Aussie Food-Wine New Focus/Message!!??

[TLCOhio]

From the NewsCorp newspapers in Australia today (and other Aussie papers), they have this headline: "Tourism Australia's new advertising campaign to spruik food and wine" with these highlights: "Australia's tourism bosses have thrown out the old view of a nation throwing shrimps on the barbie and swilling cans of Fosters beer in favour of a more sophisticated impression of a country offering exotic dining locations, pristine produce, and world class wines. The new gourmet version of Australia as a gastronomically enhanced tourist destination will be unveiled today in Adelaide at a major global wine industry forum Savour Australia. A new marketing campaign will be developed to tell the world we serve up more than kangaroo, meat pies and frothing beers. The campaign, called 'Restaurant Australia', has been developed after in-depth research in 15 markets around the world revealed good food and wine experiences have become a major factor in deciding on holiday destinations. Researchers questioned more than 13,000 people in China, India, Japan, Germany, the UK, the US and other key markets. Only 26 per cent of those who hadn't visited Australia associated us with good food and wine while 60 per cent of tourists who had visited ranked us second only to France and better than Italy, Spain and Japan for our culinary delights. Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy said. 'The world now travels on its belly. Everyone wants to know where their food comes from and who prepares it. We're rated number one in terms of our beauty and natural environment, so we now want to strengthen our position when it comes to food and wine,' McEvoy said. People surveyed in Japan, Germany and the US rated Australia weakly. Not being known for one distinctive or traditional food style may be a factor in the mixed reception to our culinary culture, while there was a stronger perception about the quality of our wines. The new 'Restaurant Australia' themes will be incorporated into Tourism Australia's international There's Nothing Like Australia campaign over the next year. The enhanced food and wine program being launched is just the start of tying wine messages closer to produce, food and chefs."

 

From my marketing background/experience, this is interesting research and a changed/needed approach to compete in a world with evolving tastes and elevated travel desires. Looking forward to sampling much more while there in these different areas of Australia stating January 12, 2014. We in the U.S. know that Aussie wines are good. How do folks there rate the food and dining options/potentials/pricings?

 

Full story at:

http://www.news.com.au/travel/tourism-australia8217s-new-advertising-campaign-to-spruik-food-and-wine/story-e6frfq7r-1226719570653

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Celebrity Solstice Visual Highlights? From our June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in France, Italy, Kotor and Dubrovnik, I have pull together a number of wonderful visuals of the Solstice, its features, food, entertainment, options, etc. We are now at over 10,303 views for this shorter version of my larger full review of that cruise and all of the port pictures/details. Check these postings and added info at:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1803477

 

 

Here are a couple of Sydney dining visuals with nice outdoor settings to build up for our fun and anticipation.:

 

 

 

[Jacs]

It's funny, as an Aussie, I see Australia as all about food and wine, it's just not a focus we have used in tourism campaigns in the past. Melbourne in particular where I am from, is known as the food Capitol of Australia. We are a very multiple cultural city, and that shows in our food styles.

 

As for price, well it depends where you eat. A restaurant with a view like above will have a premium price just because of location, probably around $40 a main meal. On the other hand you can go to a smaller cafe or pub and get a main meal for $15 - $20.

 

I find some of the best dining experiences are to be had out of the city, in Melbourne I love the yarra valley area. You can go visit wineries and then find this little restaurant in a town somewhere, which will do an amazing tasting dish of local produce. Yum!

[Oz_Steve]

I would highly recommend any visitor to Sydney try to get a table at Billy Kwong's in Surry Hills. The food is fantastic and very reasonable. It is byo as well which I recommend as the wine list is a little so so.

[MicCanberra]

It is great to know that Australia is landing on a lot of people's radars, and that they see that food and wine tourism is big and getting bigger.:D