Insights - 16 May 2025
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TOP PERFORMING INTERNATIONAL VISITOR
MARKETS FOR NSW
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows the top three international visitor source markets for NSW in March 2025 were the United States (44,320 trips), China (29,700) and New Zealand (29,340).
NSW welcomed 286,400 short-term visitor arrivals during the period, an increase of 4100 compared with the corresponding month of the previous year.
Short-term visitor arrivals to NSW from the United Kingdom, South Korea, India and Indonesia all surpassed 2019 levels in March 2025.
Learn more here.
SYDNEY AIRPORT WELCOMES HIGHEST INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC ON RECORD
Sydney Airport has delivered its highest quarterly international traffic on record with 4.32 million international passengers passing through the terminals in Q1 2025.
The international results were a 3.9 per cent increase on the same period in 2024.
Overall, 10.4 million passengers passed through the airport in Q1 2025, delivering a 0.8 per cent increase on Q1 2024.
SYDNEY NAMED TOP 5 GLOBAL CITY FOR CULTURE
Sydney has cemented its status as a global cultural capital, earning a place on Time Out’s 2025 list of the World’s Best Cities for Culture.
The Harbour City featured in the top five for 2025, alongside Paris, Florence, Edinburgh and Mexico City.
Time Out's editors said: “Sydney might be well known for its harbours and beaches, but it also has a thriving arts scene, featuring everything from world-class exhibitions and dazzling musicals to drag shows on bar tops and indie theatre in pub basements - all of which impressed Time Out’s culture experts, who gave it top marks.”
THANK YOU TO OUR VIVID SYDNEY VOLUNTEERS
National Volunteer Week will be celebrated from 19-25 May 2025, coinciding with hundreds of volunteers joining Vivid Sydney to bring it to life from 23 May.
The 2025 theme for Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering is 'Connecting Communities', highlighting the power of volunteering to bring people together, foster community engagement and create a sense of belonging.
Volunteers play an essential role in ensuring the smooth operation of Vivid Sydney, Australia's largest festival. They provide information to audiences at city-wide information booths, in roaming teams in key locations and at many Vivid Light installations.
The Vivid Sydney Volunteer Program, in collaboration with Casual Hands, welcomed 724 volunteers in 2024, who contributed 23,496 hours of customer service.
Vivid Sydney is proudly owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW.
Thank you to all our Vivid Sydney volunteers and to everyone who gives their time to support the visitor economy throughout the year, including assisting at events, welcoming cruise passengers into our ports and showcasing our museums, galleries and Visitor Information Centres throughout NSW.
AUSTRALIAN FASHION WEEK 2025
AFC Australian Fashion Week 2025 was held in Sydney from 12-16 May. Supported proudly by Destination NSW, participating designers included Aje, Alix Higgins, Bassike, Bianca Spender, Buluuy Mirrii and Lee Mathews. The Carla Zampatti brand celebrated its 60th anniversary during the festival by presenting 60 looks on an outdoor runway at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
SYDNEY WRITERS' FESTIVAL JOINS VIVID SYDNEY
The 2025 Sydney Writers’ Festival will be held from 19–27 May, with the program including a partnership with Vivid Sydney called Firetalk. The free, open-air storytelling event will be held at the Bon(d)fire Vivid Light installation from 28 May to 11 June at Barangaroo. Curated by Wiradjuri poet and artist Jazz Money, it will feature First Nations writers, poets and songwriters.
TOP NSW TOUR GUIDE FINALISTS
NSW Tourism Association has announced the finalists for the inaugural NSW Top Tour Guide Award, recognising outstanding individuals who bring destinations to life through guided experiences, storytelling and local knowledge. The new category celebrates the vital role tour guides play in creating memorable visitor experiences.
PROGRAM ANNOUNCED FOR LGNSW CONFERENCE
The 2025 Local Government NSW Destination and Visitor Economy Conference will be held from 26-28 May at Mantra on Salt Beach, Kingscliff. Topics will include artificial intelligence, arts and culture, nighttime economy growth and regional events. The NSW Top Tourism Town Awards will also be presented during the conference.
WORKSHOPS: EXPERIENCE DEVELOPMENT
Destination NSW is hosting Experience Development workshops in Wollongong (21 May), Coonamble (3 June) and Orange (5 June). The free, full-day workshops support visitor economy businesses to create new experiences or refine their existing ones.
