8 October 2020 - Queensland

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8 October 2020 - Queensland
8 October 2020
Australia                                                                                                                                       Pandemic Stage                                                                Emerging

                          Current marketing across channels                                                                                                                 Consumer Sentiment
   • As the COVID-19 situation in Australia evolves, TEQ continues to take a measured                                                                • Tourism Australia’s Travel Sentiment Tracker for Australia shows consumer
     approach to the roll-out of the Good to Go campaign in line with current border                                                                   confidence varies by state, and travel intention is mixed across several states.
     closures. Activity is running in Queensland, South Australia, ACT and Northern NSW.                                                               Perceptions of Australia as a safe destination is significantly up this wave, with 67 per
                                                                                                                                                       cent of Australians surveyed agreeing ‘I feel it is safe to travel in Australia’ (+7 per
   • Queensland is now at Stage Four of restrictions easing, with a new roadmap released                                                               cent).
     on 2 October 2020. Tourism businesses are allowed to operate within COVID Safe
     Industry Plans and there is no limit on overnight travel throughout the state                                                                   • Ipsos's Global Consumer Confidence Index for September was 41.8, slightly up on
     for Queenslanders.                                                                                                                                the prior month, though down 6.8 points compared to its pre-pandemic level in
                                                                                                                                                       January 2020. In comparison, Australia's National Index averaged 43.6, +1.8
                                                                                                                                                       compared to the global index.
                          Aviation                                                                                                                   Sources: Tourism Australia and BDA ‘Travel Sentiment Tracker Australia – by State’ 23-26 September
                                                                                                                                                     2020, n= 1,009. Ipsos Global Consumer Confidence Index, September 2020.
   • The Queensland border will open to residents from the ACT travelling by air from
     1.00am on Friday 25 September 2020. During the first full week post re-opening of
     the border, 24 services will operate from Canberra to Queensland, up from 9 prior to                                                                                   Competitor activity
     the border opening.
                                                                                                                                                     • Australian State Tourism Organisations (STOs) are at different stages of
   • The Queensland-New South Wales border zone will be extended to Byron, Lismore,                                                                    implementing their domestic campaigns. Examples include: Tourism WA's ‘We're Free
     Richmond Valley, Glen Innes and Ballina local government areas from 1.00am on 1                                                                   to Wander out Yonder’, Destination NSW's ‘Now's the time to love NSW’ and SA
     October 2020, however this will have a negligible impact on aviation.                                                                             Tourism’s 'See it to believe it' campaign.

   • Domestic capacity into Queensland during w/c 5 October 2020 is operating at 34.2
     per cent of capacity during the corresponding period last year, a decrease of 0.2 per
     cent compared to last week.
                                                                                                                                                                            Trade Partnerships
                                                                                                                                                     • COVID-19 has had a drastic impact on trade partnerships in Australia. TEQ is
                                                                                                                                                       progressing conversations and implementing activity with trade partners as part of its
                                                                                                                                                       market re-entry strategy.

Please note: This update is a summary of the status of tourism (trade and aviation) and consumer sentiment in key source markets. These are anecdotal reports from our in-market teams and should not be relied upon as formal reporting. The update is accurate as at 7 October 2020.
New updates from the past fortnight are shown in green text.
United Kingdom                                                                                                                                  Pandemic Stage                                                                Emerging

                          Current marketing across channels                                                                                                                 Consumer Sentiment
   • Advertising within the national newspapers remains consistent across the board. With                                                            • Following the summer, in which UK consumers were encouraged to support
     the European safe travel destinations continuously changing, UK editors are                                                                       businesses by 'Eating Out To Help Out’, the UK Government has now warned of a
     focusing mostly on domestic staycations. Due to oversaturation of content some                                                                    second wave of COVID-19 emerging. Local COVID-19 restrictions have been put in
     outlets are looking to long-haul destinations to provide fresh content for their readers                                                          place including many parts of North-east England and the Midlands, affecting 16.6
     in a bid to find new ideas.                                                                                                                       million people with these new measures.

