Tas e-Connect Delivers for the Tourism Industry

29 July 2009

Tasmanian tourism operators are already beginning to reap the rewards of the State Government’s Tas e-Connect online tourism initiative, with an average of around $100,000 worth of business being booked each month since the initiative was launched only a few months ago.

The Minister for Tourism and the Arts, Michelle O’Byrne, said the Tas e-Connect technology gives Tasmanian tourism operators the ability to have their rooms, activities, tours and events seen and bought online by consumers everywhere.

“Tas e-Connect is working,” Ms O’Byrne said.

“In the three months since Tas e-Connect was launched to Tasmania’s tourism industry more than $300,000 worth of bookings have been made through the Open Booking Exchange.

“I am confident the level of business through Tas e-connect will grow exponentially as more local tourism businesses are connected.”

Ms O’Byrne said new technologies like Tas e-Connect’s online booking platform play a vital role in ensuring the tourism industry can meet the demands of the online consumer and be competitive in the global tourism market.

“Tas e-Connect makes it easier for consumers to plan and book their Tasmanian holidays. It lets them see real-time availability and prices, and allows them to make instant bookings of Tasmanian tourism products and services across a range of different travel websites,” she said.

At this stage, there are 238 Tasmanian tourism operators connected to the Open Booking Exchange and hundreds more have participated in Tourism Tasmania’s Tas e-Connect forums and learning programs.

Ms O’Byrne said that additional booking systems are gradually being connected to the Tas e-Connect technology and over the next three months many more tourism operators will have the opportunity to join this nation-leading approach to online distribution.

 A recent report to the Federal Minister for Tourism, the Chair of National Long-Term Tourism Strategy Steering Committee, Margaret Jackson AC, praised Tourism Tasmania’s Tas e-Connect program.

The Jackson Report stated that Tas e-Connect was an excellent example of a well-focused, digital migration initiative that addresses both technology and adoption challenges,” Ms O’Byrne said.

Ms O’Byrne said the Jackson Report calls for all other state tourism organisations and Tourism Australia to follow the lead of Tourism Tasmania and accelerate the online capability of tourism products nationally.

“Tasmania leading the country in both its tourism performance and tourism industry development, and with the rollout of high speed broadband services in Tasmania, I am confident our State can continue to lead the nation in the area of digital tourism.”

Tas e-Connect is a long-term program that connects tourism operators with travel distributors through an online booking platform called the Open Booking Exchange.

Tourism Tasmania is providing extensive support and development opportunities to tourism businesses and organisations around the State as part of the Tas e-Connect Learning and Development Program.

For more information on Tas e-Connect see www.tourismtasmania.com.au/taseconnect

Further information: Rohan Wade (03) 6336 2443 or 0417 051 255