The new 20s: Intrepid predicts travel trends for the decade ahead

Climate change and friendships key themes

At the launch of the new Lonely Planet and Intrepid trips, the small group adventure company revealed their predictions for how travel will evolve in the new 20s - in what they describe as the decade for the planet and bringing people together.

Australians urged to holiday at home to boost bushfire recovery

AUSTRALIANS are being encouraged to throw their support behind Australia’s tourism industry in the wake of the devastating bushfires by holidaying in their own backyard.

Tourism Australia’s Holiday Here This Year campaign launched today taps into the overwhelming goodwill and support for local communities impacted by the recent bushfires, by urging Australians to plan, book and take a domestic holiday and share their experiences with friends and online.

Supported through a $20 million government funding boost, the campaign forms part of a coordinated marketing push involving all states and territories that provides a unified platform to galvanise the tourism industry and Australians.

Tourism Australia Managing Director, Phillipa Harrison, said that the Holiday Here This Year campaign would help spread the important message that Australian tourism was open for business and ready and eager to welcome visitors.

“There is no doubt that Australian tourism has been hit hard by the recent bushfires. It’s critical that we help the industry get back on its feet as soon as possible,” Ms Harrison said.

“The desire from ordinary Australians to assist the communities impacted both directly and indirectly by the bushfires has been overwhelming. This campaign seeks to show them how they can directly support the recovery by simply holidaying here in Australia.

“We are currently in the middle of the peak summer period and we’re already seeing an impact on tourism as people delay or cancel their travel plans, including to areas that haven’t been directly affected.

“That is why we are asking people to commit to holidaying in their own backyard this year - whether it’s a drive up the coast, taking a trip interstate, or ticking off a bucket list destination - and to spread the word that Australia is ready to welcome more travellers.

“Holiday Here This Year is a practical way that Australians can help bushfire affected communities by filling hotel rooms, restaurants, caravan parks, beaches and more.

“The launch of the campaign is the first of a package of measures that we’ll be rolling out over the coming weeks and months to help Australian tourism rebuild and recover.”

The Holiday Here This Year campaign will be rolled out across print, social media, billboards across major cities, content partnerships, radio and outdoor advertising, with Australians being encouraged to demonstrate their support using the hashtag #holidayherethisyear.

Tourism Australia will be making it easier than ever for consumers and industry partners to find the resources and inspiration needed to plan and book a holiday in Australia and help out affected communities in the process thanks to additional information and resources at www.australia.com/holidayhere.

This will also include practical tools for industry to use in their own marketing initiatives.

A summary of some of Australia’s most popular destinations for international travellers, and whether they have been impacted by the current bushfires or are safe to visit, can be found at https://www.australia.com/en/travel-alerts.html.

SWISS to serve new Daxing International Airport with its Beijing flights

SWISS will be switching its services between Zurich and Beijing to the Chinese capital's new Beijing Daxing International Airport in March. The move will also provide more attractive departure and arrival times for travellers on the route.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is to switch its Zurich-Beijing services from the present Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to the new Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). The change will be made with the start of the 2020 summer schedules at the end of March.

The move will offer travellers more attractive timetables on the route. The eastbound service will leave Zurich late in the afternoon and arrive in Beijing just after 09:00 on the following day. The westbound flight will depart from Beijing at 11:00 and arrive in Zurich at 15:35 on the same day.

SWISS serves Beijing daily in summer and five times weekly in winter. The route is operated using Airbus A330 equipment.

The new Beijing Daxing International Airport, which was designed by top architect Zaha Hadid, opened last autumn and is in the south of the city. The new facility meets all the requirements of an airport today, and is ideally linked into the public transport network. The airport is set to become one of the world's busiest by 2025.

Ferrari Museums set new records

The Ferrari Museums set a new record in 2019, attracting more than 600,000 visitors, a 12% increase on the previous year. Both venues experienced strong growth with visitor numbers to the MEF in Modena jumping in 2019 to over 200,000, whilst the Ferrari Museum in Maranello saw attendances rise to in excess of 400,000 in the same period.

The success of the single ticket for access to both museums – sales of which increased by more than 50% in 2019 compared to the previous year – demonstrates the excellent public response to the increasingly specialist nature of these two structures. Indeed, the museum in Modena celebrates the figure of the founder, along with the most elegant, exclusive Ferrari Gran Turismo engines and cars, while the museum in Maranello provides visitors with an experience that allows them to discover the history of the Group, of Scuderia Ferrari in Formula 1 and of the most iconic track and road cars that have written the history of the Prancing Horse, and continue to do so today.

