TravelBulletin for September 2021 - CATO's declaration of independence, vax the way forward, make

SEPTEMBER 2021

CATO’s declaration of independence PLUS, JOURNEY BEYOND’S ADVENTURES TO WESTERN AUSTRALIA

CATO’s new reforms including a new constitution, accreditation scheme, and the adoption of a national structure, show it is forging a new future for tour operators.

CONTENTS

Find your expedition cruise at hurtigruten.com.au

14

BEYOND IMAGINATION Black volcanic rocks, white sand beaches, sapphire blue waters, and sherbet horizons.

Awaken to animals from childhood dreams and swim with rainbow coloured fish.

COVER STORY 14 A declaration of independence In recent months, the Council of Australian Tour Operators has announced significant reforms, including a new constitution, accreditation scheme, and the adoption of a national structure.

Myles Stedman explains what these changes mean for tour operators and the wider travel and tourism sector going forward.

MONTHLY

New

02 State of the industry 06 Issues and trends 20 Cruise 22 Last word

COLUMNS

A Galápagos cruise with Hurtigruten Expeditions is beyond imagination.

08

02 From the publisher

10

06 AFTA View 21 CLIA View

FEATURES 10 Western Australia Journey Beyond is taking travellers on the trip of a lifetime, with Western Australia-focused itineraries that are available right now, writes Adam Bishop.

Expedition Cruises Galápagos Islands Adventure — In Darwin’s Footsteps Book with Confidence Enjoy free rebooking on our 2022 expeditions*.

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This month’s contributors Joel Katz, Tom Manwaring Image bottom right: Whale shark at Ningaloo Reef ©Chris Jansen

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EDITORIAL Editor in Chief and Publisher – Bruce Piper

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travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2021

1

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

From the publisher Bruce Piper

IN BRIEF

2

HAVING repeatedly predicted a return to the international skies since the start of the pandemic, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce insists that the latest plan - for a resumption by mid-December is definitely achievable.

Joyce laid out the forecast last month as he unveiled another huge annual loss for the carrier, saying the aim was to recommence overseas flights to COVID-safe destinations “in line with vaccination rates”.

Initial destinations could include Singapore, the USA, Japan, Fiji, Canada and the UK, while much of the remainder of the network would return by April 2022, he prognosticated.

While the travel industry has welcomed his optimism, and the accompanying impetus for travel-hungry Aussies to get vaccinated, there is also much skepticism about whether it will be third time lucky for QF’s international restart aspirations.

Some have pointed to previous Qantas restart plans including initially opening up the entire long-haul network for sale in January this year, for flights scheduled from 1 July.

Then that was pushed back to 31 October, based on initial expectations about the rate of vaccinations - and now the

TTC takes a travel pause THE Travel Corporation last month took the decision to temporarily pause its Australian group touring departures until 1 December, as a response to the ongoing uncertainty around internal borders amid the current COVID-19 outbreaks in several states.

CEO David Hosking noted that the group continued to see strong bookings for 2022

travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2021

Delta outbreak has put paid to that, along with bursting the trans-Tasman bubble for the foreseeable future.

The response from many travelBulletin readers showed just how badly the industry’s relationship with Qantas has been damaged over the last few years, with a decided lack of trust in anything the airline says.

Earlier this year, speaking about one of the earlier planned restarts, QF Chief Customer Officer, Stephanie Tully, talked up the prospects - but then after some prodding admitted the airline will only resume flights if they can operate at full capacity.

That would mean no flight caps - and who in their right mind thinks some of Australia’s recalcitrant state leaders will agree to that by December?

Critics have also noted that existing hotel quarantine contracts have already been extended out to April 2022 while Qantas is also offering just date changes, not refunds, on all those newly available flights it has now listed for sale.

Hopefully the Irishman knows something we don’t - but perhaps he’s also a little more focused on keeping the Qantas share price aloft, rather than the airline’s international fleet.

and beyond, but “the current operating environment has meant that most of our tours have been impacted by cancellations due to lockdowns and restrictions, and we cannot deliver our usual high standard of guest experience”. Hosking also announced that when operations recommence, The Travel Corporation in Australia and New Zealand will require all eligible travellers and customerfacing staff to be fully vaccinated against

COVID-19, with the move applying to Coniki, Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Inspiring Journeys and AAT Kings guided holidays.

“Put simply, it is the right thing to do,” Hosking said, with the December restart based on the four-stage plan outlined by the Australian Government and the current rapid pace of vaccine rollouts.

PATRICK’S MEGA MUMM - YUM!

Flight Centre poised DESPITE a torrid 12 months and a $602 million annual loss, Flight Centre is upbeat about 2022, targeting a return to profitability “subject to vaccinations continuing to prove effective against all COVID-strains, domestic borders reopening and staying open, and further international travel resumptions”.

CEO Graham Turner said conditions were gradually starting to improve, noting that in key locations like the US, Canada and Europe, there was an “immediate and strong travel recovery” as soon as restrictions lift, with similar hopes for Australia as vaccinations accelerate.

Flight Centre also revealed a new deal to sell flights online via the Google Flights platform, while the US-based StudentUniverse youth business has teamed up with Amazon to offer discounted flights and hotels to Prime Student members.

Webjet future focus WEBJET Limited appears to have made the most of the pandemic downtime, with expectations of market

“

The current operating environment has meant that most of our tours have been impacted by cancellations due to lockdowns and restrictions, and we cannot deliver our usual high standard of guest experience

”

David Hosking, CEO, The Travel Corporation Australia

ATOUT France’s Patrick Benhamou is well accustomed to lavish hospitality, having (pre-COVID) hosted some of the biggest travel industry parties ever over the years.

