Insights - 27 March 2026
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PREPARING FOR AUTUMN AND EASTER TRAVEL
Toolkits and tips are available to assist visitor economy businesses across the state during the autumn and Easter holiday period, including:
Quick tips for managing unexpected change: Destination NSW's capability-building NSW First Program has released a guide to assist tourism businesses during evolving external conditions. It provides practical tips for assessing impacts, adapting products and processes, managing staff and communicating effectively. Learn more here.
Central West tourism campaign: A coordinated regional campaign—Other Ways to the West—has been launched to provide messaging on how visitors can access the Central West region. Learn more here.
Stakeholder toolkit for Easter travel: Transport for NSW has released key messages and content for businesses to share via their channels. View the toolkit here.
Holiday and journey planning: The NSW Government has created tools to make it easier for people to plan NSW trips, avoid the busiest times on the roads and get to and from their destination and events safely. Learn more here.
FUNDING TO IMPROVE DETOUR ROUTES IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS AND CENTRAL WEST
The NSW Government will invest $50 million to strengthen and improve key detour routes in the Blue Mountains and Central West in response to the closure of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass.
The funding will support asphalting, shoulder widening and other corridor improvements along Darling Causeway, Chifley Road and Main Street in Lithgow, helping keep traffic moving as safely and reliably as possible during the disruption.
Blue Mountains City Council Mayor Mark Greenhill said: "The Great
Western Highway may be closed, but the Blue Mountains remains open for business.
"We encourage visitors to continue coming to the region and supporting our local businesses—there are safe and accessible ways to get here, and these upgrades will only strengthen that."
NEW ROUTES FROM SINGAPORE TAKE FLIGHT
NSW has landed two new airline routes connecting Singapore with Western Sydney and the Hunter.
Tickets have gone on sale for Western Sydney International Airport's inaugural international route on Singapore Airlines, while a new Jetstar route between Singapore and Newcastle has taken off for the first time.
Singapore is a top 10 international visitor market for NSW. There were 107,500 Singaporean visitors to the state in the year ending September 2025, who injected $236 million into the NSW visitor economy.
Singapore Airlines’ service into Western Sydney will commence on 23 November 2026.
Supported by the NSW Government through the Aviation Attraction Fund, a new Jetstar route between Singapore and Newcastle (via Bali) launched this week, connecting travellers from more than 170 destinations through Singapore Changi Airport to the Hunter.
Learn more here.
WSI ROUTE UNLOCKS BUSINESS EVENTS GROWTH
Business Events Sydney (BESydney) has welcomed daily, direct flights between Singapore and Western Sydney as an opportunity to unlock new opportunities for conferences, corporate meetings and incentives events.
BESydney CEO Amanda Lampe said: "Improved international air connectivity into Western Sydney is a significant enabler for the region’s visitor economy growth and global engagement.
"Singapore Airlines’ announcement reinforces Western Sydney International Airport’s role as a new international gateway, strengthening access to Sydney for business events, visitors and investment from key global markets."
RECORD YEAR FOR INTERNATIONAL TOURISM
Visitor expenditure in NSW has surged past $60 billion for the first time, following a record-breaking year for international tourism. The latest Tourism Research Australia data shows international visitor expenditure rose by 25.1 per cent to a record $15 billion in the year ending December 2025, while domestic visitor expenditure reached $45.4 billion (up 3.5 per cent year-on-year). There were 4.1 million international visitors to NSW during the period, an increase of eight per cent year-on-year.
VALE VIVID SYDNEY'S RHODA ROBERTS AO
Destination NSW pays tribute to Rhoda Roberts. A proud Widjabul Wiyabal woman of the Bundjalung Nation, Ms Roberts directed Vivid Sydney's lighting of the Sydney Opera House sails in 2016 with Songlines, an artwork inspired by the ancient dreaming tracks that weave across the landscape and skies. Ms Roberts went on to become the festival's First Nations Advisor, shaping its First Nations programming. Destination NSW extends its condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.
REGIONAL EVENT FUND 2026-27
Destination NSW is backing visitor economy growth in regional NSW with $1.5 million available for events through the Regional Event Fund 2026-27. Event organisers can apply for grants of up to $50,000.
NSW STUDENTS EXPLORE TOURISM CAREERS
Around 70 students have been given a behind-the-scenes look at the diverse careers on offer in the visitor economy as part of the NSW Government’s Visitor Economy Sydney High School Student Challenge.
HOW WSI WILL REDEFINE AIRPORT PRECINCTS
Western Sydney International Airport General Manager, Commercial Property Max Wilson discussed the vision for the airport precinct and its integration with the new Bradfield City in an episode of the Talking Property with CBRE podcast.
LIVE MUSIC REVIVAL FOR NSW
From Cooma to Coogee and Marrickville to Murwillumbah, a record 564 venues across NSW have accessed live music incentives. The surge follows the NSW Government delivering three rounds of vibrancy reforms.
MEDIA PREVIEW FOR RICK STEIN TV SERIES
Destination NSW hosted a media preview this week at Rick Stein at Coogee Beach for the chef and author’s upcoming TV series Rick Stein’s Australia. The six-episode series was filmed entirely in NSW, with the chef revisiting locations that have shaped his career.
CITY OF SYDNEY NIGHTLIFE BOOST
The City of Sydney is proposing to upgrade its late-night trading areas to special entertainment precincts. Venues within the precincts will be able to trade later and have access to NSW Government benefits, including fee discounts and extended licensing hours.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
REGIONAL EVENT FUND 2026-27: Destination NSW is backing visitor economy growth in regional NSW with $1.5 million available for events through the Regional Event Fund 2026-27. Event organisers can apply for grants of up to $50,000. Learn more
2026 MUMBRELLA COMMSCON AWARDS: Destination NSW was shortlisted in the Best In-House PR Team category at the awards, which recognise excellence, innovation and impact across Australia and New Zealand’s PR and communications industry. Learn more
ENTRIES OPEN FOR GOURMET TRAVELLER HOTEL & TRAVEL AWARDS: Submissions close on 24 April 2026, with winners announced in the magazine's July edition. Learn more
LIQUID FUEL EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRE OPENS: Located in Parramatta, it is the headquarters for the NSW Government's operational response to fuel distribution challenges. Learn morre.
DOMESTIC TRAVEL DURING DECEMBER 2025 QUARTER: New Tourism Research Australia data shows there were 11 million interstate and intrastate trips in NSW during the period, which generated $8 billion in visitor expenditure. Learn more
MOODY'S MAINTAINS NSW TRIPLE-A CREDIT RATING: The NSW Government’s track record of fiscal discipline, strong governance and substantial liquidity were highlighted as key factors supporting the rating, alongside the state's growing economy. Learn more
WOLLONGONG'S WARRAWONG PARKLANDS MASTER PLAN FINALISED: The NSW Government is preparing to revamp the area into a world-class waterfront destination. Learn more
BASS POINT TOURIST ROAD UPGRADE COMPLETE: The project was jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments, with additional funding provided by Shellharbour City Council. Learn more
FOLLOW DESTINATION NSW ON LINKEDIN: Stay up to date with all the latest Destination NSW initiatives by following us on LinkedIn. Click here
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