   • As part of a recent media/affinity partnership with two subscription services and two                                                           • Across the rest of the UK, a 10.00pm curfew has been put in place. This measure will
     media outlets, the UK team curated more than 20 print pages, five online articles and                                                             predominantly affect the hospitality industry. Further measures also came into effect,
     several supporting social media posts of inspirational content to keep dreaming alive                                                             including wearing face coverings whilst moving within restaurants.
     for travel to Queensland in 2021. This appeared across partner channels reaching                                                                Source: gov.uk, 1 October 2020
     more than two million people.
   • This month’s print issue of National Geographic Traveller UK included a full-page
     feature on the new Museum of Underwater Art in Townsville, Saltwater Eco Tours on
                                                                                                                                                                            Trade Partnerships
     the Sunshine Coast, as well as Walkabout Cultural Adventures and Dreamtime Dive
                                                                                                                                                     • Training UK agents has continued, with bespoke training for 80 Trailfinders
     and Snorkel in Tropical North Queensland. It generated an advertising value
                                                                                                                                                       consultants, and 50 agents trained as part of Experience PATA and TA aligned
     equivalent (AVE) of AUD20,088, with a reach of 48,263. A longer version ran online.
                                                                                                                                                       webinars reaching 22 agents.
                                                                                                                                                     • Preferencing for TA’s Australia Marketplace Online UK and Europe opened on 30
                          Competitor activity                                                                                                          September, with TEQ UK completing an outreach with key distribution partners
                                                                                                                                                       attending the event.
   • Following Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice to create a number of 'air-
     bridges' with nations across Europe and further afield, much of the advice has been                                                             • In the second quarter of 2020, key trade partners STA and Destinology went into
     redacted following increases in COVID-19 cases. Spain, Portugal, Greece and France                                                                administration.
     are amongst the popular UK holiday destinations which currently incur a 14-day self-
     isolation period following arrival back into the UK.
                                                                                                                                                                            Aviation
   • Visit Florida has launched a virtual event with trade publication Travel Trade Gazette
     (TTG) which will run 5-9 October.                                                                                                               • No update

Please note: This update is a summary of the status of tourism (trade and aviation) and consumer sentiment in key source markets. These are anecdotal reports from our in-market teams and should not be relied upon as formal reporting. The update is accurate as at 7 October 2020.
New updates from the past fortnight are shown in green text.
Europe (including Nordic)                                                                                                                       Pandemic Stage                                                                Emerging

                          Current marketing across channels                                                                                                                 Consumer Sentiment
   • The popular German regional daily paper RHEIN-NECKAR-ZEITUNG published (print                                                                   • As of 1 October 2020, the German Government replaced the global travel warning
     and online) a full-page feature on the Sunshine Coast, Rainbow Beach, Great Beach                                                                 (160 countries) with differentiated travel advices for individual countries
     Drive, Fraser Island (whale watching) and Cape Hillsborough. This coverage is a                                                                   (eight countries remain with a full and 21 countries with a partial travel warning).
     result of a German press trip to Australia's Nature Coast, Mackay and the
                                                                                                                                                     • The German Government is progressing plans for a minimum 5-day quarantine for
     Whitsundays in September 2017. The article represents an advertising value
                                                                                                                                                       people returning from COVID-19 risk areas from 15 October 2020. The German travel
     equivalent (AVE) of AUD60,000, with a reach of 400,000.
                                                                                                                                                       industry is looking to launch a campaign against these plans.
   • The first ‘Virtual IMM Germany’ saw a successful two full days of appointments with
                                                                                                                                                     • Curevac, the second German biopharmaceutical company to receive approval for a
     high quality and new media contacts. TEQ featured the Year of Indigenous Tourism,
                                                                                                                                                       clinical trial, has started the second phase of testing its vaccine.
     sustainability and new (restoration) projects relating to the Great Barrier Reef. Many
     journalists are keen to travel to Queensland with preferred story angles including                                                              • The French Government is set to introduce new measures to control the spread of
     Indigenous culture, nature and adventure, the Great Barrier Reef, Brisbane and self-                                                              COVID-19, moving Paris to a ‘maximum alert’ level including the closure of bars and
     drive experiences.                                                                                                                                restaurants similar to Marseille and Aix.
                                                                                                                                                     Sources: FVW 21 September; Reisevor9 17 September; Countervor9 9 September, Euronews 2
                                                                                                                                                     October
                          Competitor activity
   • Bali is inviting 4,400 influencers in October and November to travel for free around                                                                                   Trade Partnerships
     the island as part of their ‘We love Bali’ campaign.
                                                                                                                                                     • Explorer Fernreisen has further expanded its product portfolio offering camper
                                                                                                                                                       holidays in Scandinavia and Southern Europe as well as houseboat vacations in
                          Aviation                                                                                                                     France and Hungary.
                                                                                                                                                     • Long-haul and Australia Specialist Boomerang Reisen is shrinking their business and
   •   Emirates has added South Africa and Zimbabwe to its route network, with sharp offers
                                                                                                                                                       laying off one third of their staff to reduce costs which will affect most of the 13 retail
       for students. Additionally, from 1 November 2020, Emirates will again start flying
                                                                                                                                                       offices in Germany.
       from Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Lyon.
                                                                                                                                                     • The Italian B2B Travel Show 'TTG Incontri' in Rimini is going ahead as planned from
   • The ‘flights-to-nowhere’ approach (e.g. Qantas, EVA Air) has received some negative
                                                                                                                                                       14-16 October 2020. Many key distribution partners will attend as visitors as this is
     media attention in relation to aspects of sustainability.
                                                                                                                                                       the first opportunity since February to catch up in person.
Please note: This update is a summary of the status of tourism (trade and aviation) and consumer sentiment in key source markets. These are anecdotal reports from our in-market teams and should not be relied upon as formal reporting. The update is accurate as at 7 October 2020.
New updates from the past fortnight are shown in green text.
North America                                                                                                                                   Pandemic Stage                                                            Homebound

