Australia has turned to one of its most beloved film franchises, along with two of Hollywood’s biggest stars, as part of a multi-million-dollar marketing push to draw visitors from across the world Down Under.
First aired during February’s high-profile Super Bowl ad break, the A$36m campaign by government organisation Tourism Australia casts popular actors Chris Hemsworth – who has been working with Tourism Australia since 2016 – and Danny McBride in a mock trailer for a sequel to the hit 1980s’ film Crocodile Dundee.
As they travel around Australia, the pair explore pristine beaches, taste Australian wines and dine on the iconic Sydney harbour, with a brief cameo from Crocodile Dundee himself, Paul Hogan.
“It means a lot to be the ambassador for Australia,” says Hemsworth in an interview with CNN Travel. “I had the greatest experience growing up, but it wasn’t until I moved away that I really appreciated it.”
The actor, famed for playing Thor in the Disney/Marvel films, described his recommendations for places to go, including Melbourne, Victoria and Uluru.
After living in Los Angeles, Califonria, for several years, he moved back with his wife and children to live near the Gold Coast.
“Mostly I just missed Australia. I missed the people. I missed the coastline,” Hemsworth says. “Our three young kids spend 95 per cent of their time outdoors on the horses, on the beach, running through the bush. We’re very, very lucky.”
US tourists In addition to the “trailer”, Tourism Australia built up its social media presence, with teasers featuring the likes of famous Australians Margot Robbie, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Isla Fisher.
The stunt has proved an initial success, with advertising firm Amobee reporting a 681 per cent increase in digital mentions of Tourism Australia through the second half of January. In terms of Super Bowl advertising, the spot finished second overall for global digital engagement.
While targeting tourists worldwide, this campaign is paying special attention to the US, a critical market for Australia with 780,000 American visitors contributing A$3.7bn annually to the national economy.
The campaign will likely be a welcome boost to visitor numbers at attractions across the country, with Australia’s Gold Coast theme parks needing a particular push as they exit a financial dip stemming from the Dreamworld accident in 2016.
“A favourable exchange rate and strong aviation capacity leading to highly competitive airfares makes this the right time to increase our investment in [attracting visitors from] the US,” says Australian minister for trade, tourism and investment, Steven Ciobo.
“This is the single largest investment Tourism Australia has ever made in the US market and one which we believe will grow annual spend by American visitors to A$6bn by the year 2020,” Ciobo says.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2018 issue 1
Industry Opinion: Waterparks
More water leisure operators are investing in becoming more accessible, writes WWA's Aleatha Ezra
Industry Opinion: Zoos & Aquariums
Species survival expert Bill Robichaud shares the trials of the saola and what zoos are doing to save this near-extinct creature
Interview: Bob White
Bob White, COO of Village Roadshow, on
weathering a dip in attendance and keeping
his eyes on investment and expansion
Inclusivity: Open to All
Kath Hudson reports on some inspiring
initiatives to help include people who
face physical, social or economic
obstacles to visiting attractions
Heritage: Lofty Ideals
Westminster Abbey is getting an attic
conversion of sorts. We found out more
Waterparks: Under the Weather
Meet the team who helped bring
Epic Waters to fruition – an undercover
Texas waterpark on an epic scale
Profile: Andreas Andersen
IAAPA’s new chair Andreas Andersen sat
down with Tom Anstey to talk about industry
growth, sustainability – and queueing
Theme Parks: Think Big
Liseberg CEO Andreas Andersen reveals
details of the park’s €200m expansion
Themed design: The Story Builders
Disney’s Joe Rohde and Scott Trowbridge
and Universal’s Thierry Coup reveal the
secrets of their trade – well, some of them!
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
Australia has turned to one of its most beloved film franchises, along with two of Hollywood’s biggest stars, as part of a multi-million-dollar marketing push to draw visitors from across the world Down Under.
First aired during February’s high-profile Super Bowl ad break, the A$36m campaign by government organisation Tourism Australia casts popular actors Chris Hemsworth – who has been working with Tourism Australia since 2016 – and Danny McBride in a mock trailer for a sequel to the hit 1980s’ film Crocodile Dundee.
