Australia for Incentives
Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager, India & Gulf, Tourism Australia talks about the incentives that Australia offers.
Which new tourism products are being offered to the MICE industry?
Sydney is well poised to generate growth in the business and events sector due to the significant investment in new city infrastructure, including the expansion and refurbishment of the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre; new business development at the up-and-coming precinct of Barangaroo, and the refurbishment of The Star, which will add a new hotel and residential tower to the establishment. The recently refurbished ICC Sydney is poised to be Asia Pacific's premier integrated convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct, underlining Sydney's place as one of the world's most desirable meeting and event destinations and providing the ideal platform to collaborate and innovate. Kindly share statistics about the Indian MICE travellers to Australia. How is the market developing for you from India?
As per our latest statistics for the year ended September 2016, business travel contributes to 8 per cent of the total annual arrivals from India. Numerous mid-to-high range corporates have travelled to Australia for their incentive trips over the last few years.
From which regions in India do you receive the maximum traffic for MICE and which markets are you looking at for growth?
Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru remain our major markets across all segments for travel Down Under, although we do not discount the potential of smaller markets.
What kind of economic benefits does Australia reap from the MICE industry? Kindly share figures.
The business events industry is important for the Australian visitor economy and a key contributor in the Tourism 2020 Strategy. Since the launch of the Business Events 2020 Strategy, total delegate spend has increased 44 per cent from $9.6 billion to $13 billion annually – putting the sector well on track to achieving its target of $16 billion annually by the end of the decade.
How is the MICE industry developing across Australia? How was the year 2016 for you vis-a-vis 2015?
Tourism Australia's latest statistics validates a commendable increase in tourist arrivals from India. Total arrivals for the year ended (YE) October 2016 were recorded at 253,100, an increase of 11 per cent relative to the same period the previous year which makes India the 9th largest inbound market for arrivals for YE September 2016. As of YE September 2016, Australia had welcomed 20,900 business visitors from India. We have our annual trade event Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) taking place from May 14-18, 2017. Being a high magnitude trade event, the core focus of ATE will be to familiarise Indian trade participants with the Australian tourism business through business appointments and networking events providing an opportunity to experience Australia's tourism offering first hand through pre and post event familiarisations. The highly anticipated Commonwealth Games 2018 are coming to Gold Coast from April 4-15, 2018. This is the fifth time that Australia has hosted the Games, the others being – 1938 Sydney, 1962 Perth, 1982 Brisbane and 2006 Melbourne.
As of YE September 2016, Australia welcomed 20,900 business visitors from India
How do you plan to boost the MICE business further? What kind of offers/incentives do you have for MICE operators from India?
Business Events Australia is a Tourism Australia business group dedicated to promoting Australia internationally as a business events destination. An Australian government organisation, the team can provide the information and support needed to choose Australia as a business event. The team also runs a series of information sessions in-market and familiarisation visits to Australia for agents interested in joining the programme.
Adelaide Convention Centre: The Adelaide Convention Centre, located in the heart of the city, runs around 700 individual events a year, hosting about 200,000 people in total. Constantly evolving and improving, the Centre has undergone three major extensions in less than 30 years, with a fourth underway that is slated to add 3000 square metres of space to the complex by 2017.
Melbourne and Sydney both enjoy direct connectivity from Delhi on Air India
National Gallery of Victoria: Founded in 1861, Australia's largest public art gallery operates across two sites and provides modern indoor and outdoor event spaces. Divided into two parts, the Gallery's Great Hall has an area of 775 square metres; and it's Federation Court, 1171 square metres.
Hayman Island: Hayman sets the world standards for service and hospitality, in a uniquely Australian manner with luxury, relaxation and fascinating Great Barrier Reef adventures. It boasts the flexibility to provide not just worldclass venues and accommodation, but also branding across the island, Indian meal catering, and great offers.
EXPERIENTIAL OFFERINGS FOR BUSINESS TRAVELLER
Apart from full-fledged, state-of-the-art convention centres, Australia also offers an array of exceptional food and wine experiences, adventure and team building activities and exciting nightlife. Every destination in Australia offers unique and exhilarating experiences. Visitors can take the climb of their lives by scaling the top of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge; wake up with a champagne breakfast and hot air balloon ride over the spectacular city of Melbourne; take a Harley Davidson ride to Sydney's famous Bondi Beach for private surfing lessons, which could be a great team building exercise; re-live memorable matches while standing on the pitch of the Adelaide Oval; snorkel through the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns or Hamilton Island; the list goes on.