Regional Development Australia (RDA) Hunter is continuing to focus on investment and building its infrastructure, setting its sights on the Asian market for tourism and business.  

“Investment needs to be maintained if we are to continue to grow and harness further tourism, investment and energy demand from Asia,” RDA Hunter’s chair Dr Gaye Hart said.

“Tourism Australia projects that expenditure by Chinese tourists has the potential to double by 2020 to between $7 billion and $9 billion per annum,” Hart added, noting that this would contribute an estimated $1.6 billion to the Hunter economy.

The five-day Best Western Australasia Convention was held last week in Hobart, and saw 180 hoteliers, staff and suppliers meet for industry presentations, social events and a day of sightseeing at Tasmania’s Bruny Island and Port Arthur.

Several keynote speakers addressed the attendees, including representatives from TripAdvisor and Tourism Australia, with other highlights including hands on workshops, a live supplier trade show and a gala dinner on the final evening.

Creative Holidays and Hawaiian Airlines teamed up recently to provide an opportunity for seven travel agents from the Magellan Travel Group to escape on a six-night educational tour of Oahu, Hawaii.

The agents got to test out the beds at The Trump and Westin Moana Surfrider, as well as experiencing what Oahu has to offer, from the island of Mokolii to the shopping districts of Waikele Outlets and Ala Moana Center.

South Sea Cruises will soon be adding a new vessel to its fleet, with the $34.4 million Cougar II currently undergoing sea trials, with the ship expected to be delivered to Australia next week.

Cougar II was constructed to replace Cheetah, and will primarily service Sheraton Resort and Spa Tokoriki Island, Matamanoa Island Resort and Tokoriki Island Resort, with the vessel able to carry up to 200 passengers.

The Northern Territory visitor economy will be strengthened by new investment in the Territory’s parks and reserves, according to Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF).

Expressions of interest are now open for new tourism experiences in 86 parks and reserves in the NT, with TTF’s executive director Adele Labine-Romain saying that nature-based tourism will afford new opportunities for economic development, employment, visitor education and conservation funding.

“Potential eco-tourism projects such as multi-day walks, eco-lodges, indigenous cultural experiences and guided tours will encourage dispersal to regional communities that are highly dependent on tourism,” Labine-Romain said.

Mantra Group recognised its highest performers in its 114-strong network across Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia at the annual awards held at Soul Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast.

The Group also presented a $100,000 cheque to charity partner Australian Red Cross, representing a year of fundraising by hotel staff across the network.

The Mantra Group Corporate Social Responsibility Award was presented to the Northern Queensland region, which raised more than $16,000 for Red Cross as well as contributing to the opening of the Pat Gosper Wellbeing Centre in Cairns.

InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa has launched a ‘China-Ready’ program to prepare the resort team to provide exceptional service to Chinese travellers.

The resort aims to promote awareness of the importance of the Chinese travel market, with the ‘China-Ready’ training encompassing an overview of China, Chinese traveller profiles, and basic Chinese language classes.

Online accommodation booking site Check-in.com.au is launching its own brand of travel insurance, encouraging customers to book all travel requirements in the one place.

To celebrate the launch, Check-in.com.au is offering 15% off all travel insurance purchased until the end of September by using the code ‘15THANKS’ during the transaction.

South Australia continues to receive record numbers of international visitors, with the state welcoming 386,000 travellers during the 12 months to June.

The figure represents an increase of 7.1%, with ABS data showing visitor expenditure also on the rise, by 5.9% in the same period.

The number of visitors from the UK was up 21.9%, while the number of visitors from China has also jumped, growing by 17.2% to just under 30,000, marking the highest number of Chinese visitors to ever visit the state.

Magellan Travel Group has released its updated September members list, which highlights the newest addition of Travelnow Newcastle to the Group.

Magellan now has 117 members, with Balwyn Travel in Victoria and Sorrento Quay Travel and Cruise Centre also new to the Group.

Jetstar has launched the seventh of its 11 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which is set to commence flying between Cairns and Osaka this afternoon.

The addition follows Jetstar’s introduction of the 787 on the Cairns-Tokyo (Narita) route last month, and reflects the importance of the North Queensland market to the airline.