In line with its different specialist visitor routes, the Maranello Museum’s first exhibition of the new year will be “Ferrari at 24 Heures du Mans”, which, from January 15, celebrates 70 years of Ferrari victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The new show also flanks the current exhibitions: “90 Anni”, an homage to the Scuderia Ferrari’s history, and “Hypercars”, which features the limited edition special series that have been most influenced by Ferrari’s signature track-to-road technology transfers.

Opening Times
Every day except December 25 and January 1
November/March 9.30 – 18.00
April/October 9.30 – 19.00

Lonely Planet partners with Intrepid Travel to launch Lonely Planet Experiences

With over 300 sustainable group tours across the globe, the new trip range will bring Lonely Planet guidebooks to life for the first time.

World-leading travel publisher and digital travel media company, Lonely Planet, has joined forces with Intrepid Travel, a leader in sustainable adventure travel, to launch Lonely Planet Experiences. The new range of carbon-neutral tours will bring Lonely Planet’s authority and travel prowess to life by offering an innovative new product that is authentic, immersive and sustainable.

Lonely Planet Experiences will comprise 200 jam-packed day-tours (operated by Intrepid Travel’s day-tour company, Urban Adventures) and more than 130 multi-day trips including walking, cycling, food, festivals, family and marine adventures.

All Lonely Planet Experiences have been designed with a low environmental footprint while ensuring a positive impact on local communities. True to Intrepid Travel’s style all tour groups will be small, with a maximum of 16 travellers, and led by a local leader. The tours will use local transportation, support locally owned businesses and like all Intrepid Travel trips since 2010, be 100% carbon-neutral - also reflective of Lonely Planet’s commitment to responsible travel as part of this partnership. In addition, all tours will include exclusive discounts on Lonely Planet’s guidebooks, free access to Lonely Planet’s flagship Guides app, and supplementary Lonely Planet insight throughout.

“For over four decades, travellers have looked to Lonely Planet for trusted travel advice,” says Luis Cabrera, CEO of Lonely Planet. “Now, global explorers looking for the inside track can journey along with us on this new range of tours. This is an exciting innovation and evolution for the Lonely Planet brand.”

James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel added, “These experiences combine our expertise to create a new tour range that will support local communities, protect our natural environment and ensure travellers see the world in a responsible and sustainable way. Lonely Planet helped pioneer access to more authentic and grassroots experiences for independent travellers. That’s why we’re thrilled to be part of the next phase of their growth and helping to make sustainable experience-rich travel a mainstay for travellers everywhere.”

(c) Intrepid Travel

The tours will offer travellers a once-in-a-lifetime experience of what it’s like to truly know a place, through explorations of local food and drink, behind-the-scenes access to hidden gems, interactions with locals and insights from trusted travel experts. Travellers will gain a deeper understanding of, and connection to destinations by getting to the very heart of the place they are visiting. Delight in the sights, smells and tastes of some of the world’s most exciting and original experiences, from an evening stroll through Sydney’s small bar scene, an insider's trip through the most famous fish market in Tokyo, or an exploration of Rome’s iconic monuments and movie locations.

Cabrera adds: “Intrepid Travel is widely considered the industry leader in responsible travel and we’re delighted to be partnering with them on Lonely Planet Experiences. The two brands share an unmatched passion for travel and a genuine commitment to responsible travel and we’re proud to combine our expertise to deliver amazing adventures for like-minded travellers around the world”

The tours will run in 6 continents, across 65 countries, and range in duration from 2 hours to 22 days.

Feature tours include:

Day tours

Lonely Planet Experiences – Powered by Urban Adventures

- A Tour Through Tokyo’s Kitchen (incl. Tsukiji Fish Market), 2.5 hours, starting at $109 AUD
- Vintage Las Vegas Arts Tour, 2 hours, starting at $65 AUD

Multi-day tours

Lonely Planet Experiences – Powered by Intrepid Travel

- Galapagos Experience (7 days), starting at $1320 AUD
- Explore Egypt (15 days), starting at $1645 AUD


The launch of Lonely Planet Experiences is the latest in a series of new ventures by Lonely Planet as the company seeks to maximise adjacent business opportunities under the new strategic direction of recently appointed CEO, Luis Cabrera.