NEW CONTENT LIBRARY IMAGES AND VIDEOS
The Destination NSW Content Library has published the latest issue of its contentED newsletter, featuring new images and videos showcasing visitor experiences including Newcastle nightlife, Central Coast flowers, cycling in the Snowy Mountains and Sydney festivals.
SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL LANDS IN SYDNEY
Qantas, Sydney Airport and Ampol have collaborated on the largest-ever commercial importation of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) into Australia, with nearly two million litres of unblended SAF arriving this week. Once blended, the fuel could substantially reduce emissions on flights in the coming weeks equivalent to the annual emissions generated by 800 cars.
NEXT STEPS FOR WESTERN SYDNEY AIRPORT
Western Sydney International Airport is seeking 20 food and beverage operators to serve the millions of visitors that will pass through the terminal when it opens in late 2026. CEO Simon Hickey said: “We are rapidly approaching opening day, with the completion of major construction works mere weeks away and our focus shifting to asset testing, live airport trials and commercial operations."
MOGO TRAILS OFFICIALLY OPENS
Mogo Trails has opened its expanded 125km network in Mogo State Forest. The trails wind through bushland in Mogo, Batehaven and out to Mount Wandera. Mogo Trails will also host the Sea Otter Australia Mountain Bike Festival in October. The project was funded by the Australian and NSW Government’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund and the Growing Local Economies Fund.
ULTRA-TRAIL AUSTRALIA BY UTMB RETURNS
The world’s second largest trail running event, HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB, has returned to the Blue Mountains from 15-18 May 2025. Supported proudly by Destination NSW, it has made its debut as the UTMB World Series Major for Oceania. More than 8000 runners are taking part in five races, including 11km, 22km, 50km or 100km distances, plus the new 100 Mile event.
WREXHAM MATCH FOR SYDNEY
Hollywood stars and Wrexham AFC Co-Chairmen Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have announced the men’s first team will tour Australia in July, taking on Sydney FC on 15 July 2025 at Allianz Stadium. The tour follows the club’s promotion to the Championship in the English Football League. The match will showcase Sydney to the world as a premier sporting destination.
AUSTRALIA'S BEST STEAK RESTAURANTS
Double Bay's Margaret has been named the second-best steak restaurant in the world by The World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants. Ten other Sydney venues made the list: Rockpool Bar & Grill (12th), The Grill at The International (14th); Firedoor (16th), Porteño (20th); The Gidley (32nd), Aalia (36th); Shell House (51st), The Cut Bar & Grill (62nd), 20 Chapel (93rd) and Bistecca (99th).
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW PORT AUTHORITY OF NSW CEO: The NSW Government has officially appointed John McKenna to the role. Learn more
JT TRAVELS TO TAMWORTH AND ARMIDALE: Destination NSW's branded Sunrise segments will be filmed in the New England region on 17-18 May 2025. Learn more
CONNECT WITH THE NEXT GENERATION OF TOUR GUIDES: ATEC is partnering with TAFE NSW on 19 May 2025 to launch Meeting Guide Graduates B2B, a new initiative that will connect operators with the next generation of tour guides. Register here
AFC WOMEN'S ASIAN CUP AUSTALIA 2026™: The tournament's Final Draw will take place at Sydney Town Hall on 29 July 2025. Supported proudly by Destination NSW, 11 matches will be held in Sydney during the tournament. Learn more
TAFE NSW LAUNCHES AVIATION CERTIFICATE IN WESTERN SYDNEY: Students will be able to undertake an Aviation Certificate 1 at the Seven Hills High School’s Vocational Innovation Centre to prepare them for work at Western Sydney International Airport. Learn more
BATHURST & BACKROADS WEBSITE LAUNCHES: The new digital platform highlights the culture, creativity and character of the Bathurst region and features brand ambassadors Matt Moran and Edwina Bartholomew. Learn more
APRIL SUPER BREAK BOOSTS HOSPITALITY SPENDING: The CommBank Household Spending Insights Index shows hospitality spending rose 1.4 per cent in April 2025. Learn more
NATIONAL CHERRY FESTIVAL FUNDING: The festival, which will be held in Young from 5-7 December 2025, will be supported by the NSW Government’s Stronger Together Local Council Major Festival program. Learn more
15 ARTS AND CULTURE MUST-SEES FOR WINTER: Destination NSW has created a guide to Sydney's cultural highlights for the season. Learn more
NEWCASTLE POST OFFICE REDEVELOPMENT: Plans have been approved for the historic building to become a conference centre and Aboriginal cultural centre. 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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