No Images? Click here SURF’S UP ON THE TWEED COASTThe NSW Pro Surf Series is making waves at Cabarita Beach, with more than 200 surfers from around the world competing for valuable World Surf League (WSL) ranking points. The Tweed Coast Pro kicked off this week with surfers from more than 20 countries represented. The event is a WSL Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000 competition and is the second of four stops on the 2018 NSW Pro Surf Series. The Series is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The final two events will take place at Boomerang Beach from 7 to 11 February and Avoca Beach from 7 to 11 March. The Tweed Coast Pro is a free event and will conclude on Sunday, 4 February. MOUNT PANORAMA HUMS FOR BUMPER CROWDThe Bathurst 12 Hour is underway at Mt Panorama, with the longest endurance race in Australia for performance and production cars set to thrill thousands. The grid action will be as hot as ever, with current Supercars’ champion, Jamie Whincup, set to line up against fellow Championship drivers Scott McLaughlin, Shane van Gisbergen and David Reynolds. Organisers are expecting another bumper crowd, after the 2017 event attracted more than 13,000 overnight visitors to the region and contributed nearly $7.4 million to the local economy. As well as world-class racing on the track, all ticketholders will have access to food, drink and entertainment options throughout the precinct. The event is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. Tickets are still available. NEW TIANJIN AIRLINES’ ROUTE TO SYDNEYA new Tianjin Airlines' route between Zhengzhou and Sydney is expected to bring an additional 14,000 Chinese visitors to NSW, and contribute $60 million to the State’s economy. Launched this week, the new service will be operated by an Airbus A330-200 and is the first airline route connecting the Chinese city of Zhengzhou to Sydney. NSW Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and Treasurer, Jonathan O’Dea MP, was at Sydney Airport on Tuesday to welcome the new service. “Through our tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, we look forward to promoting travel to Sydney and NSW with Tianjin Airlines, and capitalising on the opportunities presented by this lucrative market,” Mr O’Dea said. Sydney Airport Chief Executive Officer Geoff Culbert said, “We’re incredibly excited to welcome Tianjin Airlines as our eighth mainland Chinese airline and add Zhengzhou to the growing list of destinations accessible via direct flights.” WORLD TWENTY20 FUND BOOSTS INTEREST IN CRICKETSydney’s 14 cricket games scheduled for the 2020 ICC World Twenty20 Tournament are set to boost cricket participation and facilities across NSW, thanks to a $6 million funding boost. As part of the NSW Government’s successful bid, a new World Twenty20 Legacy Funding Program has been established to support local club facilities and increase female participation in the sport. NSW Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres said Sydney’s host role of the Twenty20 tournament kicking off in February 2020 will include the opening ceremony and three out of the four men’s and women’s semi-finals. “Sydney has secured more games than any other host city of the T20 tournament and we are expecting 37,000 interstate and international visitors to inject around $46 million into the NSW economy,” Mr Ayres said. Sydney will host seven women’s matches in February 2020, followed by seven men’s matches beginning in October 2020. The opening ceremony will be held on 21 February 2020 at Sydney Showground Stadium with the World Twenty20 expected to reach more than a billion people globally. Image: (L-R) Sydney Sixer Ashleigh Gardner, CEO Cricket NSW Andrew Jones, Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres, Sydney Sixer Ben Dwarshuis. Photo credit: Anna_Kucera. MAY GIBBS HONOURED BY SYDNEY FERRY NAMINGThe new Sydney Harbour ferry branded Ferry McFerryface over the Summer, will be renamed after the iconic Australian children’s author, May Gibbs. In an announcement from NSW Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance, it was revealed that the Emerald 6 ferry will be renamed May Gibbs to mark the 100th anniversary since the publication of the author’s classic book, Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie (pictured above). “This will retain the vessel’s appeal to our youngest customers while also recognising an Australian icon with a long connection to Sydney,” Mr Constance said. Ms Gibbs also gave much to the disability sector of NSW, and after her death in 1969 left the copyright of her works to Northcott Disability Services and Cerebral Palsy Alliance. “She was an amazing Australian talent and a generous soul to Sydney, NSW and all of Australia, and I am proud we have found a small way to honour her contributions on Sydney Harbour,” Mr Constance said. Image credit: The Northcott Society and Cerebral Palsy Alliance © OPERA AUSTRALIA TO DEBUT CHINESE SURTITLES AT THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSEChinese visitors can now experience more of Sydney's world-class opera in their own language thanks to Opera Australia's introduction of Simplified Chinese Surtitles for select productions this season at the Sydney Opera House. Announced today, the initiative has been driven by a 113 per cent increase in tickets sales to Chinese tourists between the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons. Opera Australia has selected some of the world’s most popular operas to launch the program, including Bizet’s Carmen and Verdi’s La Traviata and Aida, all of which are known for the combination of glamorous sets and costumes, energetic choreography, hummable tunes and extraordinary voices. Along with Simplified Chinese surtitles, these productions are sure to deliver the ultimate cultural experience for Chinese visitors to Sydney. Simplified Chinese Surtitles will also feature at the spectacular production of Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour - La Bohème when it returns in March. Find out more. Image credit: Hamilton Lund OPAL CARDS ON PRIVATE FERRIESVisitors and locals travelling on ferries in Sydney will now have more choice, with three major private ferry routes accepting Opal cards. OpalPay will be available on services run by Sealink and Captain Cook Cruises between Manly and Darling Harbour, and between Circular Quay and Watsons Bay and Circular Quay and Lane Cove. The introduction of OpalPay will give customers greater flexibility with more public transport options and the convenience of one travel card to pay for more of their journeys. BIGGEST CAMPING HOLIDAY EXPOMore than 160 exhibitors and hundreds of brands will come together at the Newcastle Caravan Camping Holiday Expo next week. Now in its eighth year, the Expo will feature indoor and outdoor displays of caravans, motorhomes, campervans, camper trailers, slide-ons, fifth wheelers, tents and equipment plus 4WD touring accessories, and holiday park displays. Tickets are available at the gates along with free copies of the exhibitor guide and the 2018 NSW Holiday, Parks & Products Guide. REGISTER FOR LGNSW CONFERENCELocal Government NSW's (LGNSW) annual Tourism Conference is fast approaching and will take place from 12 to 14 March in Parkes. MANDARIN MAGIC AT MADAME TUSSAUDSTo celebrate Chinese New Year and the launch of an all-new musical experience at Darling Harbour’s Madame Tussauds, Aussie music duo Jess + Matt will make a guest appearance at a one-night only show on Thursday, 15 February. The pop sensations will perform requested hits at the intimate gig, as well as their iconic single Sydney To Me, in both English and Mandarin. Jess + Matt officially released their hit single Sydney to Me in Mandarin in China through Sony Music Entertainment in a unique partnership with Destination NSW in December last year. ORANGE GETS A TASTE OF EUROPEFrance is coming to Central West NSW this Autumn when the Bicycle Network’s European-classic inspired Newcrest Orange Challenge returns to the region. Riders will be put to the test on three separate routes – a 70km option, a brand new 100km course, and a 170km challenge, with varying amounts of hill climbing. Supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, the 2018 event will take place on 4 March and is expected to attract 2,300 overnight visitors and contribute more than $830,000 to the NSW visitor economy. VISITORS LOVE CENTENNIAL PARKNew research has revealed record visitation to Sydney’s Centennial Parklands, with a 55 per cent increase in visitor numbers in three years. The Parklands – which include Centennial Park, Moore Park and Queen’s Park – welcomed almost Customer satisfaction rates are also at an Centennial Parklands celebrates its 130th birthday this year. |