                          Current marketing across channels                                                                                                                 Consumer Sentiment
   • On 28 September 2020 TEQ Americas launched a two-week promotion in partnership                                                                  • As of 7 October 2020, the US had 7.52 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and
     with Travelzoo, About Australia and Alliance Airlines. The promotion aims to entice                                                               approx. 210,000 deaths. Canada has more than 173,000 confirmed cases of COVID-
     Americans with Queensland packages for travel in 2021 featuring overnight stays on                                                                19 and approximately 9,500 deaths.
     the Sunshine Coast, Cairns and Brisbane. The promotion will reach approximately 20
                                                                                                                                                     • On 6 October 2020, President Trump halted negotiations with the Congress to extend
     million Americans and builds on the success of a similar promotion in June. It also
                                                                                                                                                       financial stimulus for individuals and businesses until after the November election.
     supports the retention of the Alliance Airlines service from the Sunshine Coast to
     Cairns from 30 June 2021.                                                                                                                       • US consumer confidence has stabilised as Americans accept the ‘new normal’ and are
                                                                                                                                                       influenced by the sense of personal financial security, although surveys do not yet
   • TEQ Americas hosted a virtual Public Relations Showcase for 30 VIP US media on 7
                                                                                                                                                       reflect the halt on extension of financial stimulus assistance.
     October, featuring Queensland ‘storytellers’, sharing Indigenous, wildlife and Great
     Barrier Reef experiences.                                                                                                                       • A survey by Marriott International of their loyalty members found the primary drivers
                                                                                                                                                       of future travel planning are visiting friends and relatives (34 per cent), change of
   • TEQ Americas has confirmed a promotion for early 2021 with AFAR, the USA's
                                                                                                                                                       scenery (30 per cent), wellness getaway (15 per cent), working remotely (8 per cent)
     leading experiential media outlet. A promotion with AFAR in early 2020 resulted in
                                                                                                                                                       and no travel plans (14 per cent). The phenomena of working remotely is now
     the media outlet being the leading source of visits to queensland.com from the
                                                                                                                                                       referred to as a ‘workcation’.
     Americas.
                                                                                                                                                     Sources: CDC; Forbes; Bloomberg; New York Times

                          Competitor activity
                                                                                                                                                                            Trade Partnerships
   • As of 6 October 2020, 47 countries have opened borders to US and Canadian
     travellers including competitor long-haul destinations. Some Caribbean countries are                                                            • TEQ Americas has partnered with Tourism Australia to participate in the virtual
     now competing against each other by eliminating COVID-19 testing requirements,                                                                    International Luxury Travel Market, a global elite trade forum providing the
     with the Dominican Republic also announcing that it will provide free health insurance                                                            opportunity to engage and train luxury retail specialists from across the Americas.
     for visitors.
                                                                                                                                                     • The Australia Marketplace Online North America event will be held between 21-30
                                                                                                                                                       October, with more than 60 participants from Queensland’s regional tourism
                          Aviation                                                                                                                     organisations and industry suppliers. Approximately 170 North and South American
                                                                                                                                                       buyers are confirmed to participate in the four-day virtual event.
   • No update.

Please note: This update is a summary of the status of tourism (trade and aviation) and consumer sentiment in key source markets. These are anecdotal reports from our in-market teams and should not be relied upon as formal reporting. The update is accurate as at 7 October 2020.
New updates from the past fortnight are shown in green text.
New Zealand                                                                                                                                     Pandemic Stage                                                                Emerging

                          Current marketing across channels                                                                                                                 Aviation
   • Plans are currently being progressed with online travel agents (TripAdvisor and                                                                 • Air New Zealand’s (Air NZ) Leanne Geraghty is stepping into a newly-created Chief
     Expedia) and travel media partners in anticipation of future border openings.                                                                     Customer and Sales Officer role, responsible for trade distribution. NZ travel industry
     Traditional trade partners are still not ready to move forward with plans, however                                                                are relieved as she is widely respected and understands the value of the trade
     discussions are ongoing.                                                                                                                          distribution model, with detailed knowledge of the NZ, Australian and Pacific Island
                                                                                                                                                       markets in particular.

