Oceania
Local Communities Invest Money – and Hope – in Ecotourism
June 19, 2013
Serah Kei stands beside her eco-lodge, Serah’s Lagoon Hideaway, located on the Malaita Province of the Solomon Islands. Credit: Catherine Wilson/IPS Auki, SOLOMON ISLANDS – Forty-five-year-old Serah Kei began building her artificial island and eco-lodge resort 26 years ago in Langa Langa Lagoon, located on the Solomon Island’s Malaita Province, about four hours by boat from the nation’s capital, Honiara. Kei, a single mother, paid for the construction by undertaking the laborious task of making and selling ‘shell money’ and finally opened Serah’s Lagoon Hideaway, which accommodates up to twelve visitors, in 2006. Although it has been a decade since the five-year civil war in this south-west Pacific nation ended, many provincial areas still lack adequate infrastructure, public services and sustainable economic opportunities. Undeterred by the slow return of international tourist confidence, a growing number of grassroots communities are turning to ecotourism in the hopes... Read More →
Member Press Releases Oceania
World Expeditions Launches Dedicated Website for Its Voluntourism Division
June 17, 2013
Leading adventure travel company, World Expeditions, has launched a new website dedicated to its not-for-profit, voluntourism division, Community Project Travel. The Community Project Travel website has been built as a satellite website to the company’s main website and allows users easy access to the complete range of voluntourism itineraries which currently include community development and conservation projects in Tanzania, Kenya, Peru, Vietnam, Nepal and Australia. Although the fast growing ‘voluntourism’ sector has been the focus of some scepticism over recent years, World Expeditions is proud to say that the voluntourism offerings represented under its Community Project Travel program are well planned, considered and sustainable. “Our method for accessing sustainable and meaningful projects is based on decades of experience, well-established and trusted partnerships with our local operators as well as a tried and tested formula of what makes for a successful project –... Read More →
Oceania Trade Events
Indigenous Tourism Conferences in 2013 and 2014
June 10, 2013
The first half of 2013 is almost passed! So if you are looking at opportunities in the remainder of 2013 to engage with colleagues and communities involved in Indigenous cultural tourism, then check out the following: National Aboriginal Tourism Opportunities Conference 3-4 April 2013 The Aboriginal Tourism Opportunities Association of BC (AtBC) wrapped up the second annual National Aboriginal Tourism Opportunities Conference which took place at the beautiful Spirit Ridge Vineyard & Resort in Osoyoos, BC. This conference completed with recognizing its stakeholders and supporters at the 2013 AtBC Industry Awards. Sorry if you missed out on an excellent conference! However you can still access the presentations from the Conference which are now available for download. 15th Annual American Indian Tourism Conference 22-26 September 2013 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa, Oklahoma The American Indian Tourism Conference is designed to share knowledge, experience and best practices from... Read More →
Members "In the News" Oceania
Former Software Engineer’s Passion for Adventure Leads to Life Changing Experiences and a “Return on Life”
May 24, 2013
Tige Young, Founder/CEO of the award-winning Fiji Adventure Cruise company, Tui Tai Expeditions, was recently profiled by Forbes.com. Author John Greathouse, who frequently writes about entrepreneurs, tech, and startups learned of Tige’s bold move to Fiji. Formerly a software engineer working in Silicon Valley during the dot com era, Tige decided to make a change to seek more life experiences, which he measures as his “Return on Life.” Tige explains a bit about how he got to Fiji and running Tui Tai Expeditions. While Tui Tai has made a great name for itself with features in National Geographic Adventure, Conde Nast, Outside magazine, the real measure are the extraordinary life experiences that have happened along the way. Read More →
Member Press Releases Oceania
IAATO 24th Annual Meeting Concludes in Punta Arenas, Chile; Antarctic Tourism Statistics for 2012-13 Season Released
May 21, 2013
Providence, RI – A new five-year Strategic Plan, an expanded Membership and committee structure, and a new yacht dockside observer program were among the items adopted at the 24th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), held April 22-24 in Punta Arenas, Chile. IAATO also released its final tourism statistics for the 2012-13 season, which concluded in early April. The total number of tourists traveling with IAATO operators to Antarctica was 34,316, an increase from the previous season but not significantly different than 2009-10 and 2010-11 when totals were 36,881 and 33,824 respectively. Tourism continued well below the pace set during the 2007-08 season, when IAATO operators transported 45,213 visitors to the continent. Tourism estimates for next season, 2013-14, as provided by IAATO operators, were also released in Punta Arenas. Overall, tourism is expected to grow 3%, from 34,316 this past season to 35,354 across the various categories. More... Read More →
