VisitCanberra has received information that some ACT businesses have recently been sent unsolicited emails from a business going by the name of “ACT Tourism”, although this particular individual also operates under other business names such as Accommodation Find Pty Ltd, Internet Find Pty Ltd, and Special Days Pty Ltd.
These emails usually invite business owners to check, verify, renew or ‘claim your listing’. For many business owners this is the first time they are learning about their listings on these websites.
The emails create the impression that the tourism businesses already have a listing with this company as the emails are commonly titled ‘Review your Listing’, ‘Listing Advice Notice’ or ‘Renewal Notice’. It also creates the overall impression that you are simply ‘verifying’ or ‘updating’ your contact details cost-free.
There are many instances where these companies have names, logos and letterheads very similar to Tourism Industry Associations or State Tourism Organisations (STOs) for example tourismcanberra.com and acttourism.com.au. This results in confusion and many operators assuming that it is legitimate correspondence from VisitCanberra to update their ATDW listing.
Please note that these emails are not from VisitCanberra and VisitCanberra has no affiliation with these businesses. VisitCanberra does not charge operators to be listed in ATDW or on the visitcanberra.com.au website.
If you are unsure of the authenticity of an email advising you to update your tourism business listing, please contact atdw@act.gov.au
In related news, the owner of these businesses was recently issued an injunction by the Office of Fair Trading for “breaches of the unsolicited consumer agreement provisions of the Australian Consumer Law”. Note that the injunction specifically relates to the sending of invoices to business operators.