation of quality projects. Funding is available to add a new or special sort of cultural activity that has never been included in the festival before and could not otherwise be afforded. Festivals Australia Regional Residencies provides assistance to regional and remote communities that wish to ‘tell a local story or express a local theme’, at a local festival or major community celebration. Funding is available to engage an artist in residence to work with community participants to help them develop an arts project on a local or regional theme and present it publicly at the festival or celebration.
As funding is primarily available for cultural, community and local government organisations that run festivals in regional and remote areas of Australia, we would appreciate your assistance in distributing information on the funding programs through your networks, eg by placing the flyer on your website/noticeboards, passing it on to your local councillors and advertising in your e-newsletter and forwarding it to cultural or community organisations in your area/. The funding round closes on 15 February 2008, for projects beginning after 1 July 2008. If you require further information, please call Lois Wishart Lindsay on 02 6271 1922, program officers Jane Fleming or Juliet Sera on 02 6271 1661 or 02 6271 1931, or email festivals.australia@dcita.gov.au.
Take A Break Winner Tenerfold B&B located at Aberdeen near Devonport has taken out the annual award for the best hosted accommodation by the internet holiday site “Take-A-Break”. The award is based on the feedback received from guests that have booked their accommodation through the site.
2008 Regional Guide The 2008 edition of Tasmania’s North West regional Guide has gone to the printers and will be available prior to the Christmas break. Copies will be forwarded to advertisers, TVIN’s and for distribution through Tasmanian airports and the Spirit of Tasmania.
Peoples Choice Award The September 2007 regional “Peoples Choice Award” has been won by Anvers Confectionary. Anvers has set a standard of customer service that many businesses would be proud of. They continually get quality feedback from their customers and these customers continue to come back. Congratulations Igor and staff, you are now eligible for the State awards to be judged and presented at the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania’s award dinner in November 2008.
New Product John Halton was the last employee of the Mt Lyell Mining Company when it closed in 1994 prior to reopening as Copper Mines of Tasmania in 1995. John is now back on site as operator and guide of Mount Lyell EnviroTours. John takes visitors over the extensive mine lease and explains the history of the mine and the environmental improvements that have been and continue to be made. The tours along with Douggies underground mine tours operate from the Mt Lyell Mine Managers office at 10am and 2pm daily. For further information or bookings contact John on 0419 104 138.
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Regional Events Assistance Program A number of events in the Cradle Coast region were successful in obtaining a grant through the Regional Events Assistance Program. The successful events were :• Neilpryde 2008 Australian Wavesailing Championships. Marrawah • King Island Imperial 20 • Penguin Music 4 Life Festival • Chocolate Winterfest, Latrobe These grants totalling $10,000 were provided jointly by Cradle Coast Authority and Events Tasmania, to assist the events to become more sustainable and to better meet the needs of their community and visitors to the region. The REAP program is available annually. For further information contact Wayne Bolton, Coordinator Industry Development, Tourism Tasmania – North West; 03) 6431 6285 or wayne.bolton@tourism.tas.gov.au
International Symposium Tourism Tasmania conducted a two International symposium for members of “Team Tasmania” and operators who were considering moving into the International market. The meeting was attended by over one hundred operators who heard about the support available from Tourism Tasmania, the Australian Tourism Export Council and the Federal Government through the Export Market Development Grants. Tourism Tasmania’s International Managers gave an outline of their activities and future opportunities. There is significant opportunities in the backpacker sector in Canada and the US with the introduction of working holiday visas being promoted by Paul Simon to encourage international travel to the under 25s. New market opportunities in South Korea, China and India were largely centred on business and educational travel but showed significant promise for Tasmania. With strong growth in the international travel and a flat domestic market, businesses should be considering the international market. While there is support for business that lessen the financial burden the commitment to the international market must be for a minimum of three years. Should you require further information about overseas possibilities contact Wayne Bolton, Coordinator Industry Development, Tourism Tasmania – North West; 03) 6431 6285 or wayne.bolton@tourism.tas.gov.au
Strong Growth in International Visitors
The International Visitor Survey (IVS) numbers for the 12 months to 30th September 2007 has just been released and while it shows moderate increase of 4% nationally Tasmania has performed considerably better and grown in market share. • Total international visitors to Tasmania increased 14 per cent to 161,000, Tasmania’s share of all visitors was 3.1 per cent (up from 2.8 per cent in YTD Sept 2006). In line with the marginal growth in total visitors to Australia, most states experienced growth in their share of visitors. The only significant exception was Queensland (down one per cent), Victoria and Northern Territory had minor declines of less than one per cent. 3
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For the September quarter 2007, the IVS indicated an increase of almost 19 per cent growth in international visitors to Tasmania over the same period last year (22,500 visitors). This was a share of 1.8 per cent for the quarter (was 1.6 per cent in Sept 2006).
