Tourism Australia appointment to drive future growth

Tourism Australia has announced the appointment of Andrew Hutchinson to the newly created role of General Manager - Domestic and New Zealand, responsible for leading the organisation’s focus on the domestic tourism opportunity, as well as reaching the New Zealand market once border restrictions start to lift.

With 25 years of experience in the tourism industry, Hutchinson joins Tourism Australia from Adventure World Travel having previously worked for major brands such as Flight Centre, Qantas Holidays, STA and Pinpoint Mastercard.

In 2019, domestic travel accounted for $78.8 billion in overnight trips and 1.4 million visitors from New Zealand spent $2.6 billion in Australia.

Announcing the appointment, Tourism Australia Managing Director, Philippa Harrison said the understanding of the local and trans-Tasman travel markets positioned him as the ideal selection for the role.

Harrison explained “Australian tourism is facing unprecedented challenges due to the multiple crises impacting the sector, starting with the summer bushfires and now the coronavirus pandemic.

“In response to these events, we are reshaping our business and our marketing strategy to hone opportunities that will be critical to kick-starting recovery - starting with domestic travel and then New Zealand as travel and border restrictions are lifted.”

Tourism Australia has reiterated its support for the opening of a travel bubble with New Zealand as soon as it is safe to do so, for which it will be preparing with a variety of leisure travel marketing activity. This will be backed by the ongoing rollout of the Aussie Specialist Program training for travel agents which was recently launched in Australia.

Hutchinson (pictured) started in the Sydney-based role this month, reporting to Tourism Australia Executive General Manager - Commercial, Robin Mack.