AU/NZ REPORT PREPARED FOR COLORADO TOURISM OFFICE DECEMBER 2020
retaining a presence in the market, even EXECUTIVE SUMMARY during volatile periods.
As a reminder, our office will be closed And so 2020 draws to a close. A year that between December 24, 2020 and January effectively shut down the global travel 11, 2021 to celebrate the Christmas and industry as a result of the COVID-19 New Year’s period. Until then, we thank pandemic. Whilst countries around you again for your continued support, the world continue to ride ongoing and we look forward to a much more outbreak waves and intermittent periods optimistic and rewarding 2021! of lockdown, as a whole, Australia and New Zealand have become the global success story in suppressing the virus. PR ACTIVITY Through swift action and strict, aggressive lockdowns early on in the outbreak phase, both nations close out the year with most Strategic initiatives/activity industries including retail, hospitality, local sports and entertainment operating December continued the challenge for at relative normal operations, all of which proactively pitching U.S. destinations as has helped the economy rebound from continued news of high and worsening a short recession early in the year and U.S. levels of COVID-19 is still widely delivered an anticipated record Christmas reported in the news in Australia. retail spend for the final quarter of 2020. The adapted pitch-focused media strategy Whilst international borders remain that the team has had in place since closed, and domestic borders continue April continued in November, including to open and close intermittently with coverage gained from the accessibility each small outbreak, the recent vaccine pitch prior to International Day for People roll-out in the USA and UK, along with with a Disability distributing the ‘hardcore ongoing discussions of travel bubbles with adventures’ pitch. COVID-19 safe destinations such as New Zealand and the South Pacific, continue Caroline Davidson, PR Director, continued to bring hope that selected international to maintain contact with travel media travel will resume within the first quarter especially media that are continuing to of 2021. And if the recent rebound of run international destination coverage the retail and hospitality industries is and attend webinars to keep abreast of anything to go by, then it is clear that the quickly evolving media and consumer tourism is set to undergo a similar landscape. resurgence in 2021 and beyond. Summer and Winter proposed, and To celebrate the end of the year, the Linkd current campaigns were reworked and Tourism office hosted a function in Sydney re-presented to include relevance to on December 17 with approximately 30 CTO’s strategic pillars and audiences as trade partners, journalists, tourism board requested by LB. These were both further representatives and airline partners to updated at LBs request prior to presenting thank them for their continued support first winter, and then separately summer, throughout 2020. From discussions campaigns to Cathy Ritter and partners. held at the event, it was clear that all Summer campaign presentation to CR partners were incredibly grateful for the went well- 3 market meeting/LB to discuss support of all international DMO’s who on 12 Jan. have demonstrated their commitment to the market throughout 2020, and that The PR team progressed campaigns from these partners will be afforded priority FY20 with activity still ongoing, which opportunities and support once travel includes: resumes, showing the importance of
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Dan Avila: Nat Geo/Behind the Scenes – Current Media Campaigns Travel videography shoot with content to air across 2x 1-hour episodes on Qantas There are two current media campaigns flights, as well as provision of assets to running in Australia: CTO and participating partners. Get Lost campaign December update: CD spoke to DA regarding the desired content for the 2nd The planned Get Lost campaign which story to be out in signature for Jan issue initially incorporated a fam in late May / and requested coverage for Telluride, early June for coverage in the next issue Ouray and Zapata Ranch parts of their was delayed due to the current pandemic fam. Dan and Zora are now able to and has now re-started with a participant continue finishing the Travel Shooter eps in the multimarket fam from 27 September for the second series in Australia, now – 3 October. state borders have relaxed. No further to add to October update as per below on distribution etc as yet. MD of Get Lost, Justin Jamieson, confirmed that amplification of the Colorado highlights which were published October update: online in April were delayed due to the pandemic and will be amplified over the We are still looking at completing season next few months ahead of the coverage 1 with 6 episodes, which means creating from Roberto’s fam. Inclusion in the 2 more before it goes to the networks, publication’s eDM will also be alongside platforms and distributor. We are in the fam coverage appearing. advanced planning with key stakeholders for these two remaining episodes to be Caroline approached Justin with regards filmed in Q2 next year. We would expect to whether we can delay publication season 1 to go to air in Q3-Q4 2021. of Roberto’s article until the March 21 issue. Justin has agreed, with this now We have retained the flexibility to confirmed. modify the number of episodes and will adjust this in accordance with the global Travel Play Live campaign - Campaign situation, demand from our broadcasters Completed and successful and the interest of our stakeholders – maximising the benefit to stakeholders. To inspire travel to Colorado for next year, a campaign to promote adventure The advice from our distributor is that and road trips to the sophisticated the attractiveness of the series is not female explorer took place in July and substantially affected if we reduce August with Travel Play Live, to promote series 1 episodes to 6. We are unable content that was published in late July. to advise the details around the number As a gesture of goodwill, the publication of viewers relating to the number of published an additional article on 1 episodes, however, our distributor and September following a pitch sent to them broadcast platforms are not concerned by the PR team around ‘off grid escapes’. about the audience differential that An initial campaign report was received, modifying the number of series 1 episodes with reach numbers requested as a follow may generate. Ideally, any number up as these weren’t included. that generates a “binge-watch effect” is attractive. The initial report included that Colorado ‘off the grid’ pins on the title’s pinterest
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were continuing to see a high number of to include these options that have been impressions. presented.
