Overhaul of Events NSW
Source: New South Wales. Premier. Media Release.
An overhaul of Events NSW and how the New South Wales government's approach to events attraction, has been announced.

$3 million in grants up for grabs for tourism projects
Source: Queensland. Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading. Media Release
"$3 million in contestable grant funding is up for grabs for a range of tourism projects across the state Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor announced. Mr Lawlor said the Queensland Tourism Network Grant Scheme would allocate $3 million over the next three years as part of a commitment to help the state’s tourism organisations develop a stronger and more cohesive network. “The grants will be available to a range of not-for-profit tourism groups including regional and local tourism organisations, local government tourism departments and divisions, and tourism associations that are members of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council,” Mr Lawlor said."

New tourism campaign to tempt Aussies to the Tropical North
Source: Queensland. Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading. Media Release
"Aussie funseekers will be lured to Queensland’s Tropical North as part of a new $245,000 domestic tourism campaign Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor said. Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism and Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall announced the joint campaign in Cairns between Tourism Queensland, Virgin Blue/Blue Holidays, Tourism Tropical North Queensland and Cairns Airport. The campaign is scheduled to commence on Sunday 14 March. “The ‘Feel a million miles away in a few hours’ themed campaign will incorporate print, online and radio components and aims to attract more visitors to the region to support the local tourism industry through the traditionally slower post-Easter period,” Mr Wettenhall said."

New campaign offers Queensland getaways - with giveaways!
Source: Queensland. Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading. Media Release
"Free nights and other giveaways will be on offer as part of a new $1.3 million tourism marketing campaign to tempt southerners to Queensland, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor said. Mr Lawlor said Tourism Queensland’s new ‘Queensland’s Getaway Giveaways’ retail campaign would run for the next four weeks until mid-March. “Tourism Queensland has joined with major industry partners Flight Centre, Virgin Blue and Infinity Holidays in this exciting campaign which will give consumers even more reasons to holiday in Queensland in 2010,” Mr Lawlor said. “There are more than 130 deals on offer from Queensland operators, including accommodation providers, tours and attractions. “The multi-media retail campaign will target holidaymakers from southern states and Brisbane to take a short break in Queensland over the next six months, with the added lure of a free giveaway with each offer."

NEW STRATEGY FOR TOURISM RESILIENCE
Australia. Minister for Tourism, Media Release.
"Martin Ferguson AM MP, has outlined the Government’s commitment to a strong and competitive tourism industry, unveiling the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy and announcing more than $8 million in TQUAL Grants funding. The National Long-Term Tourism Strategy provides a work plan for skills, infrastructure and removing barriers to investment, giving investors greater confidence in the sector’s long-term prospects. The work plan includes better research for the industry and improving regulation to encourage more tourism investment.Visit www.ret.gov.au/tqual for TQUAL Grants details."

NEW PEAK BODY TO LEAD TOURISM ALONG THE MURRAY
Source: Victoria. Minister for Tourism and Major Events. Media Release
"The Brumby Labor Government announced the creation of a Regional Tourism Board for the Murray region and committed $180,000 to help fund its activities. Speaking at a tourism roundtable in Mildura, Tourism and Major Events Minister Tim Holding said the new Murray Regional Tourism Board would provide the Murray region with a united, strategic direction to managing tourism in the region as early as mid this year. “The Brumby Labor Government continues to support tourism which is a vital economic driver for the Murray region, boosting economic activity and providing local jobs,” Mr Holding said."

