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Opinion
Blog: Volunteering with BlazeAid
Jessica Riley, an Irish backpacker and journalist, shares her experience volunteering with Blazeaid on the clean-up after the 2013 Gippsland Bushfires in
Victoria. Read more »Defying off-peak dry spells with group buying
Rachel Beaumont founded Darwin Harbour Cruises with her parents and husband in 1996. She discusses the benefits of group buying sites after her experiences with online marketing company LivingSocial. Read more »Use it or lose it: the small scale accommodation survey
Last year the Federal Government committed to re-establishing a program for our sector to track the performance of our sector after funding was removed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Read more »
Fisheries set to bait sharks after constant stream of sightings, but is it the right thing to do?
The Department of Fisheries is set to begin deploying bait after a kill order was issued yesterday on a number of great white sharks that have been repeatedly spotted over the holiday period swimming near popular beaches in Western Australia. Read more »
Gen Y choose experiences over stuff
Chris Ball, founder and CEO at AdventureHoney suggests this generation are more likely to appreciate the things that money can’t buy. Read more »Industry feedback requested for Sydney Expo
Andrew Paltridge, managing director of the Sydney Adventure Travel & Backpackers Expo poses the question to industry folk: should the expo be split into an inbound/outbound event? Read more »
Treating customers like this is unAustralian
Travel agent Sarah Gohlke is unimpressed with how some people in the trade are operating…
I write this out of complete frustration and an intolerance for injustice. Read more »
Insurance rip-off…
Queensland hostel operator Brent Gemmell is unimpressed with the constant rise of insurance premiums…
What is happening with our insurance? As an industry we have been stung well over the top for a long time now. But this year we have reached new heights. Read more »
‘Australia must cut prices and re-enchant backpackers’
Australian tourism operators need to get real and drop their prices, while the country as a whole needs to ease backpackers’ visa restrictions and improve its promotional efforts, according to travel writer David Whitley. Read more »
From commissions to Koreans: ABiC debates continue
After Sydney’s successful Adventure and Backpacker Industry Conference drew to a close last Thursday, operators took the rare chance of all being in town together to arrange an extra informal meeting to further discuss some of the burning issues to have arisen from the conference. Read more »
Just a brainstorm in a schooner…
Scotty’s Beach House owner Boyd Scott suggests that while most of the industry is in Sydney for expo week, it makes perfect sense to hold an informal brainstorming session on how best to put Australia back in the tourist`s eye. Read more »
ATA’s tribute to the newly retired Ken Hart
Greg Zammit from Adventure Tours Australia bids farewell to his business partner of 22 years, Ken Hart, who retired two weeks ago. Read more »
DestinationQ kicks off in Cairns
DestinationQ, the two day tourism conference which aims to restore confidence among the 300-plus guests from across the tourism sector has begun in Cairns.
The forum, which is Queensland’s biggest tourism conference in more than 25 years, will focus on six topics, including infrastructure, skills, partnerships, marketing, eco-tourism and product development reports ABC News.
Premier Campbell Newman who opened the conference says he wants to hear ideas on how to double visitor expenditure by 2020.
While Far north Queensland tourism operators are hoping for an announcement of a new direct air service from Asia.
Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey says the government will use today’s forum to address operators’ concerns about red tape.
“We can expect to see some announcements surrounding red tape issues,” she said.
“Some of the themes that have been identified, particularly around eco-tourism and national parks, I understand will be getting some special attention.”
She says the forum is an important milestone for the industry.
“This landmark forum is the first opportunity since 1985 for our tourism industry to come together under the Queensland banner to chart a path forward hand-in-hand with government, so that is very significant,” she said.
By Alex Harmon · June 25th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
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Comments
25 Jun 12
4:49 pm
I’ve always admired how BQ – pioneered by B Claxton – made the otherwise disinterested politicians come to the table to talk. This goes back years. Jann Stuckey is misleading and has her head up her glass if she thinks this is the first opportunity to blah blah. She’s scoring political points and who isn’t weary of that behaviour. “Charting a path”? Nonsense and bollocks.
The path has always been paved so please don’t pretend you’ve just discovered something new and things will be different. They won’t. Innovation is in the hands of the private sector. Despite Ms Stuckeys and Scotty’s (subtle) remonstrations only the weight of the private sector will accelerate change. Govt is bound and hog tied. Not their fault; it’s just that fawning to so many interests creates nothing but division.
25 Jun 12
11:41 pm
Greg, I am dismayed at your ignorant attitude and awareness of the anti-business & development/growth attitude that has been encouraged here in Queensland by successive ALP State Governments: you are proving you have absolutely no clue about the realities.
