Seasons Greetings
ATAP would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Thank you for all of your support throughout 2011. We look forward to working with you again through 2012.
Our offices will be closed from 5.00pm Friday 23rd December and will reopen at 9.00am Tuesday 3rd January 2012.
December 23, 2011 at 3:26 pm | General | No comment
Temporary Visitor Booths – Visitor Information Centres
Visitor Information Centre Managers should have recently received an email from ATAP informing them of some changes to the V.I.C Guidelines.
The main change is the introduction of some criteria surrounding temporary visitor booths.
If a V.I.C wants to display the ‘i’ logo at a booth at an event, exhibition, display etc. then they must complete and submit the Temporary Visitor Booth Guidelines to the ATAP Panel. This can be done by emailing info@atapvic.net.au.
To clarify for those that are wishing to use submit the request form the V.I.Cs can either:
- Return the request form in a timely manner before each event (remember the Panel meet monthly)
- Return the request form with a list of events that you are intending to participate in for the year at either the start of the year, or when completing the annual renewal/review for sign off for the years events
Remember, the Panel will be seeking evidence of the criteria within the request form. This an either be submitted with the request form via email or via the post, or it can be competed within the relevant section on the online program.
If you are a V.I.C and have not received the updated guidelines you can contact Erin McLeod on erin.mcleod@atapvic.net.au.
December 23, 2011 at 3:25 pm | General | No comment
TQUAL Update – Consumer Campaign Launched
The consumer campaign to promote Australia’s new national accreditation framework, T-QUAL, was launched on Tuesday 6 December in Sydney by the Minister for Tourism, The Hon. Martin Fergusson AM MP. To read more click here
In brief the consumer campaign has two key areas of focus:
- A T-QUAL Tick micro site available on Tripadvisor. Consumers may use this micro site to view operators listed on Tripadvisor that are T-QUAL accredited
- Preferential listing through www.australia.com search engine to makes it easier for consumers to choose products displaying the T-QUAL Tick
Whilst ATAP beleive that these are great initiatives that are in place, it is still early days and there is still some work to be done to ensure accredited operators are well represented. ATAP will continue to work with Tourism Australia to ensure accurate representation of ATAP accredited products.
Don’t forget that if you want to use the T-QUAL mark and gain the benefits from the national promotion being undertaken you do not have to pay any additional fee to your annual ATAP accreditation fee, nor do you have to complete any additional work. You simply need to agree to the sub licence to ATAP. This can be done via time of your renewal or review, or otherwise contact ATAP for a copy of the licence for you to complete and return to our offices.
December 23, 2011 at 3:24 pm | General | No comment
Dianne Smith to lead Victoria’s tourism and events industries
From the VECCI website:
VECCI has announced Dianne Smith as its new General Manager Tourism and Events Services. In this role Dianne will be fulfilling the multiple roles of Chief Executive of the Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) and the Victoria Events Industry Council (VEIC) as the peak organisations representing the state’s tourism industry.
ATAP would like to wish Dianne all the best in her new role and look forward to working with her in this new capacity into 2012 and beyond. To read more on this story visit www.vecci.org.au.
December 23, 2011 at 2:06 pm | General | No comment
Melbourne Airport Expansion
From the Age Website:
MELBOURNE Airport is set to expand, with plans to build a $300 million passenger terminal and improve freeway access.
Just days after Sydney Airport announced plans to shuffle airlines between existing terminals by 2019, Melbourne is gearing up to have a new interconnected domestic terminal running by mid-2014.
Melbourne’s new Terminal Four building will be built to the south of the existing T3 building used by Virgin Australia.
Read more: www.theage.com.au
December 23, 2011 at 2:05 pm | General | No comment
$1.5 million funding supports expansion of ‘Villages of Victoria’ marketing campaign
From Tourism Victoria:
More than a dozen new towns and villages are set to become part of the popular Villages of Victoria marketing campaign – a move that has already received strong industry support.
Tourism Victoria, in conjunction with regional tourism boards, will implement a multimedia marketing campaign consisting of television and radio promotions and advertising on Yahoo7 and Total Travel. Over the next 12 months, the Villages of Victoria campaign will also feature in RoyalAuto magazine and on RoyalAuto and RACV travel websites.
Click here to read the full article and other news items on the Tourism Victoria website.
December 23, 2011 at 2:05 pm | General | No comment
New online resource kit for licensed tour operators
A CD resource kit has been launched to help licensed tour operators (LTO) manage and grow their business, including information on licensing, compliance, marketing and professional development.
The Victorian Licensed Tour Operator Online Resource Kit comprises online information sources in a single collection of links that are relevant to you as an LTO. The kit is a portal to useful Victorian and national websites that provide information on topics including licences and accreditation, marketing, training and development, research resources and industry organisations. It will be a vital tool for anyone starting an LTO business and a valuable resource for LTOs who are already operating.
The kit was commissioned by Parks Victoria, Tourism Victoria and the Department of Sustainability and Environment as part of the Victorian Nature-based Tourism Strategy, and was developed by Tourism Alliance Victoria.
Current licensed tour operators will automatically receive a copy of the kit with their renewed licence. Kits can also be obtained from Kristina Burke at VTIC by emailing kburke@vecci.org.au.
