Climate Change
The Qantas Group has launched a new carbon offset program. Under the program, Qantas will offset all of the emissions generated by their staff business travel and their ground transport operations. Travellers can now choose to offset their share of flight emissions with a small monetary contribution via qantas.com. 100% of the contribution (excl GST) will go towards an Australian Government approved 'Greenhouse Friendly'™ abatement program. For more information visit qantas.com/flycarbonneutral.

UNWTO will hold the Second International Conference on Tourism and Climate Change in Davos, Switzerland, from 1-3 October 2007. The Conference is organized together with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and supported by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

There is now a wide recognition of the urgent need for society, at all levels, to implement strategies to face the changing climate conditions and to take preventive actions for future effects. NTA Board Members Matt Hingerty (ATEC) and Daniel Gschwind (QTIC) are participating in the Conference.

Fair Go for Tourists Initiative
The Australian Government will soon be introducing the Fair Go For Tourists Initiative to strengthen consumer protection for inbound tourists from rogue operators. Overseeing the new arrangements will be a working group who will focus on consumer education and complaints, and facilitate prompt referral of other enforcement matters.

Tourism Shopping
NTA has written to all State Treasurers and Tourism Ministers urging them to endorse the Federal Government’s important proposals on tourism shopping reform, in particular the “open market” for administration of the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS).

The national economic benefits of the proposed reform to the TRS are confirmed in the Access Economics’ report: The economic impacts of outsourcing the Tourism Refund Scheme commissioned by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources and released by the Federal Minister for Tourism and Small Business, the Hon. Fran Bailey MP, on 31 August 2007. Click here for the Access Economics Report.

Australian Regional Tourism Convention
The National Tourism Alliance has accepted a strategic partnership opportunity put forward by ARTN to be a major partner of the Australian Regional Tourism Convention. The Convention was developed as a forum for Regional Tourism Organisations, State Tourism Organisations, Local Government Tourism Offices, and regional tourism enterprises to exchange ideas about ways to promote regional tourism success.

The program for the 2007 Convention, to be held in Canberra, has been finalised and can be viewed online at www.regionaltourism.com.au/ARTC07

Qantas Australian Tourism Awards
A new level of sponsorship for the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, the Awards Supporters Package, has been introduced this year to provide easier access for the tourism industry to show their support of the national awards and give them significant profile at the presentation ceremony and dinner event. The Qantas Australian Tourism Awards will be held in Canberra on Friday 29th February 2008.