So it’s no surprise that even in our current constrained state he’s looking forward to some more celebrations - in the form of the biggest bottle of Champagne he has ever brought into the country.

The gigantic 15-litre bottle of bubbly - technically known as a Nebuchadnezzar - is the major prize in an online industry gathering this month which features renowned chef and rugby fan Guillaume Brahimi, celebrating two years before the kick-off of the 2023 France Rugby World Cup, which Benhamou is optimistic will result in Aussies booking at least 100,000 bed nights - see au.france.fr.

share growth and improved profitability as global borders begin to reopen.

In a market update CEO John Gucsic confirmed parts of the business had already returned to profitability in the June quarter (prior to the current lockdowns in Australia and NZ), with a strong booking trajectory seen in other markets as restrictions eased.

“We see a world of opportunity and are transforming the business to be ready for the recovery,” he said, with Webjet’s costs expected to

be about 20% lower than previously once operations return to their former scale.

Consolidators roll out NDC offering CONSOLIDATED Travel and CVFR Consolidation both last month announced enhancements to their platforms to allow travel agents to issue tickets via IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) standards.

Consolidated Travel said its updated QuikTravel Continues over page

travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2021

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STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

would feature a host of enhancements, developed in-house and based on the solid platform which had processed more than 20 million tickets over the years.

CVFR’s TravelTech allows agents to issue both traditional tickets and NDC in the same familiar workflow, and in a move targeting OTAs, also offers NDC Robotic Ticketing enabling rich content bookings to be issued without human intervention.

CT Partners grows

MAIN DOMESTIC ROUTES

VISITOR ARRIVALS

Top 10 domestic city pairs, June 2021

City pair

Passengers Passengers % change YE Jun 20 YE Jun 21 (000) (000)

Melbourne-Sydney Brisbane-Sydney Brisbane-Cairns Gold Coast-Sydney Brisbane-Melbourne Gold Coast-Melbourne Brisbane-Townsville Adelaide-Sydney Adelaide-Melbourne Ballina-Sydney ALL CITY PAIRS

6,602.7 3,533.4 962.0 2,028.7 2,671.5 1,561.2 767.6 ....

1,847.6 332.6 45,242.7

1,728.1 1,237.6 947.2 773.7 772.6 719.2 644.2 616.7 547.3 509.6 21,545.4

RESIDENT RETURNS

Top 10 destinations, June 2021 Country of residence

Jun 2019

New Zealand USA UK Singapore Vanuatu Samoa Philippines China Japan Unit Arab Emir All visitors arrivals

-73.8 -65.0 -1.5 -61.9 -71.1 -53.9 -16.1 N/A -70.4 +53.2 -52.4

109,910 62,690 28,290 59,040 1,250 540 14,380 80,680 24,630 2,260 660,300

Jun 2020

Jun 2021

1,440 27,390 710 1,440 570 870 170 670 10 650 0 510 110 430 180 360 50 360 150 340 5,390 36,770

change original May 21/ Jun 21 -1,120 +470 +20 +100 +100 +470 +60 0 +170 +180 +580

Source: ABS

Top 10 destinations, June 2021 Country of stay

Jun 2019

New Zealand 80,740 USA 86,380 India 18,390 UK(b) 64,610 China(c) 49,670 PNG 8,280 Singapore 28,750 Pakistan 2,180 Indonesia 114,280 Timor-Leste 1,000 All resident returns 841,950

Jun 2020

Jun 2021

1,430 55,440 1,370 810 1,850 510 1,300 460 1,440 410 340 300 370 290 940 210 270 160 50 160 15,750 50,490

change original May 21/ Jun 21 -12,300 150 150 80 -40 10 -10 40 70 60 -11,870

Source: ABS

Source: BITRE

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DOMESTIC AIR MARKET June 2021

Total pax carried Revenue pax km (RPK) Available seat kms (ASK) Load factor (%) Aircraft trips (000)

Jun 20

Jun 21

0.38m 0.37bn 0.69bn 53.3 10.3

2.35m 2.90bn 4.61bn 62.8 36.3

9.

.0 %

IN WHAT has been described as 2021’s biggest travel tender, the NSW Government is now seeking submissions for a “quality, cost-effective and fully comprehensive travel management service”.

”

Gerd Wilmer, Owner & Director, Landmark Travel

DATA ROOM

-88

NSW seeks new TMC

“

I look forward to again being able to determine my own destiny with a group of like-minded agents

The successful provider will undertake the booking and ticketing of all domestic, trans-Tasman and international travel for all NSW Government bodies, along with responsibility for car hire, accommodation plus rail, coach and ferry travel.

The documents specify a range of policy and reporting requirements, including consolidated and agencyspecific carbon emissions, as well as the provision of “robust, up-to-date and appropriate leading technology solutions”.

Existing supplier agreements will apply, with the NSW Government currently having deals in place with Qantas, Virgin Australia and Rex Airlines on domestic flights; car hire through Avis, Budget and Hertz; and international air contracts through Qantas, Virgin Australia, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways.

6% .1% -95 .3% -90

TWO more former Magellan Travel Group agencies joined the CT Partners buying network last month, continuing CT’s rapid growth this year as previous franchise contracts expire.