                          Competitor activity                                                                                                        • Air NZ’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff McDowall has tended his resignation after 20
                                                                                                                                                       years. Six of the nine senior management staff have now departed the airline.
   • Visit Utah launched an incentive, whereby agents will track their steps as they walk
                                                                                                                                                     • Jetstar have added flights between Auckland and Sydney three times a week from 16
     around the state virtually to win a spot on a Utah famil.
                                                                                                                                                       October 2020. Flights to all other states remain cancelled until at least 30 November
   • House of Travel Cruise launched its annual Cruise Sale Month with big savings on all                                                              2020.
     the major cruise brands for 2021-22.
                                                                                                                                                     • Air NZ is lifting its cap on several of its flights into Sydney, opening up more than
                                                                                                                                                       12,000 seats on flights into the city between now and January 2021.
                          Consumer Sentiment                                                                                                         • Air NZ CEO Greg Foran has reported they will be keenly focused on the network and
                                                                                                                                                       products that will deliver the highest value to customers. A strategy refresh project,
   • New Zealand has 43 active COVID cases including 37 imported and six existing                                                                      ‘Kia Manu’ (get ready), will work on five pillars: Prioritising People, Experience
     community cases. At midnight on 7 October 2020, Auckland moved to Alert Level 1,                                                                  Excellence, Lifting Loyalty, Do it Digital and Ambitious Action.
     to join the rest of the country.
   • After the announcement of quarantine-free (on arrival to Australia) flights to New
     South Wales and the Northern Territory from 16 October 2020, all NZ eyes now fall                                                                                      Trade Partnerships
     to the country's election on 17 October 2020 in the hope the Government will
     consider a two-way bubble. The barrier of a costly quarantine on return to NZ is a                                                              • With the end of the wage subsidy on 30 September 2020, more losses were reported
     significant deterrent for leisure travellers.                                                                                                     throughout the NZ travel industry. Members of the Flight Centre Australian product
                                                                                                                                                       team have departed leaving a potential gap in Australian destination knowledge.
   • Jacinda Ardern has reported work is being done on a potential travel corridor that
     could be quarantine-free both ways with the Cook Islands, with Kiwis potentially able                                                           • The date of 14 August 2020 has been confirmed as the date to qualify for
     to travel by Christmas. No other Pacific Island has expressed interest at this time.                                                              government support (refunds and credits) under the agency sector support scheme.
   Sources: NZ Government 4,5,6 October
Please note: This update is a summary of the status of tourism (trade and aviation) and consumer sentiment in key source markets. These are anecdotal reports from our in-market teams and should not be relied upon as formal reporting. The update is accurate as at 7 October 2020.
New updates from the past fortnight are shown in green text.
Greater China                                                                     (Mainland China,
                                                                                     Hong Kong and Taiwan)
                                                                                                                                                   Pandemic Stage                                                                Emerging

                          Current marketing across channels                                                                                                                 Consumer Sentiment
   • TEQ China’s Livestream program has reached a total of 5,982 participants and 12,412                                                             • Consumer sentiment in China mainland has rebounded over the past fortnight.
     views to date. The third episode of Season Three went on live on 25 September 2020                                                                Indexes for consumer confidence increased four points, booking intent increased by
     with guests Brisbane Airport Corporation and Brisbane City Winery. This most recent                                                               one point, while the index for travel intent remains amongst the highest from
     livestream attracted 215 participants and 456 views.                                                                                              Australia’s key international markets. Respondents who perceive Australia as a safe
                                                                                                                                                       destination has dropped by three percentage points to 54 per cent.
   • TEQ continues to engage Chinese consumers and travel trade via our social channels.
     TEQ's official WeChat account has reached nearly 85,000 followers. The industry                                                                 • China saw 425 million domestic tourist visits in the first four days of the eight-day
     specific Trade WeChat account has also marked its first milestone of 1,000 travel                                                                 National/Mid-Autumn holiday period with total tourism revenue hitting CNY312 billion
     trade followers recently. TEQ China is developing a social account matrix to ensure                                                               (AUD65.1 billion). During the same period last year, 782 million domestic trips were
     touch points with target consumer segments are covered. There have been total 14                                                                  made generating CNY650 billion (AUD135.7 billion) in tourism revenue.
     social accounts created under the three major ecosystems in China – Tencent, Baidu
                                                                                                                                                     Sources: Travel Sentiment Tracker (23-26 September) Tourism Australia; The Ministry of Culture and
     and Alibaba.
                                                                                                                                                     Tourism of China