$7 million for six months tourism marketing under new Tourism Action Plan
Source: Queensland. Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading. Media Release
"The State Government has launched a $7 million, six month tourism stimulus package for Queensland as part of a new Tourism Action Plan through to 2012. Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor said the Action Plan was supported by $36 million of new tourism funding announced during the 2009 state election campaign. “The next six months will see the delivery of over $7 million worth of major tourism marketing initiatives,” Mr Lawlor said. “This will add to the $2.8m that has already been invested in domestic and international marketing initiatives over the last six months, bringing the total marketing push to $10m in new money over the course of just one year. We are seeing the green shoots of recovery after the global financial crisis and what this stimulus package does is give us the best chance possible of harnessing the recovery for Queensland."
Tourism Action Plan

MINISTER UNVEILS NEW STRATEGY FOR TOURISM RESILIENCE AND ANNOUNCES $8M IN GRANTS
Source: Australia. Dept of Resources, Energy and Tourism
"The Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP, has outlined the Government’s commitment to a strong and competitive tourism industry, unveiling the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy and announcing more than $8 million in TQUAL Grants funding.
The National Long-Term Tourism Strategy provides a work plan for skills, infrastructure and removing barriers to investment, giving investors greater confidence in the sector’s long-term prospects. The work plan includes better research for the industry and improving regulation to encourage more tourism investment."

Qld National Parks to be put on show under eco-tourism plan
Source: Queensland. Premier and Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading and the Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability. Media Release
"Queensland’s best environmental assets will be put on show to the world, under a new eco-tourism plan to boost visitor numbers in our State’s protected areas.
Premier Anna Bligh announced that the Queensland Government will be seeking expressions of interest from private investors, to establish eco-tourism holiday accommodation at seven destinations throughout the state.
The seven areas identified under the plan are:
Eurong on Fraser Island;
Wallaman Falls at Girringun, west of Cardwell;
Ninny Rise at Mission Beach;
Jonah Bay at Whitsunday;
Mount Mee, D’Aguilar National Park;
Green Mountain, Lamington National Park; and
Cowan South on Moreton Island."

Queensland begins tourism image review
Source: Queensland. Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading. Media Release
"Queensland could potentially get a new brand and logo as Tourism Queensland begins to forge a new global brand for the state, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor said. Tourism Queensland was working with regional tourism organisations and Queensland tourism industry representatives to create a new image for Queensland and its destinations. “In today’s world, tourism is incredibly competitive - not only through the fact that travel is cheaper and easier than ever before - but also because consumer goods are seriously competing with travel for consumer dollars,” Mr Lawlor said. “Tourists are seeking meaningful and enriching experiences. Through its Global Brand Strategy, Tourism Queensland is working with the Queensland tourism industry to ensure Queensland’s destinations and experiences are positioned in a way that connects with the visitors."

New UK tourism campaign positions Queensland as Best Holiday in the World
Source: Queensland. Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading. Media Release
"More than six million Brits will be exposed to Queensland sunshine as part of a major new tourism campaign which positions Queensland as ‘The Best Holiday in the World’, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor announced. Mr Lawlor said a range of VIP Queensland experiences were up for grabs for Brits who booked a holiday to the Sunshine State as part of an incentive with retail travel partners Flight Centre and Gold Medal and Emirates Airlines. “The campaign will see Flight Centre and Gold Medal customers in the UK automatically entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a range of VIP Queensland experiences when they book return flights and accommodation in Queensland,” Mr Lawlor said."

READY FOR RECOVERY: BOOST FOR DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TOURISM MARKETING
Source: Australia. Minister for Tourism. Media Release
"The Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP, today announced a $9 million boost to cooperative marketing and called on Australia’s tourism industry to engage with Tourism Australia to maximise growth in domestic and international travel following the global recession."

Maroons and Blues strike “tourism ceasefire” in $8m partnership
Source: Queensland. Premier. Media Release
"Queensland and NSW will set aside their State of Origin rivalry to become an irresistible destination for international tourists Queensland Premier Anna Bligh announced.
The Premier said the “tourism ceasefire” meant the blues and maroons would join forces in a landmark marketing partnership to drive more international visitors to the two states.
“As far as tourism is concerned we’re on the same side. We want people to come from overseas and enjoy our two great states,” said the Premier. A three year $8 million partnership agreement between ourselves and key airline partners means we can dominate the international tourism market in Australia – just like we do with rugby league."