The latest additions are both based in NSW, and include Frontier Travel in North Sydney as well as

Manly’s Landmark Travel, run by industry stalwart Gerd Wilmer. Both of the CT newbies cited the transparency and flexibility of the model offered by CT Partners, which has now grown to 25 of Australia’s largest independent corporate and premium leisure agencies.

Wilmer in particular could clearly barely contain his pleasure and relief at leaving behind the controversy of Helloworld’s Magellan takeover three years ago, commenting “I look forward to again being able to determine my own destiny with a group of like-minded agents”.

-94.7%

Continues from previous page

Growth % Year end Year end Jun 20 Jun 21 +518.9 +683.2 +564.5 +9.5* +251.4

Growth % 45.24m 21.55m -52.4 52.80bn 24.74bn -53.1 66.61bn 38.57bn -42.1 79.3 64.1 -15.1* 491.9 326.0 -33.7

-9 6.8 %

*Percentage points difference

Source: BITRE

-8 7 .3 -86. % 9% -88.8% -92.1%

INTERNATIONAL AIR MARKET SHARE Share of passengers carried – June 2021

HEADLINES 02 Aug 03 Aug 03 Aug 03 Aug 04 Aug 05 Aug 06 Aug 09 Aug 10 Aug 11 Aug

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Vaccination travel rates revealed Qantas stands down 2,500 employees QF mandates fee disclosure CT Partners adds two to its fold Travel certificates by October Border shut even tighter NSW govt travel tender Let’s #givetravelashot Closed borders slam Rex Etihad predicts “tidal wave”

travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2021

Etihad Airways, 1.1%

12 Aug 13 Aug

Vandekreeke in the wilderness Consolidated adds NDC

16 Aug 17 Aug 19 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 26 Aug

CVFR adds NDC to ticketing platform Livn pilots Google trial JetClass calls on agents Qantas vax Mega Prize push Intrepid upscale brand restructure TTC calls a halt to travel Qantas reveal international restart date Flight Centre posts loss

Cathay Pacific Airways, 1.2% China Southern Airlines, 1.2% United Airlines, 1.6% Emirates, 2.4%

INTERNATIONAL AIR ROUTES

Others, 7.1%

Top 10 city pairs, year end June 2021

City pair

Qatar Airways, 4.6% Jetstar, 5.5%

Air New Zealand, 47.0%

Singapore Airlines, 6.5%

Qantas Airways, 21.8% Source: BITRE

Auckland-Sydney Auckland-Brisbane Auckland-Melbourne Doha-Sydney Singapore-Sydney Los Angeles-Sydney Guangzhou-Sydney Auckland-Gold Coast Dubai-Sydney Doha-Melbourne Top 10 City Pairs Other City Pairs ALL CITY PAIRS

Passengers YE Jun 20 1,162,126 690,272 914,245 426,395 1,121,086 655,989 263,699 240,324 574,423 267,791 6,316,350 24,415,762 30,732,112

Passengers YE Jun 21 130,563 87,324 72,325 44,340 35,366 34,865 31,522 31,407 28,276 25,850 521,838 601,077 1,122,915

% of total % change 21/20 11.6 -88.8 7.8 -87.3 6.4 -92.1 3.9 -89.6 3.1 -96.8 3.1 -94.7 2.8 -88.0 2.8 -86.9 2.5 -95.1 2.3 -90.3 46.5 -91.7 53.5 -97.5 100.0 -96.3

Source: BITRE

travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2021

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ISSUES & TRENDS

LIVN THE DREAM IN A move that is sure to rankle online travel agencies everywhere, Google has partnered with Aussie success story Livn to pilot a new project to drive more search traffic directly to smaller tour operators and circumnavigate the bigger reservation systems of multinational companies like Expedia and Booking.com.

Under the trial partnership, Livn’s connectivity hub will power the ‘official site’ button for the new Things to do initiative, shifting the bookings trail for travellers via online searches from OTAs, who were previously partners in processing bookings for Google on the back end, to operators directly.

Livn CEO Mark Rizzuto believes pilots such as this one will ultimately “level the playing field” in the smaller tour and activities space and improve the choice of experiences on offer for travellers everywhere.

“There’s a real opportunity here for Google to provide a much richer consumer experience by reaching far deeper into the pond, [so] when people search for ‘what can I do in Sydney’, they’re not just getting the Sydney Opera House or a walk around the Rocks, they are potentially getting a surfing lesson with a world champion at Bondi Beach instead,” Rizzuto said.

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travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2021

AFTA VIEW Tom Manwaring, Interim Executive Chair Australian Federation of Travel Agent

AS WE move ever closer to those magical thresholds of 70% and 80% of the eligible population vaccinated and the National Cabinet’s Roadmap to Recovery escalates towards travel and a more normal lifestyle, AFTA is putting the time and focus into making sure we are ready as an organisation and a sector to meet the challenges of the new future.

We are grateful that so many of our members have endorsed our approach. Even with the heartbreaking loss of an estimated one third of jobs in our sector, we are pleased to report that over 80% of members have renewed, with additional commitments to join. Given the current landscape, this surge of support is a huge vote of confidence in AFTA’s impact and approach.

The core theme to our call for Federal, State and Territory support is the reality that ours is a sector that has been in hard lockdown since March 2020. Given this, we need sector-wide application of the support measures that are increasingly being enacted for those businesses in geographic lockdowns. Quite apart from the immediate and overwhelming revenue kneecapping of the international travel ban imposed 18 months ago, is the sector paralysis that flows from lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne. We need support and we need it until travel normalises, because now more than ever without a travel agent you are on your own – and that’s only going to become even more the case as we all start to travel more widely!