                          Competitor activity                                                                                                                               Trade Partnerships
   • Hotels from the Maldives have launched another pre-book campaign with
                                                                                                                                                     • TEQ is trialing a campaign promoting future bookings for Queensland hotels in
     highly attractive deals. In one of the recent ‘direct sales’ Ctrip livestreams, three
                                                                                                                                                       conjunction with one of Asia’s largest online travel agencies, Ctrip.com. A total of 51
     Maldives hotels (in the luxury sector) achieved sales revenue of AUD7.4 million. Ctrip
                                                                                                                                                       five-star hotels listed on Ctrip have been engaged, with seven indicating interest in
     has advised that the sales offer is valid for 10 mins only, with average travel validity
                                                                                                                                                       participating in the trial campaign, providing a value-add offer.
     of 12 months and discount rate of 30-45 per cent being offered, depending on the
     property.
                                                                                                                                                     • TEQ is partnering with Tourism Australia (TA) to deliver a new Aussie Specialist (ASP)
                                                                                                                                                       training webinar. Instead of TEQ staff and the TA ASP trainer presenting alone, the
                                                                                                                                                       new episodes will invite Queensland industry representatives to participate as guests,
                          Aviation                                                                                                                     presenting to thousands of Aussie Specialists. A joint invitation has been extended to
                                                                                                                                                       Destination Gold Coast, Brisbane Marketing and Tourism Tropical North Queensland
   • Analysis by ForwardKeys shows that domestic Chinese aviation has almost recovered                                                                 who have all accepted and will present their respective regions alongside the TEQ
     to pre-COVID levels, with bookings during August running at 98 per cent when                                                                      China team. The training webinar is in planning and will be delivered in the due
     compared to the corresponding period last year.                                                                                                   course.
Please note: This update is a summary of the status of tourism (trade and aviation) and consumer sentiment in key source markets. These are anecdotal reports from our in-market teams and should not be relied upon as formal reporting. The update is accurate as at 7 October 2020.
New updates from the past fortnight are shown in green text.
Japan                                                                                                                                           Pandemic Stage                                                                Emerging

                          Current marketing across channels                                                                                                                 Consumer Sentiment
   • A ‘Taste of Queensland’ seminar for eight gourmet/lifestyle media using exclusively-                                                            • Newly elected Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga, has embarked on populist policies like
     imported Sirromet Wines at Elezo Gate Restaurant is planned for November 2020.                                                                    a reduction in mobile phone charges (Japan is highest in the world) and the creation
                                                                                                                                                       of a new Digital Ministry.
   • A mix of organic and boosted posting on Facebook and Twitter is continuing with
     high engagement and new follower acquisition.                                                                                                   • Since being reinstated to the government's ’Go To Travel’ campaign on 1 October
                                                                                                                                                       2020, Tokyo citizens and visitors have dramatically boosted domestic travel flows.
   • A refreshed Japanese queensland.com will be live by the end of October 2020.
                                                                                                                                                     • 60 per cent of Japanese still believe travel is an essential part of their lives, choosing
                                                                                                                                                       hot springs, the outdoors and natural experiences this autumn holiday season.
                          Competitor activity                                                                                                        Sources: NHK World; The Japan Times; Trip Advisor n=1,447 31 August – 2 September 2020

   • From 15 October, Hawaii will reopen to international visitors who can produce
     a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours before arrival.                                                                                                  Trade Partnerships
   • Millennial/GenZ-targeting travel collective Tabippo has launched an online contest
                                                                                                                                                     • Virtual walking tours of Cairns and the Gold Coast co-created with Destination Gold
     called ‘We Can't Stop Travelling’ co-sponsored by Thailand and New Zealand.
                                                                                                                                                       Coast and Tourism Tropical North Queensland for Tourism Australia's Aussie
                                                                                                                                                       Specialist Program-registered agents will be live from mid-October 2020.
                          Aviation                                                                                                                   • Staff employed at overseas sections of wholesalers and retailers across the country
                                                                                                                                                       were still working only one day a week or redeployed to domestic travel.
   • All Nippon Airways (ANA) announced its five services per week on the Sydney-
     Haneda route will continue until 30 November 2020. Japan Airlines (JAL) has not                                                                 • Six 30-minute 'Queensland Happy Hours' inviting local suppliers to chat with trade
     made an announcement on its twice weekly Sydney services beyond 31 October                                                                        every Friday evening have been conducted to date, averaging 25 participants per
     2020.                                                                                                                                             session.

   • The Qantas Group has officially extended the cancellation of ex-Japan flights to the                                                            • Since July 2020 TEQ has reached 300 trade and teachers through online training
     end of November 2020.                                                                                                                             sessions.

   • Hawaiian Airlines has resumed Narita-Honolulu flights with one flight a week from 3                                                             • One-on-one Zoom training with teachers looking to send business to Queensland
     October 2020 (for essential travel only). ANA has two flights scheduled this month.                                                               in 2021 and beyond has been delivered to eight schools.
Please note: This update is a summary of the status of tourism (trade and aviation) and consumer sentiment in key source markets. These are anecdotal reports from our in-market teams and should not be relied upon as formal reporting. The update is accurate as at 7 October 2020.
New updates from the past fortnight are shown in green text.
Korea                                                                                                                                           Pandemic Stage                                                                Emerging

