Insights - 7 November 2025
No images? Click here
THE KEY TRENDS SHAPING TRAVEL'S NEXT DECADE
A new report has highlighted sustainability, authentic experiences, ‘gig tripping’ and AI as key trends fuelling growth in the travel sector.
The 2025 World Travel Market Global Travel Report, released at the WTM London travel and tourism event, said continued economic growth in emerging markets such as the Asia Pacific was also boosting visitation.
The NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035 highlights sustainability and resilience as being integral to the future of the state's tourism industry, driving global demand for responsible travel and preserving its natural and cultural heritage.
Learn more here.
NSW SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD FINALISTS
The Sustainable Destination Partnership has been announced as a finalist in the Sustainable Tourism category of the 2025 NSW Sustainability Awards.
Destination NSW is an Associate Member of the Sustainable Destination Partnership (SDP). Led by City of Sydney, the SDP is a collaboration of hotels, backpacker hostels, serviced apartments, cultural institutions, entertainment venues and industry leaders that work together to improve the environmental performance of Sydney’s accommodation and entertainment sector.
Winners will be revealed at the Australian National Maritime Museum on 9 December 2025.
Learn more here.
2025 SUSTAINABLE CITIES AWARD WINNERS
Keep Australia Beautiful NSW has announced the winners of the 2025 Sustainable Cities Awards, a program that spotlights the people, projects and partnerships working to build a cleaner, greener and more resilient metropolitan Sydney.
Now in its 31st year, the Sustainable Cities Awards program honours the outstanding achievements of councils, community groups, businesses, schools and individuals who are tackling sustainability challenges through innovation, collaboration and community engagement.
Finalists for the overall Sustainable Cities Award were Bayside Council, Hornsby Shire Council, Liverpool Council and Penrith Council. The winner was Hornsby Shire Council, for its progressive and holistic approach to urban development, environmental stewardship, and inclusion.
Learn more here.
NSW TOWN WITH THE CLEANEST AIR IN OCEANIA
According to a recent study by independent air quality website HouseFresh, Broken Hill has the cleanest air of any continental urban area in Oceania.
The report also found Broken Hill had the second cleanest air in the world, behind Chu in Kazakhstan. Other NSW towns that featured in the top 10 for Oceania were Griffith and Lismore.
REGISTER NOW: NSW VISITOR ECONOMY FORUM
Destination NSW invites you to a pivotal day of insight, collaboration and action as we bring the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035 to life.
NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035 – Vision to Action will be held on 18 November 2025 at ICC Sydney. It will be an opportunity to connect with industry leaders, government partners and innovators as we move from strategy to implementation—together.
Our MC for the event will be multi-award-winning STEM journalist and broadcaster Rae Johnston, who is the host of ABC Radio National’s Download This Show and ABC Radio Sydney’s Sunday Mornings.
Guest speakers will include Roy Morgan Head of Travel and Tourism Adele Labine-Romain, Commbank iQ CEO Makenna Ralston and FiftyFive5 Director Peter Firth.
Register here.
GOOD WEEKEND SPOTLIGHTS NSW
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Weekend celebrated the 35th anniversary of its annual 52 Weekends Away issue on 1 November 2025. The issue featured 16 accommodations across NSW, ranging from historic hotels to waterfront relaxation, wine region indulgence and eco-glamping.
SYDNEY HOTEL NAMED BEST IN OCEANIA
Capella Sydney has been named Best Hotel in Oceania on the World's 50 Best Hotels List. Capella's first and only Australian property took out 12th place on the list and was described as "a spacious sanctuary of minimalism, art and Australian heritage unfolding over 192 guest rooms and suites".
METRO STATIONS BOOST VISITOR ECONOMY
A new report has revealed that day and night-time hospitality spending in suburbs along the delivered portion of the City and Southwest Metro line has grown substantially. According to CBRE's Metro-fiction 2.0, areas such as Sydenham, Chatswood and Crows Nest have become hotspots for entertainment and dining.
BUSINESS EVENTS SYDNEY DELIVERS $162 MILLION
Business Events Sydney (BESydney) has released its results for FY2024-25, including 66 meetings held during the period that generated an estimated $162 million in direct expenditure for the state. BESydney also secured 73 new business events, which will generate an estimated $236 million.
CULTURAL SPORTS TOURISM ON THE RISE
New data from Expedia shows 57 per cent of global travellers are likely to attend a uniquely regional sporting event while on a trip, showing a growing appetite for immersive, culturally rich sporting experiences. Australian rules football was identified as one of the top 10 sports fan experiences for 2026.
NSW WINE AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Congratulations to all the winners at the 2025 Wine Awards. NSW Wine of the Year was awarded to Hunter Valley’s First Creek Wines for its 2023 Single Vineyard Wills Hill Road Chardonnay. Destination NSW was proud to once again support the awards, which highlight our state’s world-class wine regions.
ATEC TOURISM EXPORT AWARD WINNERS
The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) recognised achievements across Australia’s tourism export industry at the ATEC Tourism Export Awards, held during Meeting Place 2025. NSW winners included Sydney Opera House Business Development Manager Catherine Hughes, who received the Len Taylor Young ATEC Award for Leadership.
SOUTH COAST ON TOP WITH TRAVELLERS
New data from Wotif shows 50 per cent of travellers are planning peaceful escapes in smaller towns. According to the research, visitors are increasingly drawn to destinations that offer a gentler pace and fewer crowds. Two NSW destinations were among the top five on Wotif's 2026 'Slow Down Towns' list: Huskisson and Mollymook.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
SYDNEY TRIUMPHS AT 2025 WANDERLUST READER TRAVEL AWARDS: Sydney won Bronze in the World's Most Desirable City category. Learn more
POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR SYDNEY HOTELS OVER SUMMER: Accommodation Australia NSW's recent Hotel Market and Economic Outlook meeting revealed weekend bookings are strong and midweek corporate and group travel has rebounded. Learn more
CYCLING TOURISM BOOM FOR AUSTRALIA: Explore's Worldwide Travel Trends Report 2026 shows bookings for its cycling holidays program are up 24 per cent in Australia and New Zealand year-on-year. Learn more
'SNACK TOURISM' TREND TAKES OFF: New research by Skyscanner has revealed culinary tourism is expanding beyond restaurant reservations to supermarket safaris. Learn more
THE BEST LATE-NIGHT BARS IN SYDNEY: Destination NSW has published a guide to the best places in Sydney CBD to sip, snack and socialise after hours. Learn more
WORLD-RENOWNED ARTIST TO BE SHOWCASED IN DUBBO: The Western Plains Cultural Centre will be home to an immersive installation by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama for the next two years. Learn more
CONTEMPORARY WORKS LOANED TO GRAFTON: Works by contemporary artists James Turrell and Anish Kapoor will be loaned to Grafton Regional Gallery for two years thanks to the Australian Government’s Sharing the National Collection program. Learn more
NSW GOVERNMENT INVESTS $13.5 MILLION IN CROWN RESERVES: The funding will support repairs, maintenance and upgrades that strengthen the local economies and enhance cultural, sporting and recreational experiences in NSW. 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
DID YOU ENJOY THIS NEWSLETTER? Forward it to colleagues and friends so they can subscribe too. Was this issue forwarded to you? Click here to sign up
