Distribution Initiative Taking Tasmania to the World

16 March 2009

The Minister for Tourism, Michelle O’Byrne, today announced that Tourism Tasmania was responding to rapid changes in consumer behaviour and online technologies by broadening the way it distributes Tasmania to the world.

The showpiece of this distribution revolution, Tas e-Connect, was officially launched in Launceston.

“Tas e-Connect  is an initiative developed by Tourism Tasmania to give Tasmanian tourism operators big and small, the means to connect their products and experiences with consumers across the world.

“Tas e-Connect is about creating more opportunities for Tasmania to be purchased online and in real time by growing the number of distributors taking Tasmanian product to market and increasing the number of tourism businesses participating in these programs.

“Using an open booking exchange technology, Tas e-Connect allows consumers to search and book their Tasmanian holiday online in a seamless and efficient process.

“Tasmania is among the first states in Australia to fully implement the Open Booking Exchange solution and make it live for its tourism industry.

“The open booking exchange allows operators to present consumers with real time availability and rates, to take bookings and transact payment instantly online – all the time.

“The introduction of this new technology will reduce the back of house costs for our operators and dramatically improve their cash flows – something that is vital to small business in any industry.”

Ms O’Byrne said Tas e-Connect was part of Tourism Tasmania’s broader, long-term strategy to support and build the distribution capacity of tourism operators and maximise benefits to the Tasmanian tourism industry as a whole.

“We are competing in a totally new environment today – the Tasmanian tourism industry and consumer demands are becoming extremely sophisticated.

“In order to remain competitive in this new tourism world, we must adapt the way we do business, and this means broadening the way we distribute tourism product and experiences to the world. Tas e-Connect is a very important part of this progression,” she said.

Tourism Tasmania is implementing an on-going learning and development program to help the industry to become e-commerce enabled and to get the competitive edge online.

“Commencing in Launceston, Tourism Tasmania is conducting a series of 10 industry briefings across the State for tourism operators to learn more about how Tas e-Connect can help grow their business and how all of our operators can leverage this new technology to gain advantage for their products in the digital world.

“And 2000-plus Tasmanian tourism operators will be contacted personally by telephone to discuss how their business can get connected through Tas e-Connect.

“Tas e-Connect is a big step forward to ensuring that Tasmanian tourism product is accessible anywhere, anytime that consumers are searching for holiday inspiration.

“Working in partnership on this latest initiative, we will ensure that Tasmania not only remains ‘top-of-mind’ with consumers across the globe, but they will be able to easily close the sale on their interest and book their holiday online,” Ms O’Byrne said.

For more information on Tas e-Connect, visit www.tourismtasmania.com.au

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