DESTINATION AUSTRALIA
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Australia imposed some of the world’s strictest border restrictions during the pandemic, but a supportive government helped the country’s meetings industry pull through. Holly Patrick looks at how the Great Southern Land has remained relevant to planners in a time of uncertainty…
to help suppliers maintain their promotional activities. In February this year, after two gruelling years, the country finally reopened its borders to fully vaccinated travellers and began welcoming international delegates once again.
ustralia has long been a favourite of international association meeting planners. In 2019, the country attracted 272 international association meetings, making it more popular than association hub Belgium. But tough covid measures A
meant 96 per cent of business events scheduled for 2020 were cancelled or postponed. To ease the blow, the government, in tandem with the Business Events Council of Australia, launched the AUD50m Covid-19 Business Events Response and Recovery Framework
DARWIN, NORTHERN TERRITORY
Contrasting landscapes and climates, Aboriginal art, world-famous
the functional advantages of the Darwin Convention Centre were obvious from our rst meeting with the sta there.” NT business events director, Rebecca McCaig said she was delighted to win the bid considering the region’s international reputation for excellence and innovation in the health sector. She added: “ e Northern Territory’s health sector strengths include critical and trauma care, resilience, disaster response as well as rural and remote health. Coupled with our ancient 65,000-year-old Aboriginal culture, we believe the Darwin conference in 2022 will deliver distinctive and meaningful outcomes for delegates.” Over the next 12 months, NT will also welcome the International Foster Care Organisation Conference 2022, the 2023 International BioIron Society Congress, the 2023 World Melioidosis Congress and the 2023 World Conference on Ecological Restoration. Congress organisers can bene t from the Northern Territory Business Events Support Fund (NTBESF), providing nancial assistance of up to AUD100 per delegate, which must be spent with a NT enterprise. is can be used toward several congress-related activities, including, a gala dinner, welcome function, exhibition build, CSR element and local entertainment.
landmarks, and a focus on attracting conferences that bene t the wider communities, have bolstered Northern Territory’s reputation as an extraordinary destination for business meetings and events. Recognised as an international leader in renewable energy, the NT also has an outstanding reputation in tropical health research, rural and remote health service delivery, oil and gas extraction and online international education. Dedicated research facilities including Darwin’s Menzies School of Health Research and the Desert Knowledge Australia facility in Alice Springs provide associations with direct access to local experts and knowledge ambassadors who can help curate the most bene cial meetings for the association and the wider community. In September, Darwin Convention Centre, will host the 8th DevelopingEm Conference under the theme ‘Global Emergency Medicine’, highlighting the importance healthcare in remote populations with limited access to services. DevelopingEM co- director Dr Mark Newcombe, noted: “Darwin not only correlated with our thematic considerations, but
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