AFTA also continues to call for faster rollout of the vaccines and to promote all measures that encourage more people to get jabbed more quickly. In addition to our own #GetTravelReady campaign and our collaboration with AFTA member Linda Forster’s #VaxReady campaign, we have also thrown our support behind the #GiveTravelAShot campaign. These are incredibly challenging times yet there is a constant – the resilience of the wonderful people who make travel all that it is. We’re not going anywhere and AFTA is determined to keep doing what we can, where we can, to make that happen.

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ISSUES & TRENDS

VAX THE WAY PEOPLE THE narrative around vaccinations in Australia has shifted considerably over the last month, the product of Delta causing a greater sense of urgency across the country and lockdown fatigue well and truly setting in for the millions of Aussies affected.

Efforts to get needles into the arms of as many people as possible to improve both health outcomes and facilitate travel freedoms have mobilised swiftly across the industry, with multiple campaigns rolling out to foster the ‘can do’ Aussie spirit of the nation.

Tourism Australia launched the “It’s our best shot to travel” campaign, while the publisher of this masthead also played a part by rallying the troops around the “Give travel a shot” messaging.

While marketing efforts will continue to play a useful role in ensuring citizens see vaccination as a matter of civic duty, multiple brands in the local travel space have also been vocal about driving home this message. Qantas is one company that, to its credit, has led the charge from the early stages, with CEO Alan Joyce one of the first company executives to float the idea of mandatory vaccinations for customers back in November last year. Last month saw the carrier announce two major bits of vaccination policy, the first was to mandate that its customer-facing staff be doublejabbed by 15 November, the first major Australian public company to do so, and the second was to unveil a major vaccination incentive promotion.

Qantas’ mega prize draw will see 10 gifts given away to Aussies who enter the competition by presenting their vaccination documents. The

winners will score a year’s worth of free flights to 60 destinations, including select overseas regions, free accommodation and free fuel. But the incentive doesn’t stop there, with frequent flyers able to choose from one of three gifts when they present their medical records as well, such as 1,000 Qantas points, 15 status credits or a $20 flight discount for Qantas or Jetstar flights. Qantas’ promotion followed in the footsteps of rival Virgin Australia, which back in June unveiled plans to launch an incentive to get the jab by offering millions of Velocity frequent flyer points and Business class flights.

Some tour operators have also followed suit, with The Travel Corporation recently announcing that it will require all eligible travellers and customer-facing team members to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 in Australia and New Zealand from 1 December.

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travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2021

By Tim Hoopmann IT IS normal to feel overwhelmed by what is a very challenging time for so many in our community.

Each one of us will react to stressful situations in different ways. Some people may need mental health support to cope with the effects of widespread uncertainty, self-isolation and loneliness or financial hardship.

Others may find ways of coping with these situations by incorporating daily routines to help them deal with the impact on their lives.

BUILDING RESILIENCE EXERCISE, diet, sleep, work boundaries and positive thinking are important tools to use for better mental health.

Understanding what actions and routines to put in place to support yourself will in the long term have a positive impact on your wellness.

vary from day to day. Fighting against these feelings often creates more stress. Allow these feelings to flow through you. In doing so it may help you think positively, even when your feelings or emotions are not.

PRACTISING GRATITUDE WHILE we are still amid this global pandemic, practicing gratitude may seem like the last thing you are thinking about.

However, our thoughts play a large part in impacting our mental health and wellbeing. Where we can, it is important to keep them positive. Find a moment each day

to stop and focus on what you’re grateful for.

STAYING CONNECTED Make staying connected part of your everyday. As a business owner with teams, try creating a routine for checking in with the team. Focus on their wellbeing.

Mix it up and make it fun, just like you would in the office. Every conversation does not need to be about work. As a sole trader you may be feeling more alone and isolated. Now is the time to look to your wider community, industry, or networking groups. These can be a lifeline for you.

Finding a moment to stop and focus on what you are grateful for can be a great tool for managing your mental health.

REFRAMING THE SITUATION Top: The travel industry has come together with campaigns encouraging Australians to get vaccinated.

With the latest vaccination push, Qantas is planning to restart international flights in December ©Brent Winston

NAVIGATING CORONAVIRUS WHILE MAINTAINING GOOD MENTAL HEALTH

Right: Qantas is offering incentives to vaccinated passengers ©Qantas

THE amount of information about coronavirus can been overwhelming. Overloading with too much information becomes tiresome. Breaking it down to manageable pieces allows you to return to a sense of control. When you do, it may allow you to watch the news, gather information and observe what’s going on in a more positive manner.

BEING PRESENT LEARN to be present with your feelings and emotions. They can

Tim Hoopmann is a speaker, mentor and coach, with a passion for growing small business through using technology to increase productivity and reduce costs. He is also a volunteer speaker for Beyond Blue, working to raise awareness of anxiety and depression, reduce the associated stigma and encourage people to get help.

travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2021

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

IT’S TIME TO MAKE TRACKS TO WA Journey Beyond is taking travellers on the trip of a lifetime, with Western Australia-focused itineraries that are available right now, writes Adam Bishop.

One brand making sure travellers can enjoy the Wildflower State from all angles is Journey Beyond, which quite literally has you covered by air, land, and sea. The operator, perhaps most renowned for its cross-continent rail services such as The Ghan and the Indian Pacific, has several WA-focused itineraries that are guaranteed to bust those lockdown blues and train your thoughts firmly on that next domestic holiday.

