Lisa Choegyal with the GHT celebrity trek team at Gorkha palace, midway through their epic trek

Dave Bamford (4th from left-front row) with participants of the Sarawak Tourism Business Seminar for members of the NZ Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and the Dayak Chamber of Commerce. 

Two studies recommending new approaches to tourism development in the Cairns-Townsville and Flinders Ranges regions were recently released.

The Cairns-Townsville and Flinders Ranges Experience Development Strategies are the first studies to focus on the emotional and intellectual benefits of travel for ‘experience seekers’ – tourists who enjoy engaging with locals and value a variety of travel experiences – and make a series of recommendations on how regions can more effectively cater for them.

The Strategy documents, developed as part of the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy, Tourism 2020, mark a more holistic and in-depth approach to tourism in Australia, Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP,  said.

“These reports, prepared jointly with the Queensland and South Australian tourism bodies, identify the key ‘wants’ of experience seeking travellers, and recommend dozens of measures to make both regions more accessible and rewarding to them,” Minister Ferguson said.

“Experience seekers are relatively high earners and spenders, and known opinion leaders who tended to be at the leading edge of tourism trends and are very influential in creating additional visitations by word-of-mouth recommendation.

“Ensuring tourist regions have the tools to grow through studies such as these creates benefits for an area that reach beyond the tourism industry and the economy.”

Among the reports’ recommendations are the development of a multi-day walk in the Flinders Ranges similar to the Australian Alpine Walking Track in Victoria/New South Wales, the creation of a series of trails and laneways in the Atherton Tablelands, and the development of a major new experience in the Daintree Rainforest.

These reports will serve as a template for other tourist regions to develop strategies to cater to target markets and develop tourism experiences.

The reports are available from today on the website of the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism at http://www.ret.gov.au/tourism/policies/nltts/workinggrps/dest/Pages/default.aspx

Lisa’s brother Nick Van Gruisen was leading a group of 66 mainly British Ultimate Travel Company clients on an trip to celebrate the anniversary of the Scott expedition. Also accompanying the trip was Robin Hanbury-Tenison, British explorer and founder of Survival International, and Graham Boynton, writer and former travel editor of London’s Daily Telegraph, John Harrison polar historian, as well as a number of experienced ornithologists, biologists and adventurers. Ben Jackson from Te Kuiti was the kayak and camping guide.  In Argentina, Lisa visited Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls recently voted one of the worlds seven natural wonders,  and the Tierra del Fuego National Park before sailing from Ushuaia on the Ocean Nova operated by Quark Expeditions.

On the sixty-fifth day of Climate Smart Celebrity Trek, Apa Sherpa and his team reached and interacted with the local people and the media in Beni. He and his team were welcomed and felicitated by the local villagers in a press meet organized in the Red Cross Office of Beni.

The Chief Guest of the event was Honourable Minister for the Ministry of Environment Mr. Hem Raj Tater.  Dr. Govinda Raj Pokharel, Executive Director, Alternative Energy Promotion Centre of the Ministry of Environment was also present during the occasion.

Apa Sherpa and his team are walking on this trail to primarily highlight the impacts of climate change in the Himalayas and to promote The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) as the best tourism trail in the world.  The GHT ranges from Darchula in Far West and ends in Taplejung, in far-eastern Nepal and thereby offers trekkers to experience extremely rich cultures, breathtaking landscapes and diverse range of flora and fauna. Climatesmarttrek.org.np

On 5 March Lisa Choegyal travelled to the ancient hill town of Gorkha, original seat of the Shah dynasty and gateway to Manaslu, to meet up with the Great Himalaya Trail Climate Smart Celebrity Trek, led by 21-time Everest summiteer, Apa Sherpa. The team were on the 52nd day of their 120 day journey across the length of Nepal to bring awareness of climate change, environmental protection, and tourism opportunities to remote valleys in between the currently popular trek areas of Annapurna, Langtang and Everest. Also part of their brief is the identification of specific interventions to help mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate change along the lower cultural Great Himalaya Trail route.

Organised by Himalayan Climate Initiative, the four person Nepali core team includes Dawa Steven Sherpa, twice Everest summiter and climate change ambassador, a filmmaker and writer. Various other celebrities have been joining for sections of the GHT including the German Ambassador to Nepal, UNICEF director, ICIMOD head and press. In Gorkha events included the opening of the new Tourism Information Centre by the Minister of State for Tourism in the lower Gorkha Palace, with the programme featuring the Nepal Mountaineering Association, TAAN, Himalayan Rescue Association and local politicians and dignitaries. The event was organised by SNV Nepal who are implementing the UKAid Great Himalaya Trail Development Programme that was designed by TRC Tourism.

Apa Sherpa in the streets of Gorkha

(left)Dawa Steven Sherpa in front of the TIC Gorkha

(right)Prashant Singh CEO Of Himalayan Climate Initiative which organised the GHT climate smart celebrity trek
 

(left)Lisa Choegyal delivering a speech at the GHT climate smart celebrity trek event at Gorkha Palace

(right)Lisa with Apa Sherpa (with flag), core team and HCI organisors at the Gorkha Palace

www.skiporters.co.nz/2012/02/expansion-at-porters-ski-area-receives-planning-approval and http://www.skiporters.co.nz/expansion-plans

Sometimes you need a little help turning your big ideas into reality – that’s where T-QUAL Grants Tourism Quality Projects (TQP) comes in. TQPs are grants designed to help Australian tourism operators and destinations lift the quality and variety of Australia’s tourism experiences.

Applications are now open and will be assessed through a competitive selection process. For more information and how to     apply, visit www.ret.gov.au/tqual, phone 61 2 6243 7604 or email tqualgrants@ret.gov.au. Applications close 5:00pm (AEST)  on Thursday 19 April 2012. TRC Tourism can help you win your grant