As they travel around Australia, the pair explore pristine beaches, taste Australian wines and dine on the iconic Sydney harbour, with a brief cameo from Crocodile Dundee himself, Paul Hogan.
“It means a lot to be the ambassador for Australia,” says Hemsworth in an interview with CNN Travel. “I had the greatest experience growing up, but it wasn’t until I moved away that I really appreciated it.”
The actor, famed for playing Thor in the Disney/Marvel films, described his recommendations for places to go, including Melbourne, Victoria and Uluru.
After living in Los Angeles, Califonria, for several years, he moved back with his wife and children to live near the Gold Coast.
“Mostly I just missed Australia. I missed the people. I missed the coastline,” Hemsworth says. “Our three young kids spend 95 per cent of their time outdoors on the horses, on the beach, running through the bush. We’re very, very lucky.”
US tourists In addition to the “trailer”, Tourism Australia built up its social media presence, with teasers featuring the likes of famous Australians Margot Robbie, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Isla Fisher.
The stunt has proved an initial success, with advertising firm Amobee reporting a 681 per cent increase in digital mentions of Tourism Australia through the second half of January. In terms of Super Bowl advertising, the spot finished second overall for global digital engagement.
While targeting tourists worldwide, this campaign is paying special attention to the US, a critical market for Australia with 780,000 American visitors contributing A$3.7bn annually to the national economy.
The campaign will likely be a welcome boost to visitor numbers at attractions across the country, with Australia’s Gold Coast theme parks needing a particular push as they exit a financial dip stemming from the Dreamworld accident in 2016.
“A favourable exchange rate and strong aviation capacity leading to highly competitive airfares makes this the right time to increase our investment in [attracting visitors from] the US,” says Australian minister for trade, tourism and investment, Steven Ciobo.
“This is the single largest investment Tourism Australia has ever made in the US market and one which we believe will grow annual spend by American visitors to A$6bn by the year 2020,” Ciobo says.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2018 issue 1
Industry Opinion: Waterparks
More water leisure operators are investing in becoming more accessible, writes WWA's Aleatha Ezra
Industry Opinion: Zoos & Aquariums
Species survival expert Bill Robichaud shares the trials of the saola and what zoos are doing to save this near-extinct creature
Interview: Bob White
Bob White, COO of Village Roadshow, on
weathering a dip in attendance and keeping
his eyes on investment and expansion
Inclusivity: Open to All
Kath Hudson reports on some inspiring
initiatives to help include people who
face physical, social or economic
obstacles to visiting attractions
Heritage: Lofty Ideals
Westminster Abbey is getting an attic
conversion of sorts. We found out more
Waterparks: Under the Weather
Meet the team who helped bring
Epic Waters to fruition – an undercover
Texas waterpark on an epic scale
Profile: Andreas Andersen
IAAPA’s new chair Andreas Andersen sat
down with Tom Anstey to talk about industry
growth, sustainability – and queueing
Theme Parks: Think Big
Liseberg CEO Andreas Andersen reveals
details of the park’s €200m expansion
Themed design: The Story Builders
Disney’s Joe Rohde and Scott Trowbridge
and Universal’s Thierry Coup reveal the
secrets of their trade – well, some of them!
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-
Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional
revenue opportunities.
The UK government has announced a temporary reduction in VAT on visitor attractions and
children’s meals as part of a summer cost-of-living support package designed to stimulate the
visitor economy and encourage family days out.
As designer Yinka Ilori prepares for his first solo gallery show in London, he speaks exclusively
to CLADmag about his mission to spread joy, the power of play, and his bold approach to using
colour (including the colours you won’t see in his work).
The government of Thailand is exploring plans for a THB300bn (£6.3bn, US$8.3bn)
entertainment complex in the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), with officials
proposing a large-scale theme park and sports destination as part of a broader tourism and
economic development strategy.
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