                          Current marketing across channels                                                                                                                 Consumer Sentiment
   • On 27 September 2020, the 30th Lotte Duty Free (LDF) Family Concert was held, the                                                               • Signs of recovery in the Korean economy are expected through the fourth quarter.
     first ever to be pre-recorded and conducted online. The virtual format was a                                                                      Strengthened COVID-19 containment measures weighed heavily on economic activity
     resounding success, drawing 2.2 million views and 550,000 individual users.                                                                       in the second quarter with steep falls in real gross domestic product (GDP) in most
     Queensland was invited to be showcased at the commencement and conclusion of                                                                      G20 countries. GDP contraction was less pronounced in Korea with 3.2 per cent
     the concert, highlighting LDF’s Brisbane branch and key local attractions.                                                                        recorded for the three months to 30 June. For the G20 as a whole, GDP dropped by a
                                                                                                                                                       record 6.9 per cent according to data from the OECD.
   • 'The Neighbour' magazine will feature the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) in
     Townsville in an upcoming edition. The interview will focus on the purpose and aim                                                              • New daily COVID-19 case numbers are again exceeding 100 per day, following
     of MOUA’s creator as well as Queensland delivers in relation to sustainable tourism.                                                              Thanksgiving holidays. The Government designated the period from 28 September to
   Source: The Moodie Davitt report, 28 September                                                                                                      11 October 2020 as a special quarantine period. During the period, Level 2 social
                                                                                                                                                       distancing rules were in place across the nation.

                          Competitor activity                                                                                                        • The composite consumer sentiment index for September fell 8.8 points from the
                                                                                                                                                       previous month to 79.4, reversing direction for the first time in five months. Indexes
   • Hong Kong Tourism Board has developed an e-book called Hello Hong Kong aimed at                                                                   representing consumer views on the current state of living and future living
     inspiring consumers and trade through colouring and activities related to key                                                                     conditions both edged down 4 points.
     experiences in Hong Kong.                                                                                                                       Sources: Pulse, 25 September; Yonhap News, 7 October; The Korea Times, 4 October

                          Aviation                                                                                                                                          Trade Partnerships
   • Asiana Airlines and Hana Tour have introduced a new program called the 'skyline                                                                 • Tourism Australia has planned a series of industry webinars focused on Queensland
     tour’, the same concept as the ‘flights to nowhere’. The tour operated cross country,                                                             from 4-11 November 2020 (each state will be allocated three sessions). The webinars
     departing from Incheon Airport. The feedback was very positive, with business and                                                                 are focused on product updates and networking, to support Korean agents to learn
     first-class seats sold out within 20-30 minutes. Following this success, Hana Tour is                                                             more about suppliers active in the market and explore new experiences.
     considering operating the tour with longer flights.
   Source: Hankyung, 4 October

Please note: This update is a summary of the status of tourism (trade and aviation) and consumer sentiment in key source markets. These are anecdotal reports from our in-market teams and should not be relied upon as formal reporting. The update is accurate as at 7 October 2020.
New updates from the past fortnight are shown in green text.
South East Asia                                                                              (Singapore, Malaysia
                                                                                                and Indonesia)
                                                                                                                                                   Pandemic Stage                                                            Homebound

                          Current marketing across channels                                                                                                                 Consumer Sentiment
   • TEQ and several other tourism boards and airlines is partnering with Apple Vacations                                                            • On 6 October 2020, the Singapore Government announced that it will negotiate ‘air
     in Malaysia for a ‘Travel Recovery Campaign’ from 1-11 October 2020. A total of 10                                                                travel bubbles’ with safe countries or regions for general travellers that does not
     destinations will be promoted by Apple Vacations for its ’Pay Now Travel Later’                                                                   require a controlled itinerary. These two-way travel bubbles are different from
     initiative. Gold Coast and Tangalooma packages will be included in the promotion.                                                                 reciprocal green lane arrangements for business and official travellers. They are part
                                                                                                                                                       of Singapore's plans to revive its air hub - to welcome back visitors and to bring back
   • Discussions are in progress with Singapore Airlines on producing branded content to                                                               jobs. New requirements for travellers like stringent and repeated testing protocols in
     showcase Queensland fresh produce to followers on their social channels and keep                                                                  lieu of a two-week stay home notice period.
     Queensland top-of-mind.
                                                                                                                                                     • Singapore has unilaterally removed quarantine restrictions on travellers arriving from
                                                                                                                                                       Australia (excluding Victoria) and Vietnam, with effect from 8 October 2020, allowing
                          Competitor activity                                                                                                          them to make short-term visits.

   • Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is looking at creating a framework for cruise lines to                                                            • Despite the spike in COVID-19 cases in Malaysia, the government will not reimpose
     resume trips from Singapore. Cruises to nowhere would be permitted at 50 per                                                                      widespread lockdown measures. It will instead carry out targeted lockdowns and will
     cent capacity for the first three months, but all cruises in/out of the city would need                                                           continue to discuss reopening the border with Singapore.
     to receive certification from Singapore. No start date has been determined.                                                                     Sources: ChannelNewsAsia, The Straits Times

   • Malaysia Airlines fare promotion (20 per cent discount on all domestic fares) ended
     on 30 September 2020, with East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) as the top sellers.                                                                                       Trade Partnerships
                          Aviation                                                                                                                   • The first Business Events Webinar for South East Asia commenced on 7 October 2020
                                                                                                                                                       with presentations by the convention bureaus representing Gold Coast, Brisbane and
                                                                                                                                                       Sunshine Coast.
   • British Airways have recommenced flights to Kuala Lumpur, flying four times per
     week.                                                                                                                                           • Discussions are in progress to support Panen Tour (a Jakarta-based trade partner)
                                                                                                                                                       to host a virtual tour of Brisbane and Gold Coast on e-commerce platform Blibli.com.
   • Malaysia Airlines has reached out to lessors, creditors and key suppliers as part of its
     restructuring exercise as it sees little sign of the pandemic easing. More drastic                                                              • Some200 Aussie Specialist Program agents from Singapore and Malaysia participated
     measures are expected if the restructuring cannot be completed over the next few                                                                  in a TEQ/TA ‘Journeys’ webinar on 15 September 2020. There were many questions
     months                                                                                                                                            and interest expressed by the agents on the ‘new’ experience of Habitat Noosa. The
   Source: Bloomberg 2 October                                                                                                                         webinar was the first dedicated to promoting self-drives on the Coast.
Please note: This update is a summary of the status of tourism (trade and aviation) and consumer sentiment in key source markets. These are anecdotal reports from our in-market teams and should not be relied upon as formal reporting. The update is accurate as at 7 October 2020.
New updates from the past fortnight are shown in green text.
India                                                                                                                                           Pandemic Stage                                                            Homebound

                          Current marketing across channels                                                                                                                 Consumer Sentiment
   • Queensland has garnered organic social media engagement around World Tourism                                                                    • With close to one million active cases of COVID-19, the first ever plateau in case
     Day in India through various stories and posts generated from past famils by key                                                                  numbers in India was reported as of 4 October 2020.
     opinion leaders including Larissa D’souza, Mithila Palkar, Mukti Mohan and Sharanya
                                                                                                                                                     • With the festive season in India soon to commence, the government is aiming to
     Iyer, with a total reach of 11,127,077 and engagement of 479,633.
                                                                                                                                                       boost the morale of Indian citizens and revive the economy through Unlock 5.0.
   • Queensland hotels featured in Hotels By Design are being promoted to Aussie                                                                       Consumers have been responding positively to various festive offers offered by banks
     Specialists in India via an exclusive banner promotion.                                                                                           and large brands in India. As part of Unlock 5.0, schools, colleges and education
                                                                                                                                                       institutions are permitted to open from 15 October 2020.
                                                                                                                                                     Sources: thehindu.com; Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Government of India
                          Competitor activity
   • International passenger flights remain suspended until 31 October 2020, however                                                                                        Trade Partnerships
     private charter business is booming for destinations such as the Maldives and Dubai,
     that have opened borders to India. Homestays and short breaks are reporting full                                                                • TEQ India has participated in Tourism Australia’s ‘Meet our Virtual Story Tellers, LIVE
     occupancy for weekend getaways.                                                                                                                   from Australia’ webinar series. A series of Queensland focused sessions were held
                                                                                                                                                       from 6-8 October 2020. The series aims to introduce new and exciting Queensland
   • Korea Tourism Organisation has launched a new campaign #TakeMeBackToKorea for
                                                                                                                                                       products in the Indian market, engaging with the trade through a unique live video
     holidaymakers to reminisce. The campaign video encapsulates glimpses of memoirs
                                                                                                                                                       virtual storytelling format.
     from popular Indian YouTubers vacationing in Korea, while they ponder over their
     experiences through stunning, throwback photographs and videos.                                                                                 • On World Tourism Day, Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel announced the launch
                                                                                                                                                       of Priority – an exclusive loyalty programme. Available as a Platinum and Gold
                                                                                                                                                       variant, the Priority programme entitles members to significant and exclusive
                          Aviation                                                                                                                     benefits: the services of a dedicated relationship manager, exclusive holiday
                                                                                                                                                       previews, special priority offers, benefits across alliance partners, birthday specials,
   • As part of Unlock 5.0, India is currently in talks with other countries including Kenya,                                                          invitations to events and a host of attractive deals/promotions across domestic and
     Thailand, Australia, Russia and Singapore to establish travel bubbles.                                                                            international holidays and additional travel services.
   • Following the commencement of Unlock 4.0, domestic flights have been gradually                                                                  • TEQ India in association with Hertz, Tourism Australia and Visit Victoria conducted a
     increasing, rising to 60 per cent of the pre COVID-19 total.                                                                                      self-drive focused webinar for the trade on 4 September, attended by 198 trade
                                                                                                                                                       partners.