As an attendee today, along with such backpacking industry stalwarts as Al Grundy, Jo Wilkie, Dan & Joanne from Visitoz, Fred Ariel, Ben Shultz and Brendan Mackenna,to name just a few, I can assure everyone out there that this “talkfest” is a fair-dinkum effort by the Bewman Government to spark a rejuvenation and re-examination of the Queensland tourism industry.
Proof of the Gov’s dedication to our sector’s revival is the fact that the Premier, Tourism Minister & Tourism Cabinet are staying the whole way through the conference and remained at the networking drinks after the end of day one, approachable by one & all of the 400-odd attendees. (Please remind me of when Beattie or Bligh offered themselves and half their cabinet to the tourism industry in a similar gesture of interest & understanding, Greg…?)
The fact is, there were no promises of handouts and such-like, only a commitment to reducing the impediments to our sector’s growth and encouragement for we delegates to work together to provide a “roadmap” for the Gov to work with industry to optimize the relevant departments and their attitude towards growth and future investment, key to Queensland recovering from over $90 billion debt.
I am positive that your attitude to this excellent forum will prove to be way out of order in the near future, and can only wonder why you would take such a close-minded attitude to a desperately-required Government-industry conversation on optimizing our sector’s resurgence. Truly mystifying, Greg…..
26 Jun 12
1:24 pm
Spot on Scotty, thank Christ we have you at this forum and not a few others without the front line runs on the board. Reality is what these guys need to hear wart and all and you are the one to deliver on that. Can’t wait for the results.
26 Jun 12
9:09 pm
Now the forum is completed, I`m even bloody happier with this ‘talkfest”, the first of its kind in 27 years. More to come.
27 Jun 12
8:23 am
Yes, I too cannot wait for the results of the govt talkathon. Yet it seems the bleeding obvious issue in front of everyones nose is still being missed, or maybe avoided.
28 Jun 12
1:54 pm
Well, I`ve waited for Bluey McKenna or Al Grundy or Ben Schultz or Rusty Woodward to tell everyone about just how great this forum was, but, I can`t wait any longer (as I`m heading bush early Satdee mornin!)
Please, folks, go to http://www.destq.com.au and check it out.
For the first time in 27 years, the Government has asked the Tourism Industry what we need to succeed and, well, we told `em!!
And, with the aid of Brett Claxton`s decibel reader, we showed `em, too!!
Greg Cole MUST be on another State tourism body`s payroll, hey! (or on the Magnificent 7`s!!)
4 Jul 12
8:52 pm
Forget all the talk -Budget Flights & lower aircraft landing fees into and around Oz are the way forward for Oz Tourism.
7 Aug 12
12:27 pm
Just an update on one of the many issues I raised at Destination Q having a result already; Campbell Newman announced that they would be making new tourism road signage easy to organize and replacing existing signage with more ‘tourism-friendly” designs.
I spoke directly to Transport and Main Roads Minister, Scott Emerson, after raising this issue in our Infrastructure focus group and I am pleased to see he has come through on this, as promised.
Talkfest????? Well, I call THAT a result, folks!
http://statements.cabinet.qld......?id=80074l
7 Aug 12
2:08 pm
Congratulations Scotty, well done mate that is great!
As soon as the word gets back to the backpackers in the UK and rest of Europe that Australia is going to introduce new “tourism-friendly” roads signs I can see the backpackers flooding back.
If I was you I would be building an extension on your hostel now! You should open a gift shop with the signs on hats, t-shirts and badges, I’m getting so excited just thinking about a new road sign.
Talkfest?? Bah rubbish this is a real result, now let keep pushing and get more “tourist-friendly” signs to public toilets too!
7 Aug 12
2:53 pm
Anon, you wouldn’t have a clue, would you? Are you aware that the current QLD roadsigns have zero relevance for tourists?
For instance, the signs heading North out of Brisbane mentions Cairns only once and do not mention many of the key tourist destinations. This is as stupid as Anon is!!
If a traveller in a van or car is interested in Airlie Beach, 1770, Magnetic Island, Mission Beach, these aren’t even mentioned unless you’re lucky to see the sign at the turn off!!!
Anon is too much of a numpty to understand the importance of Main Roads road signage, much less a small businesses need to advertise it’s location besides the roads. Too busy trolling and knocking to get involved in improving our tourists ease of travel, hey, anon.
7 Aug 12
3:27 pm
Yes Scotty, you are right I’m stupid, I’m so stupid that whenever I have gone travelling I have gotten to see everything I have wanted with a map and guidebook.
How ever did this “numpty” manage to backpack around South America, South-East Asia, Chian, Taiwan, Hong kong (I could go on but I’ll stop) without all those clearly marked (in English of course) “tourism friendly” road signs.