The seven-day Rottnest Discovery tour, set to depart Sydney for Perth between March and November next year, is an itinerary ideal for travellers looking to combine the wonder of Australia’s regional gems and rugged centre with WA’s aquatic appeal.

Hopping aboard Journey Beyond’s Indian Pacific rail expedition, guests are treated to a luxurious onboard experience that includes premium food, wine, and a convivial social atmosphere. The journey takes guests through the stunning bushland of the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains in NSW, before a stop

to indulge in the emerging artistic scene of the Silver City of Broken Hill. After that it’s onward through the inspiring Flinders Ranges to Australia’s wine capital of Adelaide to sample some of the best produce the region has to offer. Chugging across the awe-inspiring Nullarbor Plain while sipping on a cool cocktail (or two), travellers cap off the day of outback sightseeing with a rare opportunity to dine under the outback sky on the edge of the country’s largest sheep station in Rawlinna. Before long, guests arrive in the WA capital of Perth where a three-night stay at the premium DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Waterfront begins. Day five of this transcontinental journey is punctuated by the beauty of the Indian Ocean at every interval, and includes a spot aboard the Rottnest Express ferry to see the one-and-only Rottnest Island, located 22km off the state’s shores. Jumping aboard a 90-minute, air-conditioned coach tour around the biodiverse island the locals call “Rotto” takes travellers to some

Opposite page: See the incredible Whale Sharks of Ningaloo Reef ©Chris Jansen This page, clockwise from top: Dine under the outback stars at Rawlinna.

S

OME may argue that Western Australia is a spoilt state. After all, it is home to an endlessly unique coastline, a myriad of golden islands, ancient mountain ranges, stunning ocean reefs, and grandiose outback areas, to list just a few. But look, you can choose to fritter your time away mired in envy and merely dream about this western paradise, or you can make tracks and book a trip to see it for yourself at your next opportunity.

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travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2021

Take in the sights of the Aussie outback from the comfort of your Gold Cabin on board. ©Jak Collins Beautiful Rottnest Island is located 22km off the coast of WA.

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA

WESTERN AUSTRALIA From top: An aerial view of the incredible Horizontal Falls.

The Indian Pacific travelling through the Avon Valley.

Sunset at Ningaloo Reef.

Opposite page: Relax at the luxury Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef resort ©Jarrad Seng Gold service in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant on board.

Images courtesy of Journey Beyond.

truly spectacular locations, including the Wadjemup Lighthouse and the boardwalk lookout at the rugged West End. However, viewing the majesty of nature in this area of the world can be hungry work, but never fear because a delicious lunch at the Karma Rottnest Lodge is served up to guests before they venture off to explore Rottnest at their own pace in search of that perfect quokka selfie.

Another great option for travellers is Journey Beyond’s eight-day Spectacular Land and Sea tour, an adventure of contrasts from Adelaide to Perth that explores the best of South Australia and Western Australia from every vantage point. Boarding the Indian Pacific from Adelaide, guests have the chance to stretch their legs in the ghost town of Cook in South Australia’s outback before tucking into a gourmet dinner under the stars later that evening.

Western Australia’s Rawlinna sheep station is the next Off Train Experience before guests make tracks through the quaint Avon Valley and onwards to Perth.

Once there, guests are whisked away to enjoy the pleasures of Rotto before jumping on a flight up north to the multicultural resort town of Broome to wander the golden sand along its famous 22km-long Cable Beach. This will be the base for the next four stunning nights at the luxurious Cable Beach Club Resort, where nature adventures abound via rugged 4WD road trips, picturesque seaplane flights and an adrenalineinducing jet boat experience. Further highlights on this leg of the journey are a trip to the incredible Horizontal Falls and hidden islands of the Buccaneer

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travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2021

Archipelago, as well as explorations of the region’s overland frontiers. Guests will also enjoy a rare opportunity to visit the wilderness camp of Kooljaman at Cape Leveque. Owned and run by the Aboriginal Bardi Jawi communities, the area is world-renowned for its astonishing diversity, pristine wilderness and unique landscapes.

For another change of pace, check out the 10-day Great Western Wonders adventure which provides travellers with the rare chance to swim with gentle giants of the sea like Whale sharks and Humpback whales from an exclusive eco resort in WA’s World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef. Spending an epic three nights at the Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef resort, visitors can take advantage of a host of guided wilderness activities which includes a one-day Whale Shark Swim (March to July) or Humpback Whale Swim (August to October), all taking place on board a luxury vessel. The tour includes all the gear you will need for an amazing day meeting the local marine life, such as wetsuits and snorkel gear, and to unwind afterwards, a tasty lunch is served up with a couple of cheeky beverages. Other highlights include beachside safari camping in eco-luxe wilderness tents nestled in the dunes of Cape Range National Park, as well as a full day of quokka-spotting at Rotto, a rail journey across the Nullarbor, and accommodation at the Ritz-Carlton Perth.

All of Journey Beyond’s unique holiday packages include premium accommodation and most meals.

So, it’s time to take the opportunity to plan your next trip west for a holiday of epic proportion that travellers will no doubt remember for a lifetime.

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COVER

A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 14

travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2021

In recent months, the Council of Australian Tour Operators has announced significant reforms, including a new constitution, an accreditation scheme, and the adoption of a national structure.

Myles Stedman explains what these changes mean for tour operators and the wider travel and tourism sector going forward.

