Tourism Australia Wraps-Up ATE17 In Sydney

19 May 2017

Tourism Australia is wrapping up the 38th edition of its annual business-to-business event, with the final day of appointments for the 2017 Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE17) taking place in Sydney today.

With more than 2,500 delegates, including 800 travel wholesalers and retailers (buyers) from 548 companies from more than 30 countries and 555 Australian tourism businesses (sellers), meeting in 50,000 business appointments at ATE the opportunities for generating future tourism business for Australia are significant.

Tourism Australia Managing Director John O’Sullivan said during the week of ATE buyers from around the world have had a chance to meet with the people representing Australia’s exceptional tourism destinations and experiences.

“ATE is the Australian industry’s chance to highlight the diversity of our incredible tourism product whilst also strengthening our connections with the global travel agents who sell Australian holidays internationally,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“This week we have had 86 new buyers, 55 per cent of whom are from Asia, as well as 83 new Australian product sellers attending ATE for the first time alongside our returning buyers and sellers, all meeting to generate future tourism business for Australia.

“We also know that one of the key strengths of ATE is the opportunity it gives the international travel trade to experience of Australia first-hand – which is the best possible way to ensure they continue to encourage their clients to holiday here,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

Mr O’Sullivan said the connections made at ATE help deliver around three million visitors each year, spending up to $8.5 billion whilst they are here, thereby helping to further grow our visitor economy*.

On behalf of Tourism Australia Mr O’Sullivan also thanked host-state partner, Destination NSW, and airline partners Virgin Australia and Etihad Airways, for their support in the delivery of ATE17. He also thank all buyers and sellers and attending media for their involvement in ATE.

ATE17 also celebrated 50 years since the Australian Government created of a dedicated international tourism marketing agency to promote Australia overseas - with the establishment of the Australian Tourist Commission, now Tourism Australia. During this time inbound tourism to Australia has grown to become one of the country’s largest services export sectors, with more than 8 million visitors contributing $39 billion annually.