Nights Share • Nights in Tasmania by international visitors grew 20 per cent to 3.3 million (YTD Sept 2007) compared with last year. Tasmania’s share of all nights in Australia is now 2.1 per cent (was 1.9 per cent in YTD Sept 2006). All other states experienced either no change in their nights share or marginal growth. Victoria was the exception, with a decrease in share of 1.1 per cent. •
In the September quarter 2007, an estimated 463,600 nights were spent in Tasmania by international visitors, down one per cent compared with the September quarter 2006. This was 1.2 per cent of all nights in Australia (was 1.3 per cent in Sept 2006).
Expenditure Share • Tasmania share of total modelled state expenditure for the YTD September 2007 remained steady at 1.6 per cent. (Quarterly state spend is not available due to limitations in modelling) This is another reason why you should be seriously considering joining Team Tasmania and investing in the international market.
Our office will be closed from Monday, December 24th, 2007 and will re-open Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
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Coming Events
Dec - Feb 2007 Marion Bay, Marion Bay 30 Dec 2007
World Series Sprintcars Hobart International Speedway, New Norfolk 08 Dec 2007 08 Dec 2007
Elton John Aurora Stadium at York Park, Launceston 08 Dec 2007 08 Dec 2007
Pura Cup - Cascade Tasmanian Tigers v Victorian Bushrangers Bellerive Oval , Hobart 10 Dec 2007 13 Dec 2007
One Day Domestic Series - Cascade Tasmanian Tigers v VB Victorian Bushrangers Bellerive Oval , Hobart 15 Dec 2007 15 Dec 2007
World Series Sprintcars Mountain Dew Ice Speedway Latrobe, Latrobe 15 Dec 2007 15 Dec 2007
Commonwealth Bank Chappell-Hadlee Trophy Bellerive Oval , Hobart 20 Dec 2007 20 Dec 2007
Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Kings Pier Marina, Hobart 26 Dec 2007 01 Jan 2008
01 Jan 2008
Burnie Gift West Park Oval, Burnie 01 Jan 2008
Cadbury Marathon Festival Cadbury Factory, Claremont 06 Jan 2008 Moorilla Hobart International Domain Tennis Centre, Hobart 06 Jan 2008 11 Jan 2008
Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden, Burnie 01 Aug 2007 29 Feb 2008
Latrobe Speedway - Sprintcars and Super Sedans Mountain Dew Ice Speedway Latrobe, Latrobe 29 Dec 2007 29 Dec 2007
Latrobe Speedway - Sprintcars State Title Mountain Dew Ice Speedway Latrobe, Latrobe 19 Jan 2008 19 Jan 2008
Wildside Mountain Bike West Coast - Multiple Locations, West Coast 19 Jan 2008 22 Jan 2008 Latrobe Art Exhibition Australian Axeman's Hall of Fame, Latrobe 23 Jan 2008 02 Feb 2008
Hobart Summer Festival Sullivans Cove Area, Hobart 27 Dec 2007 06 Jan 2008 Ulverstone Rodeo Batten Park, Ulverstone 26 Jan 2008 26 Jan 2008 Kidder Williams Melbourne to Launceston Yacht Race and TasPorts Cup Inspection Head Wharf, Beauty Point 28 Dec 2007 29 Dec 2007
Taste of Tasmania (The Taste) Princes Wharf Shed No.1, Hobart 28 Dec 2007 03 Jan 2008
Latrobe Speedway - Super Sedans Grand Prix Mountain Dew Ice Speedway Latrobe, Latrobe 01 Feb 2008 01 Feb 2008
Latrobe Speedway - Super Sedans Grand Prix Final Night Mountain Dew Ice Speedway Latrobe, Latrobe 02 Feb 2008 02 Feb 2008
Falls Festival - The
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