Chief Minister Andrew Barr, who announced a Labor pledge to inject $3 million over four years into tourism marketing partnerships to attract more direct domestic flights to Canberra, said Tasmania was the next state on the ACT’s radar. More info at ​https://the-riotact.com/airport-launches-direct-flights-to-sunshine-coast-and-cairns-and-hobart-may-be-next/407115

While the world may seem like a very big place, it is made much smaller when you start to make friends from around the world. Thanks to various modes of transportation and available delivery options, it seems that borders keep shrinking all of the time. It is now common to have friends from many different places in the world. This creates an enriching experience and certainly adds enjoyment to the lives of many people. You might be in the position now of having some international friends and you would like to demonstrate how much you appreciate them. Here are five perfect ideas to do exactly that.

Send Them a Plane Ticket

If your friends like to travel and you have the means to do so, you can consider surprising them with a plane ticket. This is a great way to reunite in person and spend some memorable moments together. Just let them know ahead of time so that you can arrange dates that work for both of you. You can shop around online for the best fares available during those times.

Use Local Stores to Deliver Something to Them

There are times when you can best show someone in another country that you are thinking of them by purchasing a few items from a local store and having them delivered directly. Thanks to the availability of online shopping, this is easier than ever before. You can use a service like Western Union to send money to India from Australia. That makes it even easier to pay for items if the merchant accepts it and get them on their way to your friend's location.

Consider a Gift Card

You do not always have to buy a physical gift to show your friends that you are thinking of them. In fact, a gift card will do just fine. This will allow those people you are close to internationally to purchase something that they need or would enjoy themselves.

Go See Them and Bring Some Souvenirs

If you are ready to take a trip yourself, then buy a plane ticket and go see your international friends. Before you go, get some souvenirs from your own country to take to them. This will make for a great gesture as they spend some time showing you around their own city.

These are five great ideas to show off your love for the friends you have made around the world. It is the thought that counts. The key is to embrace this newfound cultural diversity, learn from another, and continue to grow. Having international friends will broaden your perspective and make you realise just how small the world actually is.

How it works.
Note that you do NOT present us with the voucher. You need to:

1. Book your accommodation and pay direct, for a stay in Sept, Oct, Nov
2. Register to receive your voucher, opens 7 Sept
3. Complete your stay
4. Use your voucher to get our travel dollars refunded from the Government after your visit

For full details about this Government scheme, see https://buysomethingtasmanian.com.au/tourism/voucher/

Subject to availability and eligibility, you can register for the following voucher types:

1 adult registration (maximum claim of $150)

• 1 x $100 accommodation voucher and/or
• 1 x $50 experience voucher

2 adult registration (maximum claim of $300)

• 2 x $100 accommodation vouchers for use on different nights and/or
• 2 x $50 experience vouchers

Family with children registration (maximum claim of $550)
Family of 2 adults:

• 2 x $150 accommodation voucher for use on different nights and/or
• 2 x $50 experience vouchers

Family of 1 adult:

• 1 x $150 accommodation voucher and/or
• 1 x $50 experience voucher

Children:

• 1 x $50 experience voucher per child capped at three or $150

There are a limited number of vouchers available. Register early to be sure to get at least one voucher. Pending availability, you can register for additional vouchers only after your first voucher has been redeemed.

Regional public transport in the is pretty limited. Fortunately, there are plenty or rental cars available in Tasmania. Normally, it is always a good to book your car at least a few months before your trip. However with the current low numbers of non-Tasmanians, there are plenty of cars available.

​Tasmania is home to some of the best cool climate wines in the world, especially pino noir. Many of the wineries are located in beautiful surroundings: Enjoy views of rolling hills while you sample top-quality wines.
Many wineries also have award winning restaurants so be sure to leave plenty of time in your day to linger.

Following an active twelve-month-long review of its visitor information services, the Huon
Valley Council has made the difficult decision to close its Visitor Information Centre in
Huonville and visitor information space in Geeveston.

The comprehensive review of Council’s continued management and ownership of the
centres showed that operating circumstances have become more challenging over the past
12 months. At its March 2020 Special Meeting, Council resolved to continue to operate the Huonville
and Geeveston Visitor Centres, with a view to move towards a cost-neutral service model
for their continued operation.