Further coverage was received with Further updates were made in November support for Ghost Towns pitch published prior to Liz presenting the winter in November. campaign options t partners. The CTO spend with SnowsBest in Feb for $US5,000 Planned Media Campaigns has been confirmed and pre- billed by ROA. Supplemenatry funds from resorts are TBC (and could possibly form the Winter Campaign FY20: proposed Aussie spend in May, if enough are received. Aussie Aussie. #ColoradolovesAussies Ski Week Other elements to be considered are a snow media event (potentially around Caroline and Polly further developed the Valentine’s Day also) and activity with Ski three tier strategy for a winter campaign & Snowboard with Kids magazine 2021, to entice Australians back to Colorado a winter focused e-book to be produced with bookings for the 21/22 season, by Signature Media with buy in from however has become more likely for participating partners and a SnowsBest Australians to encourage bookings for the online game option, offered for buy- 21/22 season, with a potential SnowsBest in by 10-20 resorts as a CTO exclusive partnership discussed to take place in campaign. line with ski pass sales for 21/22 season in May. Caroline developed a tagline ‘Colorado loves’ which can be directed The last game option was offered to CTO at Aussies, Brits or Mexicans – the resorts by LB but declined. The proposal three markets being considered for this is being re-worked to potentially run campaign as a wider global activity. The in northern summer months of 2021 to notion of encouraging skiers to ‘remember incentivise winter travel bookings for your first time’ was also introduced, to 21/22 winter season. strike an emotional connection with skiing in Colorado. LB presented winter campaign to partners with KK and CD attending on Liz Birdsall advised of discussions with 10 November. Direction was to proceed partners regarding contributions and with $US5000 spend from CTO only for collaborations. The team discussed this SnowsBest campaign in Feb around campaign further after feedback from Liz Valentine’s Day and if partners buy in, and partners who are leaning towards this will be amplified or kept to a further small spend ($5Ktbc) with Snowsbest campaign next May. in Jan/Feb with Colorado Loves Aussies to focus/launch around Feb 14 for CD spoke to ROA and re 30 day invoice/ Valentine’s Day and a further spend in payment for partners if they buy in by May tbc. Caroline spoke with Rachael deadline of 12 Jan (NB this is one day later Oakes Ash who advised timing is available in AU and may mean delay for video if and flexible, and provided options for payment not processed in time by 13 Feb). the $5k budget. If video content ‘mashup’ ROA agreed to terms as long as CTO $5K is preferred content, this content will payment was made asap. Now paid. need to be filmed and provided to her by participating partners and Rachael LB advises Aspen in also for $1000 but will then edit it. A revised proposal was need confirmation of what they receive for shared with Liz Birdsall in early October this.
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International Traveller Magazine have shared the AW logo for inclusion in campaign artwork when ready.