Citadines on Bourke Melbourne becomes dog-friendly

Canines and their companions will be able to experience a New York moment in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, as Citadines on Bourke Melbourne transforms into a dog-friendly retreat, complete with a rooftop courtyard for pups to stretch their legs from up above.

Having recently welcomed four-legged guests to a selection of apartments at Somerset on Elizabeth Melbourne, The Ascott Limited are spreading the doggy joy to their sister property.

Ideally positioned in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD and comprised of spacious apartments with separate living and dining areas, Citadines on Bourke Melbourne offers guests and their beloved pups the perfect base to stretch out, relax and explore the city’s many sights and sounds at an affordable price.

To ensure the experience is nothing less than doggy-tastic, four-legged guests will be catered for with a bed fit for the furry traveller, water and food bowls, and a welcome pack including treats, toys and a special gift.

Pups on their first city-break will get a true taste for the highlife, experiencing their very own New York moment at the aparthotel’s rooftop courtyard. A vantage point to be enjoyed by all guests, there’ll be plenty of room for doggies to run around and owners to take in the city from up above.

Back on ground level, dogs will also have plenty of opportunity for exercise with neighbouring parks Carlton and Fitzroy Gardens both within close walking distance.

The guest services team will be well-versed in many of the dog-friendly activities on offer around the city, including Tom and Captain who guide dogs on adventurous walks around Melbourne, and Gourmet Pawprints who offer pup-friendly experiences such as Paws and Pours High Tea and Doggy Winery Tours.

Hounds will be happier than ever to be treated to a city break, never to be left at home again!

For further information about Citadines on Bourke Melbourne, please visit www.citadines.com

Market returns this weekend to support fire-affected stallholders with Bushfire Appeal

Canberra’s Capital Region Farmers Market has revealed many of its stallholders have been severely affected by the Australian bushfires across several regions, and vows to do whatever it takes to help and support the Farmers Market community.

“We are deeply saddened that a number of our stallholders have been affected across several regions including the NSW South Coast, Snowy Mountains, South West Slopes and Southern Highlands, with many experiencing partial or total destruction of property, equipment, crops and stocks,” said Capital Region Farmers Market Manager, Sarah Power.

“Up until now, the most significant impact on our many farmers and producers, has been drought. Now you add these devastating fires to the mix…it is just heartbreaking. These families have been affected very badly, and we will see a knock-on affect for years to come in terms of long-term production,” Sarah continued.

Sarah revealed that the Market will reopen tomorrow and that its return for 2020 is the best way that locals can support the stallholders through buying and donating.

“You can support our stallholders by buying what produce there is available. These people’s livelihoods depend on this income – we know many Canberrans have been feeling hopeless, so one way to show support is to continue to shop local,” Sarah continued.

Tony Howard, spokesperson for the Rotary Club of Hall which owns and manages the Capital Region Farmers Market, today announced the launch of the Farmers Market Community Bushfire Appeal, revealing that Rotary has donated $50,000 to kick off the appeal.

“Our appeal will assist our Farmers Market families with critical short-term support and assistance. Rotary will assist fire affected stallholders and their families with financial contributions, clean up assistance, provision of new or used equipment, mental and social support and administrative support for businesses,” Tony said.

Visitors to the Capital Region Farmers Market can head to the Rotary Bushfire Marquee onsite at the front of the Market’s shed where they can contribute donations. They can find out more about fire-affected stallholders and other ways in which they can assist. The Farmers Market Community Bushfire Appeal will run for the remainder of January.

“Rotary is a not-for-profit run by volunteers. Our members can act very quickly to reach and assist these people. Visitors can be assured that 100% of funds donated will directly support fire-affected stallholders who require immediate and ongoing assistance across these regions,” Tony concluded.

Capital Region Farmers Markets reopens for the year tomorrow, Saturday 11th January, from 7.30am – 11.30am. Visitors are to be aware that there will be a reduced number of stallholders due to the fires, drought and access into Canberra. The Market will minimise the impact of the current smoke in the ACT this weekend by locating all stallholders inside the shed where possible. Visitors should take the necessary precautions and follow the advice of ACT Health with regards to any potential smoke hazards.

For more information on the Market, the appeal, how you can assist and where your money goes, visit https://capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au/farmers-markets-community-bushfire-appeal/

Traveloscopy |