“Unfortunately, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the back of the downturn following the 2019 bushfires, this was going to be a very difficult task,” said Huon Valley Council Mayor Bec Enders.

A further review was undertaken to address new challenges and the rapidly changing
circumstances brought about by the current health crisis. At its 29 April 2020 Ordinary
Meeting, Council resolved to wind up operation of both centres due to the loss of tourism in
the region and budget constraints.

“The COVID-19 Emergency will continue to have effects on visitation in the Huon Valley in
the medium and long term, with limitations and restrictions on travel, public gatherings and
social distancing,” said Cr Enders.

“Many people have lost employment and probably won’t have funds available for leisure
travel for some time until the COVID-19 emergency is over. People are also likely to avoid
international travel for some time.

“The decision to close the centres has come after a thorough, comprehensive review of
Council’s visitor information services, and was not taken lightly. The approach to supporting
the visitor economy in the Huon Valley needs to be considered in the context of and in 
response to the health crisis, and unfortunately this means closing the visitor centres in
Huonville and Geeveston.

“Community engagement will commence soon on re-imagining the use of the vacant spaces
within the Geeveston Town Hall. We are excited about facilitating the discussion with our
community about how the Geeveston Town Hall can become not only a tourist destination
but also a vibrant community hub.”

Council’s decision to no longer provide visitor information centre services will ensure that
we can appropriately manage Council’s budget impacts of COVID-19, and continue to deliver
the services our community really needs.

“Council acknowledges that the visitor centres have provided significant value to the
community, local economy and the tourism sector, with many small tourism operators and
artisans having relied upon them,” said Cr Enders.

“Investment in dedicated and passionate people is a crucial part of providing and
showcasing the best of what the Valley has to offer, because it means we see more people
visiting the region, and more new residents joining our community.”

Cr Enders says Council remains committed to supporting the Huon Valley tourism and
business community as we respond to COVID-19.
“With a renewed focus, drive and dedication to deliver on our promises, we look forward to
progressing initiatives under the Huon Valley brand program.
“Council sincerely thanks each and every staff member for their dedication and passion in
delivering professional and well-regarded visitor information services to our community and
our visitors over the past ten years.”
​
For more information: Mayor Bec Enders (03) 6264 0300

​Remarkable Tactics to Boost Your Sales

1.   Virtual Tours
One of the main problems that face real estate agents is that some potential customers don’t have enough time to follow all the procedures and check all the houses in person until they find the one for them. So, to avoid this issue, you can start offering virtual tours for your customers so they can only visit the house they like the most. That way they will not waste their time visiting all the properties you have and they will know all the details they need to know about a place before they schedule a visit. Virtual tours give you an advantage over your competitors because customers will know that they can have an accurate image of a house before they see it in person, which will answer all the questions they have and will avoid wasting their time.

If you don’t work in a real estate company, and you’re just trying to sell your old house, you can hire a professional photographer with a 360º camera and upload all the videos and pictures on a website or social media platforms. You will be saving time for yourself and potential buyers because when someone contacts you, you’ll be sure that they’ve seen an accurate image of your house and that they’re interested in buying it. However, as a customer, there are some houses that you should see, because the air quality and the view will matter, especially if you’re looking for houses in big cities. If you’re moving to a bigger city, Jeff Stewart of Stewart Realty says it’s ideal to live near a greenbelt, which provides recreational opportunities, better air quality, and a way to enjoy nature. Such features will not be seen through 360º images and videos, so it’s better to check out these properties in person.

2.   Social Media Marketing
As a real estate company or someone trying to sell their own house, your online presence matters. Start by setting up accounts on all social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. You will be able to target more people that way and opportunities to sell will increase. You will have to interact with your followers and promote your properties on these platforms. To allow more people to see the houses you're selling, add images, videos, and all the available details on property pages, and make it easy for customers to contact you. However, before you start sharing your properties online, identify your target market and set a certain budget for online marketing. That way you will know who’s interested in your property and how much it will cost you to pump up your sales.