Caroline continued to liaise with Ad supplied to spec by LB, additional AW International Traveller to plan the FY21 copy and logo added and approved by CTO campaign with digital content roll out in (LB) and AW- ready to print. CD briefed the Mar/Apr/May issue. Native advertorial Dan Avila on content for 2nd story and content will be accompanied by a large updated this as per discussion on weekly feature resulting from a fam to now call. run in June 21 issue. After Polly shared information and potential story angles with editor, Leigh-Ann Pow, Leigh-Ann Media Trends and News secured Colorado-based writer Jennifer Murphy who completed an individual Key updates, media movements, news and fam in October (12-17). with an itinerary trends: including Fort Collins, Glenwood Springs, Carbondale and Steamboat Springs. Source: Mumbrella
The original digital article from the first Ad spend down 4.8% in October: ‘Market wave of the campaign (in Mar/Apr/May is well and truly leaving the COVID crisis 2020 issue) will be amplified ahead of behind’ the second wave of content, which is now scheduled for March- May 21. Due to the The media disruption caused by the pandemic, the agency-funded International Traveller team has confirmed ad market was that they will go beyond the impressions down just 4.8% promised previously. in October – the lowest decline Timing for this year’s campaign is now since September agreed to be Mar-May for digital with the last year – in a feature article delayed to June 21 issue. development the Standard Media Index (SMI) said indicates “the ad market is well Signature Media campaign and truly leaving the COVID crisis behind”.
Caroline liaised with Cathy Wagstaff, The AFL and NRL grand finals boosted TV Publisher of Signature Luxury Travel bookings by 12.7% for the month, while magazine, who confirmed Dan Avila’s first metropolitan TV spend was up 15.7% year- story has been included in the new print on-year. issue, out now, published late October. His second article will appear in the News Corp teams up with Nova for daily January issue (out in December) with a news podcast network ‘News Feed’ booking form signed for an accompanying Colorado advert, with the proviso that the News Corp online article timing remain flexible and Australia’s a call to action for Adventure World be podcasting arm included in the editorial piece and also NewsCast has to be on the Colorado Tourism advert. launched News Specifications have been provided and Feed; a network we await confirmation of the ad deadline. of daily news Liz Birdsall also shared the new advert podcasts from artwork for Colorado display ads which each state-based will be used for this campaign. masthead.
Adventure World agreed to be the CTA and
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News Feed will be co-produced by points to finish with a 25% share, still NewsCast and Nova Entertainment, and more than double their nearest rivals on will include daily headline podcasts ABC Melbourne. from The Daily Telegraph (NSW), Herald Sun (VIC), The Courier-Mail (QLD) and Sydney radio ratings: Ben Fordham The Advertiser (SA), with all episodes gains share, ends the year with to be presented by Nova Entertainment breakfast dominance newsreaders. The podcasts will be published from 5am daily. In his third GfK radio survey in Australia’s the ‘best gift shop in the the 2GB breakfast world’ in Tourism Australia’s ‘Holiday slot, Ben Fordham Gifting’ campaign has gained audience share Tourism Australia for the first time has released a since replacing Alan Jones. festive iteration of its ‘Holiday From 20 September to 28 November, Here This Year’ the 2GB breakfast frontman jumped campaign, one percentage point for a 17.1% share. encouraging He inherited a 17.9% share when Jones Australians to departed at the end of May, which book domestic dropped slightly to 17.3% in his first tourism experiences for both themselves survey in the new job, back in September. and loved ones over the summer holidays. Brisbane Radio Ratings: Nova 106.9 tops The ‘Holiday Gifting’ campaign, created by final survey of the year thanks to drive M&C Saatchi, recognises the hit domestic tourism operators will take this year due Nova 106.9 to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 has clinched pandemic, even after the government the win in the has considerably relaxed local travel final GfK radio restrictions ratings survey in Brisbane Melbourne radio ratings: 3AW is still #1 for the year, but Gold104.3 continues to deliver maintaining its lead in breakfast, drive and the overall audience share. Kate, The final GfK radio Tim and Joel Creasey, the network’s new survey of 2020 drive show following the departure of has cemented Marty Sheargold in September, gained 3AW’s continued 2.2 percentage points to reach a 15.9% dominance of the audience share, and made up for a slight Melbourne market, dip in the previous survey. despite the Nine Radio-owned Ash, Kip and Luttsy with Susie O’Neill station losing share both overall and in pulled even further ahead in the once the breakfast slot. closely-fought breakfast slot, ending the year with a 13% share, up 0.4 points. The After growing its impressive share during strong drive and breakfast results gave Melbourne’s lockdown, 3AW dipped in Nova a 12.5% share, ahead of second survey eight to a 19.6% share of listening, place holder Triple M that landed on an losing just one percentage point. Recently 11% share. installed breakfast show Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft fell 3.4 percentage