Please forgive my stupidity, I forgot how complicated the road network betwee Airlie Beach, 1770, Magnetic Island and Mission Beach are, all those multi-lane super highways criss-crossing each other, oh wait, no, there’s only one road.
Next time I pass Mission Beach Scotty I’ll drop by and show you how to use a map (that is as long as I don’t miss the turn off).
Please let me know how you go with the “tourist friendly” public toliet sign as this “stupid numpty” keeps wetting his pants whenever he goes on holiday!
7 Aug 12
4:52 pm
And of course Scotty has spoken to every tourist in his summary of “zero relevance”. He’s done surveys and all that other stuff required to logically make a point. Why is it every time one revisits this site Mr Scotty is using the words “stupid” or “irrelevant” against others in a vain attempt to catapult himself to relevance? Mr Scotty from super-ego land may have some good points, but to actually think the audience gives them more weight because of his thuggery-by-forum is just random.
7 Aug 12
5:00 pm
I would absolutely LOVE you to call in, Anon. Trouble is, I wouldn`t know when you were coming or if you did, you patronizing clown.
Once again, you miss the point with incredible skill, you big, brave travelling name dropper. Just because you are a living Lonely Planet, doesn`t mean everyone else is!
I sincerely hope you are just another gormless troll that has stumbled onto this site and not someone with skin in the game, as your empathy for the difficulties I hear about constantly from frustrated driving tourists is zilch.
7 Aug 12
5:59 pm
Please find me other occasions, other than today with the well-travelled Anon, that I have called people “stupid” or otherwise bullied them? I really don`t think arguing that someone/thing is ‘irrelevant’ is bullying, either.
And I don`t need to justify my relevance: I speak on this forum (which, Backbencha, is for the BACKPACKING TOURISM INDUSTRY, hey, not trolls like yourself) from many years of experience, as do regulars such as Macca, Greg Cole, Stumpy, Paul Fanning, Ken, Tui, etc.
The moderators of this page have seen fit to print a couple of my opinion pieces and don`t seem to mind a bit of debate on here to liven things up; you see, Backbencher, that is what this site is FOR!!!
Now, back under your bridge!
7 Aug 12
6:08 pm
Aren’t you a little old for name calling? Maybe the anon’s stay anon because if you knew who they were you might just knock on their door and run away, or worse yet tie their shoelaces together.
Why is when you have all these big factual arguments, but when someone disagrees with you, you resort to calling them “stupid”, “numpty” and ‘clown’
Well Scotty, to put it in terms you can relate to, you sir are a dummy poo-poo head
7 Aug 12
7:08 pm
Geeze, we`ve let the trolls run wild,haven`t we?
Reminds me of the naked backpacker post………….
7 Aug 12
9:17 pm
Boyd, ya gotta admit: getting called a dummy poo-poo head has taken this to an entirely new level. And if that sort of shit slinging can’t somehow make its way onto a t- shirt, what will? (Which has just given me an evil idea….)
8 Aug 12
5:57 am
Rome was not built in a day, the fact that discussions are being held is a step in the right direction. Road signs may not be the biggest isue and it will most likely not bring a mass of backpackers into your country, but it is a start.
Scotty please ensure they also put a sign at the airport saying New Zealand this way, thanks.
As we speak BYATA NZ are having a gathering with the presence of our NZ Tourism Minister the HON John Key, governments are getting involved because they need the tourism bucks as well. Better to talk than not say anything at all?
8 Aug 12
11:08 am
We just had the state ministers here in the Whitsundays which was incredible that they would bring the whole cabinet and give their time to hear our concerns and hopes. It was pointed out by the minister of tourism that the infrastructure is needing a lot of work, but the bigger picture stuff cannot come until the foundations are in place.
I found all of the ministers showed real interest and understanding, so I feel more bouyant about our industry than I have for several years. One of the things that came out from the meetings is the concern that operators who place importance to standards and safety are being penalised because of their increased costs relative to that of the lesser standard product.
The yard stick of how much commission an agent takes needs to change to a more sustainable situation where standards, safety, and customers wants are the highest consideration. There are agents that do do this, but a real “code of practice” that has some teeth would quickly sort out who is serious about a sustainable industry, from those that are only in it for themselves.
If we are going to compete on the world stage we will never beat south east Asia on price so we need to hang our hat on safety and standards, to do that we need agents to place importance on them as well.
8 Aug 12
4:57 pm
I cannot help but wonder if I booked someone in to Scotty’s Beachhouse would my customer have to endure the “the world according to Scotty” rants. I have an image in my head of someone trying to check in being met with “hang on, there is something incredibly important I need to post on BTN.”
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