F

EW travel groups would argue the COVID-19 pandemic has changed them for the better, but this is a case the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) may be able to make. Roughly two months ago, CATO pressed on with significant reforms, including the adoption of a national structure and a new constitution, paving the way for the future of the Council.

These were changes which had been set to come for some time, Chairman Dennis Bunnik said. According to the Bunnik Tours Managing Director, not moving to a federal model just “didn’t make sense” anymore.

travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2021

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COVER “It’s something that’s been in the making for a few years,” said Bunnik. “Our initial structure was set up about 30-odd years ago, and was designed as a local association, the same way as your local tennis club, but as we’ve become more resourced, the scope of what we’ve been doing has changed, even pre-COVID. “We’ve grown as an organisation and it makes sense to, like most other associations, become a national body. We’ve taken this opportunity to position CATO for growth into the future, in its position as one of the four main associations within the travel industry.”

In principle, nothing has changed, suggested Managing Director Brett Jardine. However, at a time in the travel industry when an organisation like CATO’s ability to represent its members matters, formal recognition of the Council as what it has grown into over the past three decades was needed – especially for its members.

“Unless you’re a brand like Qantas, you cannot talk to government, they’re not interested,

“

...never before has it been so important for the Australian Government to understand who the Council stands for, and what role it plays in the industry

”

Brett Jardine, Managing Director, CATO

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Travel Ecosystem Consumers

Brett Jardine, Managing Director, CATO

Dennis Bunnik, Chairman, CATO

but when Dennis goes in there and says, ‘I represent 150 of Australia’s tour operators and wholesalers’, they listen,” said Jardine.

“For the last three decades, we haven’t really needed to do that.

AFTA has flown the flag for the travel industry, there hasn’t been a need to sit down with any individual and try to explain the structure of the global travel industry ecosystem.

“Right now, the industry bodies are extremely valuable, and we’re demonstrating that right now we’re even more valuable than we’ve ever been. It’s important they’re talking to an association that is recognised federally, as opposed to a state-based body.”

The fact recognition, education, and ultimately, lobbying, are so integral to relevance in the travel industry in 2021 is not a situation anyone wants to be in, but the sector has changed – and not just for a couple of years, but for good, Jardine said. In fact, he likened CATO’s government-petitioning efforts to “as long as a piece of string”.

“Since the beginning of COVID, CATO has taken a far more active approach than it had previously in liaising with government,” he said. “With CATO’s new incorporation and new structure, never before has it been so important for the Australian Government to understand who the Council stands for, and what role it plays in the industry.

“It’s a unified approach with the other industry associations, specifically CLIA, ATEC and AFTA, while at the same time recognising each sector of the industry does have slightly different variances.”

CATO’s job of communicating and helping the government understand the Venn diagram that is the Australian travel industry is arguably one of the most important roles the Council has today, as important as its job in ensuring the financial security of not just its members, but each and every stakeholder in the industry, all the way down to the customer.

“In the past our involvement was limited to the functional stuff, like DFAT and Smartraveller, where we had a good working relationship with government,” Jardine said.

“When we started talking to the government 18 months ago, it was pretty obvious it looked at the travel industry and thought it was made up entirely of travel agents.

“CATO members are tour operators and travel wholesalers – businesses that actually invest in development, distribution and marketing product retail travel agents sell, as well as the delivery.

If there wasn’t that layer in our ecosystem, travel agents would be left with hotels, cruises and airfares to straddle - it’s a very niche part of the industry that provides a significant amount of revenue for retail travel agents.

Travel Agents

Airlines

Ground Transport Suppliers

Restaurants

“Explaining that to government so they understand we’re the manufacturers of travel product so travel agents then have something to sell has been an important part of our process. Educating stakeholders, government politicians and bureaucrats throughout this process has been a massive part of our efforts.”

Ultimately, it is these functions as manufacturers of travel product, that are performed by CATO’s members which brought about the need for reform in the first place;

Tour Operators

Cruise Lines

Accommodation

Tours & Experience Operators

Attractions

with the pandemic merely providing a little more impetus. As Bunnik describes, one of these reforms is CATO’s own accreditation pathway, separate to that which is offered by the AFTA Travel Accreditation Scheme (ATAS).

According to Bunnik, CATO has always recognised there are unique aspects to tour operating and wholesaling which don’t necessarily overlap with travel advisors, such as insurance, client funds, dealing with overseas operators, and foreign currency risks.

“When the industry was deregulated, CATO was in essence a networking club, and at that stage, the secretariat of CATO was being provided by AFTA,” Bunnik described. “Over the years, CATO has grown, and we have gone on this journey to become a national body representing our sector of the industry.

“We’ve been speaking about having a white-label version of ATAS for CATO members [for a while]. The landscape has changed a bit, [and] insolvency protection,

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COVER consumer protection are areas where the industry can do a bit better. Now is the opportunity for us to create a fit-for-purpose accreditation system for the land supply sector, and straight away incorporate into that some good solutions to try and fix some of these consumer protection issues.”

CATO’s accreditation will be rolled out in a multi-step program, the first two of which are almost complete – changing the Council’s structure from a state-based model to a national structure. This has the tick-off on state level and is now awaiting federal approval. With CATO having already developed the internal mechanisms designed to deal with its accreditation system, the Council now moves towards the completion of step three – ensuring the commercial viability of an associated insurance product. Other relevant criteria will then be finalised and agreed, ahead of the scheme’s official start date, which will ideally be 1 April 2022, pending government timeframes.