Member Press Releases Oceania
Search and Rescue Workshop Co-Sponsored by MRCC Chile and IAATO Results in Improved Emergency Planning and Communications
May 21, 2013
The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and the Chilean Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) today provided details on a joint Search and Rescue Workshop conducted last month in Punta Arenas, Chile. The full-day SAR seminar and interactive workshop was held April 25 in conjunction with the IAATO 24th Annual Meeting, which attracted more than 125 participants from 20 different countries to the three day gathering, April 22-24. The 75 workshop attendees included passenger ship captains, government rescue officials from Chile, Argentina and the United States, tour operators, logistics managers, expedition leaders, IAATO staff and others. Morning presentations were made by Admiral Ivan Valenzuela of the Chilean Navy; Michelle Rogan-Finnemore of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP); David Rootes, Environmental Manager of Adventure Network International-Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions; and Dr Kim Crosbie, Executive Director (elect)... Read More →
Industry Partner News Oceania
World Indigenous Tourism Alliance Supports Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference
April 3, 2013
On the first anniversary of the Larrakia Declaration which was announced on 30 March 2012, the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance (WINTA) has declared its support for the Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference (AITC) 2013. The 7th AITC will take place in Alice Springs from 9 to 11 October 2013 and will focus on the theme of Strong Business; Strong Culture and the empowerment of Australian Indigenous people through tourism. The decision taken by WINTA to support the AITC 2013 follows WINTA’s establishment on the eve of the Pacific Asia Indigenous Tourism Conference (PAITC) 2012 in Darwin, on Larrakia Country. Kimberley man and Inaugural WINTA Chairman, Mr Neville Poelina, said “the formation of WINTA by Indigenous tourism organisations from Australia, Canada, Nepal, New Zealand, the Sápmi Lands and the United States marked a major milestone in the development of international Indigenous tourism. The establishment of WINTA in 2012 enabled international Indigenous tourism leaders to... Read More →
Member Press Releases Oceania
A Friendly Western Australian Kangaroo on the Loose in the City of Burbank in Search of Ellen DeGeneres
March 20, 2013
After celebrity Nicole Kidman told talk show host Ellen De Generes that she and wife Portia de Rossi should visit the Australian region of Kununurra, De Generes quipped “Sounds like Fununurra.” Western Australia did not miss a beat, and sent the couple a humorous postcard invite via hopping Kangaroo (complete with them the duo photoshopped into the scenery!) As it circulates via social media channels, it has become a fun and creative social media campaign… one Western Australia hopes will give way to a celebrity endorsement. Read More →
Member Press Releases Oceania
Tourism New Zealand Launches Refreshed Retail Trade Training Programme and Mega Famil Promotion
March 12, 2013
Tourism New Zealand is growing the travel trade’s capability in selling New Zealand by overhauling the Kiwi Specialist retail training programme and introducing more incentives for travel agents. Bangkok – Tourism New Zealand is growing the travel trade’s capability in selling New Zealand by overhauling the Kiwi Specialist retail training programme and introducing more incentives for travel agents. Under the newly named “100% Pure New Zealand Specialist Programme”, travel agents will find it easier to qualify to be an 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist. The criteria to maintain the status of a specialist will also change to enable agents to stay in the programme once they initially qualify. To further encourage agents to sign up for the specialist programme, the first 50 agents who meet the module completion criteria and attend Tourism New Zealand training by 31 December 2013 will stand a chance to win a place on the South and South East Asia mega familiarisation trip. This... Read More →
Oceania Trade Events Uncategorized
TravMedia Announces International Media Marketplace for Australia
March 12, 2013
This major addition to Australia’s tourism calendar is revealed as TravMedia’s inaugural International Media Marketplace gets underway at The Dorchester in London to a sellout 88 exhibitors and 250 registered media. TravMedia has announced the hosting of the first International Media Marketplace (IMM) in Australia, which will bring together top-flight Australian and international media with key tourism destinations and brands for a full-day exhibition-style event in May 2013. This major addition to Australia’s tourism calendar is revealed as TravMedia’s inaugural International Media Marketplace gets underway at The Dorchester in London to a sellout 88 exhibitors and 250 registered media. The leading news source in the travel sector, TravMedia, is joining forces in Australia with Destination Partners, Tourism and Events Queensland and Brisbane Marketing, and Event Sponsor, Hilton Worldwide, in presenting IMM on 3 May at the revitalised Hilton Brisbane, which... Read More →