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GroupM predicts global advertising Influencer marketing is booming. In 2020 recovery led by digital growth of 8.2% the industry is projected to hit $10 billion in 2020 while 2019 saw 380 new influencer- focused marketing agencies join the GroupM’s latest scene, and the stats say there are 20 Global Media million influencers out there (on social Forecast, titled media). Brands have embraced influencers ‘This Year to “activate” their campaigns, and are Next Year’, increasingly allocating a larger and suggests that dedicated budget for this channel the advertising market will end Social media isn’t a silver bullet, and in up better off in 2020 than previously 2021, you’ll only get out what you put in predicted. As we look After a June forecast of an 11.9% global towards 2021, decline, new figures suggest that the King Kong market will only fall 5.8% this year on founder Sabri an underlying basis, and excluding US Suby believes political advertising. we need to get real about social Zenith forecasts Aussie ad spend to media. grow 8% next year, full recovery by 2022 In the world of social media, nothing is permanent. The business you created on Australia’s Instagram? Dissolvable. The ad campaigns estimated ad you constructed on Facebook? Banned. spend decline will The display ads you crafted for the Google hit 12% for 2020, Display Network? Temporary. according to Zenith’s adspend This year, we’ve seen that even social forecasts which media isn’t watertight to the effects of also predicts global ad spend to shrink by COVID-19. As reported in Bloomberg, 7.5% this year. Facebook has been directing its human moderators to the US election and Locally, the market is expected to take pandemic coverage, and as a result, until 2022 for spend to return to 2019 has been leaning more on artificial levels, though there is an 8% level of intelligence algorithms to monitor other growth anticipated for 2021 compared areas of its platform. with this year. Media Movements Influencers have lost their influence News Corp launches centralised They offer a national business desk glamorous lifestyle, but The Australian’s Business Editor Eric is it relatable? Johnston will oversee The Australian Founder of Business Network, which will deliver fashion tech business news to The Australian and News startup Mys Corp metro mastheads. Tyler, Sarah Neill, examines the state of the influencer and what needs to happen next.
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Stephanie Nuzzo appointed Editor at 4. Learning holidays in CO (e.g. Lifehacker Australia brewery course, nature conservation, horsemanship) Stephanie was previously a Freelance Journalist based in New York, whose work 5. Alternative Colorado – exploring featured in Junkee Media, Mamamia, more of a hippy vibe, surprise & NewsCorp and Nova Entertainment delight
TPG’s parent company Red Ventures 6. International Women’s Day, buying Lonely Planet profile of significant women in CO tourism e.g. adventure guides, Major news today in the travel industry distillery owners etc and for The Points Guy. TPG parent company Red Ventures announced 7. Colorado’s lesser known Tuesday morning that it is buying the outdoor marvels (around Earth Day storied travel company Lonely Planet from in April) – focus on state parks, NC2 Media. Terms of the deal between the national monuments, Hanging Lake, two private companies were not disclosed. Horsetooth Reservoir etc rather than the better-known national parks as Media Releases and Pitching international tourists return
• Accessible tourism experiences in 8. Horse-focused pitch – where to CO in advance of International Day stay, play and learn for horse lovers of People with a Disability 3 Dec. e.g. Zapata Ranch clinics / horse completed and distributed 24 Nov to painting workshops etc regular titles and trade list. 9. Colorado’s world of nature- • Hard core Adventure pitches unique migrations, crane, birding, distributed w/c7th Dec tarantulas and more. Nature conservancy efforts to protect wildlife and habitats etc. • Inclusion in America Acknowledges its Past pitch for distribution w/c 14 December 2020 Media Events
• Caroline and Polly brainstormed list ‘In person’ networking events still to of pitch content for the remainder of resume across Australia, with ASTW the fiscal year and submitted to Liz - lunches announced as suspended until approved: beyond the AGM in December. Once again, webinars and Zoom networking meetings 1. Pictures of Colorado’s fall to continue to abound. lust over (distributed September) Colorado’s small towns and unknown • CD took part in Visit USA’s December gems (using the small towns content committee zoom call meeting shared by domestic PR team) • CD attended relevant Destination 2. Ghost towns (ahead of Webinars Coffee Clutch series Halloween) distributed October 20 continuing every Thursday.