The result will be insolvency protection for all bookings made through the Council’s members, and the safety of both consumer funds and travel advisor commissions. Bunnik said the program will give consumers and travel advisors confidence – a great result for the entire industry. “Any booking made through a CATO member by a travel agent will be protected if a member becomes insolvent, which removes the risk of travel credits, and provides the level of coverage which is currently not available.”

The Council will be seeking government support to assist with building awareness of the scheme once it is established, but in the long term, Jardine

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believes promotion of the scheme will be self-perpetuating.

“Whilst there is still a lot of work to go into what this will look like and how it will be ultimately delivered, this scenario would provide consumer confidence, protect agent commissions, encourage agents to prioritise bookings via Australian tour operators and wholesalers, pacify consumer advocate groups seeking re-regulation of the industry and provide government with the evidence that as an industry we can continue to operate in a deregulated environment without

unnecessary red tape,” Jardine said. “Why would a consumer or agent invest their holiday dollars direct with off-shore entities that are unable to provide the same level of assurance?”

While many of CATO’s reform goals address worst-case scenarios for both consumers and travel advisors, the winding down of the pandemic will not mean the diffusion of any problems while on holidays for the rest of time - even though it may indeed feel that way once we reach the other side of the pandemic. Once that point is reached, the travel industry will be

©Globus

Government education and lobbying have become essential in the 2021 landscape of the travel industry.

dealing with myriads of new, more positive problems, Jardine believes.

“Overall, the future for travel remains bright,” he enthused. “The value of industry bodies has never been stronger and is certainly now recognised by people within the industry. It would appear the messaging around vaccination rates is starting to take hold and we’ve really got to get behind that and support that, and ultimately if there’s a benchmark that says 80% of the population has to be vaccinated before they open international borders then we have to support that.

“It’s part of the Australian psyche that we travel and explore the world, so the biggest danger we have is going to be capacity constraints especially around employment and staff as we try to rebuild post-COVID. Particularly out of the US, where domestically they have started to travel, they’re seeing the vaccine effect, where people who are vaccinated are freely travelling, and the demand on domestic travel is huge - we will see that flow on in a similar manner here.”

However, the elephant in the collective

“

It is critical that government support is extended for the travel industry as a whole to ensure we retain the capability we have, the skills we have within the industry, to ensure we’re able to deliver, develop, and provide holidays Australians will take when they start travelling around the world again in the coming years

”

Dennis Bunnik, Chairman, CATO

industry’s room right now, as Australia inches toward the 80% mark, is the unprecedented rush on travel set to arrive on the doorstep of the country’s already under-resourced and overworked foot soldiers.

“That’s our strongest message to the government: you’re supporting critical capacity through your help with Qantas, you need to do exactly the same with the rest of the travel industry, because unless we have CATO members who are creating product and enabling Australians to travel the world safely, then that’s going to impact travel safety, and that will fall back onto the government’s responsibility through DFAT,” Bunnik said.

“It is critical that government support is extended for the travel industry as a whole to ensure we retain the capability we have, the skills we have within the industry, to ensure we’re able to deliver, develop, and provide holidays Australians will take when they start travelling around the world again in the coming years.

“If we’re not here and the skills are lost to our industry, Australians are going to be on their own, and ultimately, when the next crisis hits, they become default customers of the government via the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade which then has to have the job of getting them all home.

“At the moment, the default position for DFAT is, when someone’s in trouble, ‘talk to your tour operator’. DFAT is there as a last line of support for Australians that are in trouble overseas.

“We need to have that critical capacity [of the workforce] protected in order for people to be able to travel, and ultimately, we’re putting that responsibility back on the government and making them accountable to help us get through this.” travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2021

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CRUISE

HURTIGRUTEN IS GOING TO AFRICA HURTIGRUTEN Expeditions has launched its first-ever African cruises along the continent’s west for the 2022/23 season, based out of Dakar.

The cruise line will be the only expedition brand to explore the region, as it introduces four new countries into its destinations – Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal – with all cruises

including a land-based adventure as part of the itinerary.

Departing aboard MS Spitsbergen from 27 November 2022, the season will visit some of West Africa’s unique archipelagos, including the Bissagos Islands, one of the world’s most untouched destinations.

Pre-embarkation, guests will explore the island of Goree,

where they will experience colourful colonial houses, baobabs, and palm trees, and immerse themselves in the history of this former slave isle.

Post-embarkation, a city tour of Dakar will showcase to guests the charming multifaceted Senegalese capital while discovering its historical moments and driving along the corniche.

Cruising from Dec? CRUISE Lines International Association’s (CLIA) focus has shifted to navigating Australia’s human biosecurity emergency period, rather than blocking it, with a view to a potential cruise restart from December.

With an extension to the emergency period likely to be handed down mid-next month, CLIA Australasia Chair Gavin Smith said at last month’s Cruise Forum the Association is attempting to negotiate an exemption to the period.

Vandekreeke’s big move

MS Spitsbergen will embark on the first itineraries exploring the unique region of West Aftrica ©Hurtigruten

VIRTUOSO’S NEW MEMBERS TWO major expedition cruise players, Aurora Expeditions and Hurtigruten, expanded their partnerships with luxury travel network Virtuoso last month.

Hurtigruten added Australia to its existing agreement with Virtuoso, while Aussie cruise line Aurora joined Virtuoso’s exclusive global preferred partner portfolio.

