It's hard to believe we're officially half way through 2024!
I want to start off by saying a huge thank you to Sarah for steering the ship while I got to nip away for a quick trip. As soon as I was back on deck, it's been action-packed, with my holiday now a distant memory..
Last week, we hosted our fourth annual Regional Tourism Forum and Cocktail Party with over 170 attendees. We discussed major regional projects, workforce opportunities and challenges, updates from Tourism Tasmania, and preparations for the Spirits. Keep an eye out for Tourism Tasmania's Q4 data release next week! Chief Marketing Officer, Lindene Cleary,
spoke about the marketing activities and the type of travellers coming to Tasmania. The Conscious Adventurers, Discoverers, and Positive Impact Travellers. Click HERE to learn more.
A highlight for us as a region was the launch of the positive impact pilot program, "Strengthening the West Coast of Tasmania through partnerships"with Loaves and Fishes and Strahan Village. We will keep you updated with the progress of the pilot program.
We were honoured to host TICT as they announced their Top Tourism Town Awards at our cocktail party. We're especially thrilled that two towns from our region were among the winners (see below for details). A big thank you to everyone who attended—we look forward to doing it all over again next year!
Great news for the entire state, especially our region: the new Spirit Ship is set for delivery in Q3 (December), as announced by the Tasmanian Government this week in their media release. WxNW's priority will be ensuring the industry is well-prepared for its arrival!
With the Off Season in full swing, three of our local businesses, The Truffledore, West Coast Wilderness Railway and Gunns Plains Caves have been selected in the new campaign Off Season Odd Jobs. Encourage your interstate family and friends to apply as an opportunity for them to be able to come down for some of this spectacular Tassie Winter!
Photo | (left to right) Gabriella Conti, Cyndia Hilliger, Sarah Norton and Meg Hely
Tassie's Top Tourism Towns of 2024
CONGRATS TO STANLEY & DEVONPORT!
We are excited to announce Stanley and Devonport for winning. their respective categories with an extra special congrats to Stanley for winning the Peoples Choice Award. This competition celebrates our regional towns, highlighting their unique experiences. These towns will now go up against the other states and territories to crown Australia's Top Tourism Towns in an awards ceremony in September.
People Choice Tourism Town Award Stanley
The Top Tourism Town Award for populations over 5,000 -Devonport
The Tiny Tourism Town Award for populations under 1,500 -Stanley
Future Focus: 2024 Tasmanian Tourism Conference
REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPEN
Practical workshops on contemporary tourism, business skills and insights, the latest industry updates and market intel, inspirational keynote speakers and lots of networking opportunities:
Day 1 "Workshop Day" | August 20
A selection of 11 intensive 75-minute workshops
The Evening Networking Event | August 20
An evening jam-packed full of networking, delicious Tasmanian food & beverage, and live entertainment.
Day 2 "Tourism Policy & Strategy" | August 21
Key policy and strategy presentations, breakout sessions on industry priorities, and inspirational talks by leading experts.
Chance to win 2 x full day 1 tickets to the Conference!
You can go into the running by joining Tourism Emissions Reduction Commitment (TERC) to reduce their emissions. Offer applies also to businesses that haven’t yet enrolled in the TERC program, or that have already achieved Stage 3 or 4.
The random prize draw to be announced July 12, 2024. For more information go to the TICT website.
Host an activity or special offer during Seniors Week
Seniors Week celebrates older Tasmanians and recognises the contributions we make to our communities. It’s a week of events for older people, all over Tasmania!
By registering your offering or event, you can leverage the promotional activity that goes along with Seniors Week including a free listing in their Seniors Week Guide as well as the opportunity to connect, share experiences, learn something new or find out useful information.
This years theme of Connecting Generations enables you to engage with a whole variety of people in your community.
The Trusted Advisor Program connects emerging professionals in tourism, events, and hospitality (Advisees) with established industry leaders (Advisors) for a transformative 10-week coaching journey. Participants meet fortnightly from early August to October, either online or in person, with opportunities for workplace visits where feasible.
If you have any questions about the Trusted Advisor Program and how you or your staff can be involved, please direct them to Bella Alcorso at the TICT - bella.alcorso@tict.com.au
Managing your online reviews and reputation & ReviewPro
This webinar will focus on the importance of managing your online reviews and reputation, and how to maximise the use of tools like ReviewPro (which all accredited operators can access for free) with Avril Cater
Date: Wednesday, 3rd July
Time: 11:00am-12:00pm
Location: Online
Price: FREE for TICT Accredited Operators/Members, $25 for non-accredited operators
Join WxNW's Gabriella Conti and Sarah Norton for the first pub night with the new DWC president, David Newall. No need to register or book a ticket, just come along, share a drink and network with your industry colleagues!