3. Hardcore Colorado for the solo • CD and KK attended ASTW AGM 16 adventurer (e.g. Via Ferrata, Colorado December (Zoom) Trail) written and now distributed 12 December • CD attended Women in Tourism lunch Dec 8 Brunswick Heads
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• Linkd Xmas function (trade & media) in • CD liaised with Leigh Ann Pow at Sydney 17 Dec. hosted by KK International Traveller magazine for an opportunity to have a Colorado insider • Linkd Tourism Office closed for complete a q’n’a for inclusion in the holidays from the 24th December and Dec issue. Cindy Macken from Loveland reopen 11th January to be included, questions to be sent by LAP. CD followed up as nothing sent- re online or future opportunity. Media Meetings/ Liaison LAP advised they had also approached CSC and have included Melanie Mills in • AN and CD liaised with individual both print and online. media for pitches including Robyn Foyster, Rowena Ryan, Craig Platt, • CD liaised further with Rachel Oakes- Anthony Dennis, Katherine Scott, Ash regarding winter campaign support Aletha Wilkinson, Justin Jamieson, of $5K for Feb campaign, invoiced in Carrie Hutchinson, Julia D’orazio, advance as deposit. ROA has provided Monique Ceccato, Cathy Wagstaff, Lisa suggested exposure plan and timing Wagstaff, Helen Hayes, Leon Della for Feb budget ( so far including $1K Bosca, Sue Preston, Fiona Harper, extra contribution from Aspen) . Donna Duggan, Katie Carlin, Nicole Lenoir-Jourdan and Rafael Ruiz. • CD met with Cathy Wagstaff, Sally MacMillan, Rod Eime, Mike Butler, • Linkd Xmas function (trade & media) Robyn Foyster, Nicole LJ, Helen Hayes, in Sydney 17 Dec. hosted by KK on Julia Zaetta, Lou Goldsbury, Leigh-Ann behalf of Colorado Tourism Office Pow, Dan Avila - was attended by Kristy Prince, Tristan Freedman, Penny Brand, Casandra Foister, Vanessa Christian, • CD liaised further with LB and Cathy Cinczia, Allie Spar, Bart Druitt, Shelley Wagstaff (publisher) to get FP ad Richardson, Chris Singh, Amber Wilson, designed for signature, Now completed Monique Campanella, Tory Goddard, and approved for print. Louise Goldsbury, Carla Grossetti, Karen McMillan, Elisa Elwin, Celeste • CD arranged call with Jonathon Arthur, Mark Brooker, Jess Brooker, Thompson (UK writer) 23 December to Walter Nand as well as Carrie, Michael, discuss AU pitch for Wagner ski and Kylee, Aisling, Jacey and Polly from other stories). Linkd Tourism. Media Trips
Interest in future fams is expected to grow once there is a clearer picture of when international travel will resume.
In planning / current:
• Get Lost fam for Roberto Serrini attended Conscious Colorado multimarket media fam with his partner (who does his social media and photography. Great feedback, video and image assets supplied. Feature delayed to March 21 issue.
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• Leigh-Ann Pow (editor International • Jo Stewart Traveller) fam for October –confirmed Colorado writer Jennifer Murphy for • Andrew Bain an individual fam which took place 12-17 October. Liz followed up with her directly and received excellent Media Coverage and Values feedback from her and hosting partners. Feature to now be delayed Coverage has resulted from news items, to June 21 issue with native content to FAMs and pitching. precede in Mar/Apr/May. Coverage for Colorado in November: • Ski & Beyond fam TBC Steamboat The generated advertising equivalency Vail Aspen Telluride may still take we have achieved is $7,760USD (total PR place Jan/Feb 2021. CD to propose Value for generated this month @ x 3- is possible US based writers who can get $23,280). Non-generated advertising commission. Brian Thacker, Roberto equivalency is $15,400 USD. Serrini, JT etc tbc. SSWK mag have agreed to commission with guarantee • The AVE /PR values are calculated on of $US3,500 support and to allow non- 3 tiers (since January 2019) as follows exclusive commissions with other non- – unless otherwise stated by media competing media. clippings service;
• June multi-market media fam tbc • Feature in major/national newspaper websites (News Corp/Fairfax/ Prospective: Australian/The Senior etc.) or major magazines: $AU10,000 each The below names who have previously shown interest will be targeted for • Article or feature in general travel renewed follow-up when travel resumes or magazine, other newspapers, trade for joining multi-market fams if relevant: sites, blogs etc or paragraph (3 sentences or more) or article in major media outlet: $AU5000 each • Lee Atkinson – Freelance
• Mentions in major media outlet/ or • Bonnie Grima – West Australian, small articles/inclusion in listicals/ Hobart magazine minor media outlets or blogs etc.: $AU2,000 each • Lance Richardson (U.S.-based) – Freelance Full coverage table can be found in Monthly Report Excel spreadsheet. • Caz n Craig Makepeace – Y Travel (dependent on campaign spend)
• Julia D’Orazio – So Perth and So Where Next
• Jarryd Salem – NOMADasaurus
And more interest from attendees at IMM Virtual:
• Kate Armstrong
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Coverage Examples: International Traveller (print)
Travel Daily
Tabs on Travel Today
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International Traveller (Online) TRADE UPDATES
Luxury travel network Virtuoso has announced it is broadening its network by expanding its existing membership to include all Travel Associates in Australia and New Zealand. Travel Counsellors has confirmed that it will exit the Australian market, with its local franchisees to become part of the Express Travel Group (ETG) in early 2021.