Please note: This update is a summary of the status of tourism (trade and aviation) and consumer sentiment in key source markets. These are anecdotal reports from our in-market teams and should not be relied upon as formal reporting. The update is accurate as at 7 October 2020.
New updates from the past fortnight are shown in green text.
Aviation
                          Global Context                                                                                                                                     Domestic Aviation
   • The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on global aviation with                                                                    • Queensland's borders are currently closed to New South Wales and Victoria. Some
     the cessation of almost all outbound leisure travel in competitor markets.                                                                         areas of New South Wales are considered to be within a dedicated 'border zone' and
                                                                                                                                                        residents from that zone can travel to Queensland. Unlimited intrastate leisure travel
   • The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates global passenger                                                                      has been permitted since 1 June 2020.
     revenues will decline by 50 per cent to USD419 billion from USD838 billion in 2019.
     IATA says that passenger traffic may not return to pre-crisis levels until at least 2024.                                                        • The Queensland border opened to residents from the ACT travelling by air on Friday
                                                                                                                                                        25 September 2020. During the first full week post re-opening of the border, 24
                                                                                                                                                        services will operate from Canberra to Queensland, up from 9 prior to the border
                          International Aviation                                                                                                        opening.

   • On 20 March 2020, the Australian border was closed to non-residents. On 24 March                                                                 • Domestic capacity into Queensland during w/c 5 October 2020 is operating at 34.2
     2020, a ban on overseas travel by Australian residents came into effect (with limited                                                              per cent of capacity during the corresponding period last year, a decrease of 0.2 per
     exemptions).                                                                                                                                       cent compared to last week.

   • From 16 October 2020, New Zealand passengers to New South Wales, the Northern
     Territory and the Australian Capital Territory will no longer have to quarantine on                                                                                     Airline Partnerships
     arriving in Australia. Australians will not be permitted to travel to New Zealand, while
     New Zealanders will have to quarantine on returning home.                                                                                        • From 1 December 2020, Jetstar will operate three services per week between Hobart
                                                                                                                                                        and Gold Coast with support from the Domestic Aviation Route Recovery Program.
   • International capacity into Queensland during w/c 5 October 2020 is operating at 5.6                                                               The Tasmanian border is scheduled to re-open to Queensland on 26 October 2020.
     per cent of capacity during the corresponding period last year, a decrease of 1.0 per
     cent compared to last week. From 4 October 2020, the weekly passenger arrivals cap                                                               • TEQ has suspended obligations for Attracting Aviation Investment Fund (AAIF) airline
     into Brisbane has been raised to 1,000 (from 500).                                                                                                 partners until further notice

   • On 6 October 2020, Etihad confirmed its Abu Dhabi-Brisbane service will not return
     post-COVID-19. Brisbane is currently served by Emirates and Qatar Airways who
     continue to operate limited repatriation flights.

Please note: This update is a summary of the status of aviation globally. The update is accurate as at 7 October 2020. New updates from the past fortnight are shown in green text.
Pandemic Stage key

      Homebound                                                                                                                    COVID-19: Know the facts – for more information:
      Forced isolation/social restrictions, panic
      buying, widespread and ongoing                                                                                               Updates on COVID-19 – for businesses – Updated daily by TEQ with links to
      transmission, infection rates rising
                                                                                                                                   the latest information, support packages and business resources.

                                                                                                                                   Updates on COVID-19 – for travellers – Updated daily by TEQ with the latest
      Emerging
      Infection rates stabilise then decrease,                                                                                     travel advice and restrictions for Australia and Queensland.
      people start to feel positive, economy
      restarts, people returning to work/school,                                                                                   health.gov.au – For the most current health advice
      domestic travel bans lift
                                                                                                                                   australia.gov.au – For all current announcements
      Returning                                                                                                                    treasury.gov.au – For information on our economic response
      Governments have lifted restrictions,
      consumers preferences and expectations
      have shifted, technology adoption                                                                                            servicesaustralia.gov.au – For help accessing support payments
      accelerates
                                                                                                                                   Australian Government coronavirus page or call 13 28 46 – For Australian
                                                                                                                                   Government business support
   Note: The above stages are based on definitions
   developed by Tourism Australia and adapted by
   Tourism and Events Queensland. They are intended to                                                                             Phone the Small Business Hotline on 1300 654 687 - For Queensland
   be a guide only to indicate where each market currently                                                                         Government business support
   sits. A particular market may or may not be
   experiencing one or all of the descriptors outlined.                                                                            Summary of Government support packages – Queensland’s Department of
   The stages may be refined and updated as the                                                                                    Innovation and Tourism Industry Development (DITID) has provided a
   pandemic continues to evolve.
                                                                                                                                   detailed breakdown of federal and state support packages available for
                                                                                                                                   businesses.

Please note: This update is a summary of the status of tourism (trade and aviation) and consumer sentiment in key source markets. These are anecdotal reports from our in-market teams and should not be relied upon as formal reporting. The update is accurate as at 7 October 2020.
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