ACROSS THE DITCHIDEAS FOR TRANS-TASMAN TOURISM COOPERATION 2012 TIA SUMMIT

JOHN LEE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE

I love Australia

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMGuw1d2ojU

I love New Zealand

• John Lee, aged 13 years, first overseas trip NZ

I am not Australia’s chief marketing officer

THE GOOD

• Tourism Australia’s Asian century focus

• States developing events calendars

• Increasing recognition of value of major sporting events

• Broad support for increased aviation capacity

• Moves to support accommodation in national parks

I am not Australia’s chief marketing officer

THE BAD

• Inconsistent messaging

• Labour and skills shortages

• Inflexible planning regimes

• Silo approach from government

I am not Australia’s chief marketing officer

THE UGLY

• Highest departure tax for short haul flights among developed countries

• Make it hard for tourists to get GST refunds

• Investment hurdles

• Accommodation supply – especially in cities

• Outdated working holiday visas

Trans-Tasman tourism

• New Zealand and Australia both the other’s No. 1

• There’s still huge potential under a common border, trans-Tasman visitation could grow 14%

• Kiwis and Aussies visit each others’ regions, not just major cities

A century of trans-Tasman cooperation

• Can you name this flag?

A century of trans-Tasman cooperation

• 1908 and 1912 – Team Australasia at the Olympics• 1914-1918 – ANZACs team up in the Great War• 1982 – Closer Economic Relations Treaty• 1991 – Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand• 1992 – Food Standards Australia New Zealand• 2000 – Tasman aviation and air safety common area

We’re not that different

Ideas for future trans-Tasman co-operation

• Progress 2009 Rudd-Key common border deal

• More SmartGates

• Integrate departure and arrivals cards into check-in

• Direct exit quarantine lanes for Tasman flights

• Reduce PMC impost

• Australia to adopt NZ limited international airport model

An Aussie stain on cricket history…

Now, here’s a few ideas to make amends…

• 2015 is the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings

• 2015 is also the Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand

• Let’s do something bold – joint visitor visas for the cricket

• More flights - Open up more Aussie airports to NZ flights

• Mates’ rates for Kiwis – A$25 for flights to NZ

• ANZAC Express Path – more than just SmartGate

Let’s invoke the ANZAC spirit

Let’s invoke the ANZAC spirit in tourism

• Compete where we need to, in short-haul and Asia

• Join forces in long-haul markets

• Airlines should offer Visit Australasia passes

• AUS-NZ common visitor visas

• Real free-trade area with free movement