The Scandinavian cruise line’s expanded deal includes a dedicated Hurtigruten agent’s portal, brand training, and more, along with Virtuoso access to a white-labelled digital magazine for marketing and communications.

Hurtigruten APAC Managing Director Damian Perry said the decision to expand the relationship to encompass Virtuoso travel agents in Australia was necessary, as professional industry partners are “more critical now than ever before”.

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Meanwhile, Aurora’s full slate of products are now accessible to a range of travel advisors in more than 50 countries across the world.

Aurora Chief Executive Officer Monique Ponfoort said, “becoming part of Virtuoso’s global network is a milestone accomplishment”.

Aurora Expeditions’ Greg Mortimer ©Aurora Expeditions

THE cruise sector will always be the baby of former Carnival Cruise Line Australia chief Jennifer Vandekreeke, as she begins her new role with NRMA Expeditions as its new Executive General Manager of Customer.

Despite the sea change, Vandekreeke was quick to reassure the cruise sector that she had not left the industry behind entirely.

“I am so glad that I have joined an organisation that is committed to the [cruise] industry and so much so that they have purchased a minority stake in Coral Expeditions” she said.

NCL vax passport NORWEGIAN Cruise Line Holdings Chief Executive Officer Frank Del Rio has launched a crushing attack on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, slamming the state’s vaccine passport ban as “shameful”.

Del Rio decried Florida’s leadership as having “failed”, and called the state’s “divisive” fight to ban vaccine passports as “beyond bizarre”.

CLIA VIEW

Joel Katz, Managing Director CLIA Australasia

CRUISING’S FOUR-PHASE PLAN FOR REVIVAL NOW that Australia has a four-phase plan for reopening, CLIA has outlined its own fourphase pathway for a careful resumption of cruising.

Proposed to align with the national plans to revive tourism and reopen borders, the cruise pathway sets out its own key milestones and is tied to the same vaccination targets as those announced recently by the Federal Government.

As an industry, we have urged Australian governments to include our pathway in the national four-phase plan, and are calling for detailed discussions to make this happen.

Key goals include: • Current Phase (Vaccinate, prepare and pilot) – Agreement between governments and the cruise industry on a framework for cruising’s resumption and the implementation of the industry’s layered health protocols including testing and vaccination, with potential to pilot domestic expedition cruises.

• Vaccination Transition Phase

(~70% of adult population vaccinated) – Resume limited domestic-only cruises within an Australian bubble, in line with the industry’s extensive health protocols.

• Consolidation Phase (≥80% of adult population vaccinated) – Achieve more domestic sailings and begin carefully controlled transTasman itineraries and other regional “bubble” sailings when conditions allow.

• Post Vaccination Phase – Resume carefully controlled international itineraries from Australian ports with ongoing health protocols in place.

Meeting these steps should be highly achievable. The cruise industry’s extensive new health protocols are already in place and working in other countries.

Australia is the only major cruise market in the world where governments have yet to achieve progress on cruising’s resumption. We need governments to act now so that we can revive an industry worth more than $5 billion a year to the Australian economy.

HEADLINES AUGUST 2021 02 Aug 08 Aug 20 Aug 25 Aug

Global leaders to join CLIA forum Norwegian flags Feb Sydney restart APT new domestic series Feds failed Ruby Princess

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LAST WORD

LOCKDOWN LISTENING WHEN you want a distraction from tuning into the daily misery of government press conferences during lockdown, you might want to turn your ears to something slightly more interesting. Here’s a rundown of some of our latest listening distractions - available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you like to tune in.

BUSINESS WARS AT FIRST listen, Business Wars seems like a soap opera, with narrator David Brown reenacting conversations between corporate titans as he recounts some of the biggest battles in the business arena. But you quickly get drawn in after listening for just a few minutes, because the subject matter is just so compelling. There are more than 50 seasons, each about seven episodes long - Nike versus Adidas, Coke versus Pepsi, Facebook versus Snapchat, Boeing versus Airbus and our favourite, World Wrestling Federation versus World Championship Wrestling, which includes the classic description of Hulk Hogan as “a six foot seven giant with receding long blond hair, and a tan so deep he's got the skin-tone of a hot dog".

AUSTRALIANS WILL BE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL WHEN WE REACH 80% OF THE POPULATION VACCINATED, SO LETS

#givetravelashot #letsgetto80

THE LINE AUSTRALIA’S new fascination with modern military war crime allegations has been fanned by the recent defamation action by Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith. But the same issues have been on the front pages in the USA over the past few years, and this podcast from New Yorkbased Dan Taberski examines the 2018 case of Eddie Gallagher, a Navy SEAL who was alleged to have gone too far in battle in Iraq. Fascinating testimony and examinations of the real-life issues confronted by those who fight abroad in war zones where the normality of peacetime life just doesn’t apply - and an insight into the power of a Donald Trump tweet.

GET INVOLVED! THE LAZARUS HEIST THIS podcast from the BBC World Service is a fascinating true-life look behind the scenes of one of the biggest attempted robberies in history - the theft of a whopping $1 billion by a group of North Korean-backed cybercriminals. As hackers continue to wreak their havoc every day through ransomware attacks, attempted celebrity blackmail and other nefarious activity, the ten episodes explain their cunning techniques, complete with allegations and evidence of state sponsorship and global money-laundering efforts which enable them to get away with it - except when they make a simple typing mistake.

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1 GET YOURSELF VACCINATED Getting yourself vaccinated is an important and effective step in both protecting yourself from COVID-19, and in helping Australia open up to the world.

#givetravelashot

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