A massive CONGRATULATIONS to our region’s contenders at the Australian Tourism Awards including The Ship Inn Stanley securing SILVER in the Deluxe Accommodation category, Air Adventures GOLD in Tour & Transport Operators and to The Cove Tasmania for reaching the national finals in Unique Accommodation. Well done, we could not be prouder!!
I attended the Regional Tourism Conference and Destination Australia Conference in Sydney with our fellow Tassie RTO’s, Tourism Tasmania and some great operators. There was a strong focus on sustainable growth, which aligns closely with our 2030 Visitor Economy Strategy and creating a positive impact for our place, visitors and community.
I urge our operators to explore this space further if you haven’t already, this could be through the TICT emissions reduction initiative program and/or signing up to the Toolkit for positive impact with The Travel Better Project, more information below.
We welcomed this season’s final cruise ship yesterday, rounding off a bustling summer with 33 cruise ships into Burnie. Our thanks go out to the committed operators, Burnie City Council and the volunteers for a successful season.
Shout-out to those who joined us at Tourism Tasmania's Industry Roadshow, our first stop was King Island, followed by the North West. If you missed it, please catch up with the upcoming webinar. Here’s the link to register.
Meg and Sarah have also been out teaming up with Tourism Hospitality Association to run three workshops over the region (including Smithton, Ulverstone and Strahan) showcasing the Great Customer Experience with Dave Noonan and Gena Cantwell. What a great workshop with more Great Community Experiences specifically focussing on towns and communities coming our way. Watch this space!
Sunday, 31st March is the last day to submit an offer for the Off Season - Need help? Reach out to Meg or Sarah, we are here to help.
Lastly, jump onto the link below and purchase your forum + cocktail party ticket! This year we are partnering with TICT to announce the Tassie Top Tourism Town nominees at our cocktail party. We can’t wait to see you there.
Photo | (left to right) Jon Perret and John Dyer of Air Adventure Golf winning gold at the Australian Tourism Awards.
Our Annual Tourism Forum is an opportunity to come together to hear all about the major projects happening in our region, explore industry insights, discuss how our region can have a Positive Impact on our community and a panel discussion focusing on workforce issues. The panel discussion will focus on workforce issues. It promises to be a lineup that will inform, and educate but also provide actionable insights for you and your business.
This will be followed by a Cocktail Party with a difference. We will team up with TICT to announce the winners for Tassie Top Tourism Town.
It is always a great time to bring the industry together to connect, relax, celebrate and discuss the future of the region and state.
We will offer a shuttle bus to and from the Paranaple and Spreyton Cider for those who will be staying in Devonport.
Forum Only: $30.00 (light refreshments included)
Cocktail Party Only: $70.00 (dinner and drinks included)
Forum + Cocktail Party:$90.00 (food and drinks included)
If you missed the Tourism Tasmania Roadshow this week, join CEO Sarah Clark and CMO Lindene Cleary for an industry update online! Hear the latest tourism market outlook, preview their upcoming Off Season campaign, and learn how to leverage the Off Season for your business.
All Off Season Offers need to be submitted by Sunday, 31 March. Please reach out to Meg if you need any last minute assistance in coming up with an idea or need help submitting your offer.
19 - 21 April | North West Tasmania's Tasting Trail | All Weekend!
This April you are invited to the weekend-long event highlighting the Tasting Trail and the North Wests' food and beverage producers. The weekend offers exclusive events, exciting activations, family-friendly activities, all starting with the TrailGraze dinner on Friday, 19 April.
1 - 30 June | Wynyard and Table Cape | All Month Long!
Peek inside or hike through private properties that are normally off limits in JUNE 2024. As part of the Off Season, this Winter you will be given “PERMISSION TO TRESPASS” in some very special places celebrating local stories, culture and food.
The Travel Better Project has published the “Positive Impact Tourism: Guidebook and Toolkit for Operators”. Aimed at small and medium sized operators in Tasmania, the Toolkit clearly explains what positive impact tourism is and how you can create an approach that’s unique to your business. Here’s what to expect:
A framework to guide how you think about positive impact tourism (‘The Six Dimensions’ model)
Simple steps to help you create an action plan that suits your business and budget
More than 150 ideas and examples from Australia and overseas
A strategic approach to communicating your impact
Tools and exercises you can use with your team to get traction right away
The Travel Better Project aims to make every trip count by inspiring and enabling tourism operators to apply positive impact principles in their business.
WxNW subscribers have free access to the ToolKit until 31 May 2024
Promo Code: WXNW2024
Shape Your Tourism Industry
Nominations are now open for the TICT Board!
To be eligible to nominate, you must demonstrate you represent a tourism business or organisation that has been Tourism Accredited or a Financial Member of TICT for at least 6-months. You must also be eligible to serve as a Company Director, and able to provide a Director Identification Number upon your appointment.
All nominations must be submitted by 5pm, Wednesday 3 April 2024.
The Tasmanian Government has committed $100,000 to the Event Marketing Tasmania – Winter 2024 Edition program. Grants are available to the organisers of events held in Tasmania from April to September 2024. Eligible applicants can apply for a grant between $5,000 and $10,000, specifically designated to their interstate marketing activities that target visitors from outside Tasmania. Applications will be assessed in order of receipt of a submission and will continue until the program closes (Wednesday, 1 May 2024 at 2:00 pm) or until all the funding allocated to this program is exhausted – whichever occurs first.
The scheme aims to ensure that Tasmania’s built heritage places are valued, protected, maintained, and leveraged for the benefit Tasmania and Tasmanians.
A total of $1 million is available under Round 1 (2023-24) of the Grants Scheme through two programs:
Conservation Program:
Small grants of $5,000 to $20,000 to support state-registered property owners to undertake small but significant, heritage conservation and restoration activities.
Activation Program:
Large grants of $20,000 to $200,000 to support heritage property owners, skills development organisations and the community to activate heritage places.
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.
The Small Business Advice and Financial Guidance Program supports Tasmanian small businesses to be flexible, innovative and efficient. It provides eligible small businesses with access to relevant and current specialist financial services or business support to assist in their growth, transition, business recovery from unexpected events or application of other management strategies.
A total of $525,000 has been allocated for round three of this program, across the following two streams:
General support grants - $465,000
No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) application support grants - $60,000
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.
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 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.
Grants of up to $50,000 are available to help your workers improve their reading, writing, maths, speaking, listening or digital skills. Applications must be completed by September 29 to be assessed in the first tranche of funding.
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.