Flight Centre + Hotelbeds has signed a deal with Flight Centre to increase its global distribution reach. The deal will see Hotelbeds increase its retail distribution in Australia, as well as Canada, Dubai, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
EXPRESS Travel Group (ETG) is set to significantly expand its offering for independent agents, collaborating to smooth the transition for the home-based network of Travel Counsellors as it exits the Australian market after 13 years.
THE Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) is calling on the Federal Government for $12 million in funding from the COVID Relief and Recovery Fund, as well as an industry-specific extension of the JobKeeper program beyond Mar 2021. International Traveller (Newsletter) NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has agreed to establish a trans-Tasman bubble with Australia early next year. The bubble will open in the first quarter of 2021, as long as COVID-19 case levels stay low, and its approval by the Federal Government.
Sales Calls / Meetings
• Amber Wilson - Regional Director of Sales - Australia & New Zealand: Ongoing communication and update of new product resources for distribution to our agents
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• James Hewlett – Marketing Manager – Collette: Proposal sent for VIP Agent COVID-19 UPDATE event to be held in Cairns late May 2021. Discussed inclusion of other partners ie; RM to share the cost. The Australian Department of Health’s latest update (22 December) reports • Hannah Wright - Product Manager APT 28,198 cases of COVID-19 have been - North America: Call confirmed for mid confirmed in Australia and more than January to discuss pre/post Colorado 10.6 million tests have been conducted. extensions from Rocky Mountaineer Current active cases in hospital are at 23, new product. and there have been 908 deaths in total.
• Kristy Prince - Product Manager – Meanwhile, over in New Zealand, the Adventure World: Schedule training country has 59 active cases recorded sessions for updated CO deck which (although none of these are via community includes RM new product. transmission). In total, the New Zealand Department of Health reported total and probable cases since the pandemic began • Christmas gifts sent to key travel are 2,121 with 1.3 million tests conducted. partners, listed below;
• Adventure World, Helloworld, Collette, Month in Review Flight Centre, Intrepid, Globus/Cosmos, United Airlines, Travel Counsellors, After almost 3 weeks of no community Skimax and Travelplan. transmission across Australia, a mystery case appeared in Sydney’s Northern • Successful event held for 25 key travel Beaches region on December 16, and in industry partners on Thursday 17th the week following, an additional 88 cases December. have been linked to what has now become known as the Avalon cluster. Whilst New South Wales was swift to react to the new cases, locking down the Northern Beaches over 200,000 residents effective from December 17 until December 23, this move did little to appease the other states of Australia, with all states shutting the border to Sydney residents almost immediately.
In spite of this, daily case numbers have been declining daily since December 21 and a record number of tests have been conducted, providing New South Wales some confidence that this latest outbreak may be stemmed before the New Year.
With the exception of the latest outbreak in New South Wales, all other states and New Zealand as a whole effectively remain COVID-19 free, with limited social distancing and COVID-19 restrictions in place across most industries including retail, dining, sports and entertainment
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Travel Outlook
After reporting almost 100% occupancy levels across most major local tourism destinations throughout the Christmas holiday period, tourism operators are now reporting an estimated 20-30% cancellation rate expected due to the recent border closures following the Avalon outbreak.
Still, interstate tourism remains at an all- time high, demonstrating the thirst for tourism still evident in both Nations.
Earlier in December, an announcement made by the New Zealand Prime Minister that a quarantine free travel bubble between the two nations should be up and running by March was also met with excited interest by media, travel partners and consumers with the hope and expectation that other destinations might follow in the weeks and months after the New Zealand bubble launches. Additionally, news of the two approved COVID-19 vaccines continues to dominate the media with the vaccines anticipated to be approved by the Australian Medical Boards early in 2021.
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