New measures to make swimmers Shark Smart
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Primary Industries. Media Release.
"The NSW Government will introduce a range of measures, including the first ever public education campaign, to help keep swimmers safe this summer, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald, announced."

New Tourism Marketing for Tasmania Launched
Source: Tasmania. Minister for Tourism and the Arts,
Michelle O’Byrne, together with Tourism Tasmania’s CEO, Felicia Mariani, today launched Tasmania’s new tourism brand positioning and a national campaign for the coming months, valued at around $2 million. Ms O’Byrne said the new brand positioning and campaign, which will showcase Tasmania’s internationally recognised destinations and experiences to people interstate, will change the way Australian consumers look at our Tasmania and create a sense of immediacy to travel here.
“Tasmania has enjoyed a strong and sustained tourism performance over the past decade. If we want to continue to outperform our national counterparts and build a strong and prosperous tourism industry, we need to create new strengths and give visitors more reasons to visit - and to visit now,” she said.

Tourism projects to get planning priority to protect jobs
Source: Queensland. Premier and the Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development. Media Release
“Premier Anna Bligh has announced a special status giving priority to Tourism-related projects under new development planning laws. In Cairns for Day Two of the Building for Jobs Tour, Ms Bligh said the proposed amendments to the Sustainable Planning Bill will mean job-creating tourism projects will be given special status for quicker planning decisions. Tourism infrastructure projects such as the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway or the recently completed MaMu canopy walkway attract new and repeat visitors to the state and strengthen the pulling power of Queensland’s tourism sector,” said the Premier.”

Outdated resort laws simplified and modernised
Source: Queensland. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning. Media Release
"Interim amendments bringing complicated body corporate and planning laws into the 21st century were passed by Parliament last night. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said it was time the laws for Sanctuary Cove Resort, Royal Pines Resort, Hope Island Resort, Kingfisher Bay Resort, Laguna Whitsundays Resort and the Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas Resort were simplified and modernised. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said resort laws had not been substantially updated for at least 20 years.
The Integrated Resort Development Act 1987 and Sanctuary Cove Resort Act 1985 were only ever designed to help the resorts develop over a 10-year timeframe,” Mr Hinchliffe said."

Tas e-Connect Delivers for the Tourism Industry
Source: Tasmania. Minister for Tourism and the Arts
"Tasmanian tourism operators are already beginning to reap the rewards of the State Government’s Tas e-Connect online tourism initiative, with an average of around $100,000 worth of business being booked each month since the initiative was launched only a few months ago. The Minister for Tourism and the Arts, Michelle O’Byrne, said the Tas e-Connect technology gives Tasmanian tourism operators the ability to have their rooms, activities, tours and events seen and bought online by consumers everywhere. “Tas e-Connect is working,” Ms O’Byrne said. “In the three months since Tas e-Connect was launched to Tasmania’s tourism industry more than $300,000 worth of bookings have been made through the Open Booking Exchange. I am confident the level of business through Tas e-connect will grow exponentially as more local tourism businesses are connected.” Ms O’Byrne said new technologies like Tas e-Connect’s online booking platform play a vital role in ensuring the tourism industry can meet the demands of the online consumer and be competitive in the global tourism market."

Tourism Toolkit for Sydney councils
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Tourism. Media Release.
"Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay announced the release of a new marketing toolkit to help Sydney’s 37 councils and their local tourism businesses promote their tourist attractions."
Tourism Precinct Toolkit

600 Additional Training Places For the Tourism Industry
Source: Queensland. Minister for Education and Training. Media Release
"The Bligh Government will partner with industry to deliver more than $2.6 million in training to workers in the tourism and hospitality industry. Education and Training Minister Geoff Wilson said the Government would work with the Queensland Tourism Industry Council to deliver the Productivity Places Program. “The Bligh Government is meeting its commitment to boosting the number of training places and improving training for existing workers to make them more employable,” Mr Wilson said. The program will deliver high-level training to 600 workers during the next two years."