3.   Website
Having a good website will allow more people to find you, and can also reduce the total cost of online marketing. You should make it easy for potential customers to find you on google. To do that, you should invest in SEO to improve your ranking, update your location so those who are near you or looking for properties near you can find your website easily, and add as much information, images, and videos as you can on your site. By doing that you’ll be able to reach more people interested in your properties and the cost you spend on marketing will decrease.

4.   Invest in PPC Advertising
Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is one of the best techniques to utilize when you’re marketing for your properties. You will choose your target audience based on their interests and the location, and you will only pay when someone visits your site or clicks on your ad. It's a great way to ensure that the leads you're collecting are interested in real estate. However, if you don't know how it works, you should hire an expert because otherwise, you could end up paying a lot of money without reaping the desired results.

5.   Publish a Newsletter
For long-term success, it's recommended to publish a real estate newsletter on your website. The newsletter can include why people should invest in real estate, why they should own a house, updates about mortgage rates, or anything related to real estate in general. However, in order for this newsletter to be successful, you should be consistent and publish monthly or weekly if you could. You can also send the newsletter to your customers or new leads via email. Email marketing is beneficial for your company as it will show you who's interested in knowing the updates you publish, who unsubscribed from the newsletter, and whether they opened the email or not. These insights will help you improve your newsletter, which could increase your sales as well.

Selling a property is a long process that requires a lot of effort, which is why it’s important to make it as easy as possible for your customers. No matter what tactic you want to follow to boost your sales, you should first know who your target market is and the things they’re interested in. Knowing these two points will ease a lot of things for you and you will know which marketing way will increase your sales. If you’re not a professional real estate agent and you want to sell your property, consulting or hiring a real estate agent will be better for you and will save you a lot of time.

Travelling to a new place is always exciting, especially when you’re going to an entirely
different continent that’s located on a completely different hemisphere. Not knowing what to
expect or what awaits you can be thrilling, but it can also be a bit scary.

If you’re looking for a stress-free travelling experience, here’s a list of things you
should plan ahead for:
​
Parking
One of the things many people tend to forget when travelling abroad is where to park their
car. With high crime rates in Seattle, the thought of leaving your car unattended while you
travel internationally can be a bit worrying. Leaving your car at Sea Tac airport parking will
not only make it easier for you to get to the airport, but is also an excellent option in terms of
price. That way, you won’t only avoid the stress and worry concerning the safety of your car,
but you’ll also be doing it at a fraction of the usual cost.

Visa
In order to enter Australia, you’ll need a valid passport as well as a visa. If you’re planning on
visiting Australia for tourism or business reasons and will stay for a period less than 90 days,
then you can most probably obtain an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). This is an electronic
visa that can be acquired through the ETA website. You can also find many travel agencies
or airlines that offer visa services at an additional cost. In all cases, it is important to obtain a
visa in advance in order to be able to enter the country without any issues.
​
Quarantine laws and regulations
Australians take quarantine laws and regulations very seriously. That’s why there are many
items that are either prohibited to enter the country, or need to be declared for them to
decide whether they could possibly carry any form of diseases or introduce pests that could
cause any problems to their environment. In order to avoid the stress of being searched and
even paying a fine, make sure you avoid bringing food, plants, animal products, seeds, fruits,
feathers, leathers and skins or anything made of wood when travelling to Australia.

Be prepared for the weather
If you’re not familiar with Australia’s moody weather, you’re in for a big surprise. In one day,
you could be going through four different seasons, which is something you’ll need to plan out
in advance. In order not to stir panic because of the weather when you get there, make sure
you always pack layers that you can put on and take off easily whenever the seasons
change within the day. It’s always best to have an umbrella or a waterproof rain coat too,
even if you’re heading there during the summer.

Enjoy your trip to Australia without having to worry with these tips. As long as you’re
prepared, know what to expect, what to avoid, what to pack and have done your proper
research, you’ll get the chance to experience a whole new continent with zero stress. Just
remember, Australia is like a whole other world and it is best to know the best places to visit
before you go!