Date: Tuesday, 9 July 2024
Time: 5:30-7:00 pm
Location: Empire Hotel, Queenstown
Price: FREE
Circular Head Tourism Association (CHTA)
Social Catch- Up and Celebration!
CHTA invite you for a night of networking with industry colleagues. Numbers are limited:
The Australian Rowing championships, scheduled for 24-30 March 2025 at Lake Barrington, attract approx. 6,000 attendees.
Join Rowing Australian and Event Tasmania to gain valuable insights into the event's expectations and explore the various opportunities available for you to be a part of:
Information Session Details:
Date: 15th of July 2024
Time: 5:00 pm
Location: Sheffield Town Hall
Digital Ready Workshop | North West and Far North West.
Digital Ready will be holding two workshops for tourism businesses new to social media or needing a refresher. Learn why social media is important for your tourism business, the essentials, define your ideal customer, and discover effective content.
A hands on workshop focused on creating all forms of Instagram content, including feed posts, stories, and reels.
In this workshop, attendees will be guided through easy ways to create engaging content using the Instagram app, as well as third-party apps such as Canva.
Join us as we unlock the secrets to transforming your Instagram presence.
View over 90 tourism operators from across Tasmania in one convenient location. Special offers only available at the event, free entry and lucky door prizes on offer.
The Tourism Industry Council Tasmania (TICT) has announced a number of additional positive impact tourism workshops to be held across the state until the end of 2024. The workshops will bring regenerative tourism specialist Nic Cooper, and TICT carbon advisor Lauren Cameron, to every region. These half day workshops will cover the why, what and how of sustainable, regenerative and positive impact tourism, with a specific focus on reducing carbon emissions in your businesses.
The workshops will be highly inspiring yet deeply practical, and most importantly - grounded in the practical realities of running a tourism business here in Tassie.
The workshops will be free for accredited tourism operators and TICT members, and $25 for non-members and non-accredited attendees.
STRAHAN
Date: Tuesday, 6th August
Time: 9:00 - 12:30pm
Location: Strahan Village
DEVONPORT
Date: Wednesday, 7th August
Time: 9:00 - 12:30pm**
Location: Paranaple Centre
**with learning tour to follow from 1.30pm – 3.30pm
All Tasmanian business owners, managers, marketers or representatives are welcome to participate. All you need to be is a registered Tasmanian business with an ABN. The confidential coaching sessions are tailor-made to your business by our skilled coaches, they run for up to 4 hours and are free of charge. Coaching sessions can be delivered in person or remotely via Zoom or phone.
The Tasmanian Business Advice Service provides free business advice to Tasmanian small businesses. Experienced advisors can help you with a wide variety of topics. To find out more about the support available to you, click the button below that best describes your business.
VXT is a purpose-built organisation, providing training in the hospitality and tourism industry. Visit their website for upcoming training courses in our region.
The First Nations Tourism Mentoring Program (FNTMP) is a free mentoring program for First Nations tourism businesses across Australia. It supports businesses to grow and achieve their goals by connecting them with skilled, experienced and culturally respectful tourism industry specialists who can provide one-on-one guidance, advice and support.
Through the support of the Tasmanian Government, the TICT is supporting tourism businesses in reducing their emissions by matching eligible tourism operators with one of two programs over 2023 and 2024.
Touring grants of up to $20 000 are available to eligible organisers of auto, motorbike, cycle or walking tours in Tasmania during the winter and shoulder season. Funding is based on the number of interstate or international participants staying in paid commercial accommodation for five nights or more, with 40 percent or more of the tour being held in regional areas.
The Scheme will provide no-interest loans of between $500 and $10,000 over three years to eligible households, residential landlords, small businesses and community organisations for funding investment in energy-efficient products.
The scheme provides small, interest-free loans of up to $3 000 to people on low incomes who want to start their own business or grow an existing one.
The Cultural Tourism Accelerator Program The Cultural Tourism Accelerator Program is a $5 million targeted measure announced by the Australian Government as part of the Regional Arts Tourism package.
There are four grants available under this program. See website for more detail.
Most local councils offer their own grant programs. Check your local council website for further information.
For more detail on grants and funding, you can ring the Business Tasmania helpline any time on 1800 440 026 or email ask@business.tas.gov.au.
If you know of anybody who would like to receive tourism updates from WxNW, please forward this email and encourage them to subscribe HERE. Note this mailing list has been drawn from ATDW, council websites, correspondence to date and other web-based research. If you wish to be removed, you may unsubscribe below.
Also, for more regular updates and interaction with our region's tourism industry, join the Friends of WxNW Facebook group.
We acknowledge Tasmanian Aboriginal people as the traditional and ongoing custodians of lutruwita (Tasmania). We honour their deep cultural connection and care of these lands, skies and waterways, and pay our respects to Elders past and present.