The Aussie Specialist Program 2008
Tourism Australia has made a commitment to not only support the retail trade, but to elevate the Aussie Specialist program to a new platform of increasing sales and recognition.

The Vision:
Have a retail force empowered to sell and market Australia in the Americas.

The Mission:
Build a retail program that will not only educate travel agents to sell more of Australia but most importantly provide the essential tools for Aussie Specialists to market and convert consumers to Australia.

The Strategy:
	The Aussie Specialist Program covers the key retail areas of training and marketing in 2 tiers; Tier 1 is the educational platform where agents can be trained and educated on Australia, which provides them with the valuable knowledge and understanding they require to sell Australia, they receive an accredited certificate and monthly communications from TA Tier 2 represents our local marketing Aussie Specialist partners that market and attract experience seekers and convert enquiries into bookings
	A two-pronged approach through technology and marketing supports the new and existing Aussie Specialists. Tier 1 is technology driven which enables Tourism Australia to educate and train new and existing agents through an Online Training Website which allows efficient and effective training and communication Tier 2 is marketing driven which targets key consumers for agents to convert inquiries from Tourism Australia. These agents are supported through a Steering Committee (Travel Agent Advisory Board) made up of Aussie Specialists who manage 3 key areas of the program: 1) Membership conditions 2) Local leveraged Marketing Opportunities 3) Vision and strategy of the program

The American Aussie Specialist Program currently has 9,200 agents in Tier 1 and 130 Premier Agents in Tier 2. Tourism Australia has also recently launched the Aussie Specialist Program in Spanish for agents in the Latin countries.

If you are wishing to contact the North American Aussie Specialists, Tourism Australia offers various marketing opportunities in the format of e-mails, brochure distribution, banner ads and much more. If you would like to receive an Aussie Specialist Marketing Opportunities guide please contact Mark Punshon in Los Angeles on mpunshon@tourism.australia.com

Canada Section
Aussie Specialist Travel Agents: There are over 1000 Aussie Specialists in Canada including 19 Premier Agents.

Tourism Australia Canada Office
Office Address: Tourism Australia
  111 Peter St, #630
  Toronto, Ontario
  MV5 2H1

  Direct: Tel: +1 416 408 0549; +1 416 408 0560
  Fax: +1 416 408 1013
  Toll Free: +1 877 SEE AUST

USA section
Aussie Specialist Travel Agents: There are approximately 1718 Aussie Specialist agents and 130 Premier Agents and 817 Trainee Agents in the United States. For further information see Aussie Specialist Program at the end of this section.