 
Obstacle Course
Everyone loves a challenging race. Set up an obstacle course in your backyard using cones, old tires, ropes, and whatever you can find in your garage. Form teams and race with each other. You may even include a treasure hunt to make the race even more challenging. On the other hand, you can design a race course that matches the skill level of each member of the family to guarantee that everyone will have fun. You can also involve everyone in the preparation by asking them to contribute to the planning and come up with an obstacle of their choice.
​
Pools, Slides and Trampolines
If you do not have the luxury of time, as well as the budget to book a trip and visit a water park, then better create one in your backyard. Set up an inflatable pool where your kids cool down after jumping from a trampoline. You can also opt to set up a giant slide leading up to the inflatable pool, or better yet, put up a slip and slide. Several online reviews will give you an idea of the best inflatable pools, trampolines, as well as slip and slides for the summer. Among these online reviews, The Toy Report definitely provides a smart guide. Everyone in your family, kids, and adults alike, will surely have fun being under the sun with these easy to set up devices in your yard, transforming your backyard into your own water park. You can even enhance the fun with water guns and giant bubbles. Having fun in a water park, in this case, your own water park, truly never goes out of style.

Giant Board Games
Board games have been around since time immemorial. Playing giant board games in your backyard under the sun is a great way for you to teach your kids a nice game of chess, scrabble, or even snakes and ladders. There are also giant games of checkers and Tic-Tac-Toe that you can set up in your yard. Almost all board games now have giant counterparts, even Jenga blocks. Apart from being fun, these games will surely bring you back to the time when you were a kid yourself.
 
In conclusion, many summer backyard activities are timeless. Most of these you even remember from your childhood. Fill up everyone’s tummy with traditionally grilled barbeque and burgers after these tiring, but fun activities and games. Give your children the benefit of enjoying a pleasurable summer, much as you experienced, through these classic activities. Apart from the fun and exercise you get from these activities, what matters more is the quality time well spent with your loved ones.

Be sure to include #WillieSmithsCider as part of your Huon Valley Escape. The perfect refreshment stop after a visit to the #MountMiseryWalk or #HuonBushRetreats.

A new cider was trialled at the recent Mid-Winter Festival has given Willie Smith’s the confidence to sell bottles as well as kegs. Meanwhile, Willie Smith’s continues to plant more cider apple trees each year, to help development the craft cider industry in Tasmania's Huon Valley.
​
Hear Cider maker, Tim Jones, tell the cider story

In a recent online article, https://www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-tips-and-articles/sketching-for-travellers-reasons-to-swap-your-smartphone-for-a-pencil-or-paint
the worlds leading travel guide suggests to readers, "Swap your smartphone for a pencil or paint...The ease and spontaneity of capturing the world around us in photographs and video clips that can instantly be shared is one of the wonders of the modern age and an activity that's become central to our travels at home and abroad. However, the digital revolution has also left many of us drowning in images delivered daily via Instagram, Facebook, Vine and scores of other social media apps – not to mention struggling with our own ever growing online photographic libraries."

Tasmania's Huon Valley is a place to slow down to Tasmanian speed, take the time to do a sketch or painting. To encourage this, we are giving away an accommodation and activities prize package:

• Visit any activity or accommodation featured on the Huon Valley Escapes website
• Produce your hand rendered image in a way that captures the features of the location
• Post the image and a few words about your visit to Huon Valley Escapes Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HuonValleyEscapes/
  
• By posting to our Facebook page, you give us permission to use the image in promotions
  
• We are looking for an image that nicely captures the feeling of the location. The image might be cartoon, childish, a work of fine art, realistic, surrealistic, even abstract, its up to you
  
• We will choose our favorites and award a prize pack to the winner
  

Showcasing the many regions of Tasmania, this video shows there is more to Tassie than just Hobart. Use Hobart as your gateway, then head south to the Huon Valley, Far South and Bruny Island.

We are so confident that meteors will be visible that we offer a 33% refund guarantee.

• Book at least 3 nights at Huon Bush Retreats or Buttongrass Retreat. Your stay must include 3, 4, 5 or 8, 9, 10 May. Yes, it can include the 6 and/or  7 May but those nights are not included in the count of 3. Yes, you can double dip by booking at our already reduced midweek or long stay rates.
  
• If there are no new social media images of meteors from this event during your stay, we will refund one night.
  
• You cannot claim your refund simply because you didn't see any, because you were asleep or if was cloudy.
  

Add the possibility of an Aurora and you won’t be getting much sleep.