The key reason – air accessibility. The launch of low cost flights is bringing in planeloads of tourists who, despite the high Aussie dollar, are flocking to Australia. Which just goes to prove that when it comes to selling a destination, it’s access, access, access …

I heard that Malaysia, thanks to AirAsia X flights, is up 58% and that’s thought to be a matured market by some people in Victoria.

I am in Melbourne to speak at Victoria’s International Exchange 2010 which starts tomorrow morning. That’s the annual exercise in which Tourism Victoria updates its industry partners on its plans for the following year.

I am looking forward to learning more about how Victoria plans to conquer the East.

While here, I am also taking the opportunity to stage our Inspiration & Mentoring event, WIT*, in the city, our first in Australia, with the support of HSMAI Asia Pacific and Accor Asia Pacific.

I caught up with Bernadette Dennis, managing director of HSMAI Asia Pacific today for an update of the event at Sofitel on Collins on Thursday and she tells me things are shaping up well. We have close to 50 registrations on the books and it’s a diverse mix of folk so far.

Today, too, I confirmed another panelist – Graham Robertson, a passionate travel industry blogger and commentator at ProjectWander.

I think Graham will bring an interesting perspective to the discussion. Despite being new to the blogging world, Graham has managed to get the attention of the industry through his down-to-earth take on new technologies and their application within the travel sector. Previously an operations supervisor at GTA by Travelport, Graham now works in online marketing for Hotelscombined in Sydney, Australia. He is also a member of the Tnooz Gen-Y Collective.

Graham joins the panel that comprises Paul Southey, vice president Asia Pacific, TravelCLICK; Kate Smith, managing director of Waldron Smith Management; Nigel Gaunt, managing director, The Mint Organisation; and Henrik Berglind, Director of Sales & Distribution-Australia, Accor.

The event opens with an interview I will conduct with Dan Lynn, managing director of Expedia Asia Pacific.

WIT*e in Melbourne will be held at Sofitel on Collins. It starts from 6-9.30pm.

If you are in Melbourne, see you there – bring your friends and colleagues and let’s make the first WIT*e in Australia rock. Goodness knows, with the way tourism’s growing in Melbourne, we’re going to have to inspire and excite more young people to join the industry.

To register, contact Jane Thor or Gerry Pang

Featured image credit (Melbourne Sunrise from Williamstown): Ockra/iStock