Insights - 21 June 2024 No images? Click here 2024-25 NSW BUDGET BOOSTS VISITOR ECONOMYThe 2024-25 NSW Budget has been announced, with $1.66 billion in funding allocated to the arts, visitor economy and night-time economy. Destination NSW received $324.5 million in funding to support its focus on experience tourism, including investment in visitor experience development, marketing and events to drive visitation to the state. ![]() INVESTMENTS TO TURBOCHARGE WESTERN SYDNEY VISITOR ECONOMYThe 2024-25 NSW Budget makes extensive investments in Western Sydney, including $79 million for improvements to the Campbelltown Arts Centre; $40 million to deliver the Riverside Theatres Redevelopment in Parramatta; and $2.5 million to reopen Penrith Beach for another summer and improve amenities and the visitor experience. Transport infrastructure investments include $2.1 billion for the delivery of Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2, $13.4 billion for the continuation of Sydney Metro West and $5.5 billion for the ongoing delivery of the Western Sydney Airport Metro. More than $1 billion will also be used for roads connecting visitors and locals with the new International Airport and Bradfield City Centre. ![]() BUDGET SUPPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE IN REGIONAL NSWThe 2024-25 NSW Budget provides investment in visitor infrastructure across regional NSW, including an additional $50 million for the Regional Development Trust, bringing this pipeline of investment to $400 million. Other highlights include $196.3 million in the Snowy Mountains region for essential infrastructure to support housing and grow year-round visitation, $15 million to improve rural and remote airstrips and $2.3 million for the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore Precinct Project. National Parks will receive $6.98 million to improve infrastructure. Additional funding in 2024-25 includes $32.5 million for the Gardens of Stone and Great Southern Walk, $10.6 million for Dorrigo Great Walk and $2.9 million for Great Koala National Park. Regional visitor destinations will also receive $20 million to co-fund electric vehicle (EV) destination chargers. ![]() VIVID SYDNEY 2024 SHINES ONCE AGAINVivid Sydney 2024 came to an end on Saturday 15 June following 23 vibrant nights that reinforced the city’s position as a world leader in artistic innovation and creativity. The Southern Hemisphere’s leading multi-artform festival showcased hundreds of events across Light, Music, Ideas and Food. Innovative artists, culinary talent, contemporary musicians and thought leaders participated in a program that centred around the theme of humanity. Preliminary figures confirm Vivid Sydney's enduring popularity, with the festival celebrating its biggest opening night on record. ![]() The fastest-selling tickets at the festival included Tekno Train by Paul Mac and In Conversation with Amy Poehler at the Sydney Opera House. Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour became the Vivid Sydney go-to for free and contemporary music during the festival, while Vivid Fire Kitchen was also a fan favourite. Accommodation Australia CEO Michael Johnson said: “Over the course of the event, hotels in the CBD enjoyed 75 per cent occupancy with bookings reaching as high as 90 per cent on weekends. There is no denying major events such as Vivid Sydney, that have the capacity to draw a high level of overnight visitation in the middle of winter, create an incredible boost for the city’s visitor economy." Tourism & Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond said: “Between the lights, the music, the ideas, the food and the incredible vibe, Vivid Sydney has once again delivered a spectacular event for visitors and locals of all ages, with the big winners being local tourism and hospitality operators. The bright lights of Vivid Sydney have showcased first-class hospitality, creativity and our beloved Sydney CBD and Harbour icons to audiences across the globe, demonstrating the value and huge potential of this event and the need to continue investing in world-class events.” New Sydney Waterfront Company also reported eight million precinct visits in May, up five per cent compared to May 2023. Vivid Sydney contributed to the final week of May outperforming the weekly average across the month by three per cent, while evening visits increased compared to May 2023. ![]() Vivid Light Nest installation (above) artist Leila Jeffreys said: “Thank you to Festival Director Gill Minervini and all at Vivid Sydney for giving me and my artistic collaborator Melvin J. Montalban the opportunity to create art on a scale that we could not have achieved on our own. "I visited Nest many times throughout the festival and was always moved to see people from all walks of life and ages stand together to witness the courtship dance of the Brolga, a moment where we all felt the link between the natural world and the human journey." Service and Creative Skills Australia CEO Natalie Turmine said: “Vivid Sydney showcases brilliantly our talented and vibrant creative arts, tourism and hospitality workforce, demonstrating the wealth of exciting career opportunities available in this sector. Thank you to all the creative artists, technicians, performers, hospitality staff and event organisers for delivering another successful Vivid Sydney.” ![]() BEHIND THE SCENES AT VIVID SYDNEYVivid Sydney 2024 may have switched off the lights for another year but work on Australia’s largest event continues. The Destination NSW technical and operational teams are busy dismantling installations and 3D projections from this year’s free 8km Vivid Light Walk. It takes more than six weeks to install all the lights and projections across the city, including three weeks of work on the Sydney Harbour Bridge alone and dismantling them is also a major undertaking. Thank you to everyone at Destination NSW and across government agencies and partners, who work behind the scenes to ensure the festival is so spectacular. ![]() HOW TO CREATE EV-FRIENDLY VISITOR EXPERIENCESExplore how your business can create visitor experiences that are electric vehicle (EV) friendly through a new guide released by Destination NSW. Quick tips for creating EV-friendly experiences provides practical tips and advice including:
The guide has been produced as part of the capability-focused NSW First Program, which helps visitor economy businesses to develop, promote and sell world-class experiences. View the guide here. An increasing number of drivers are switching to electric vehicles and planning their trips around EV charging locations. The NSW Government is providing $20 million in funding to assist eligible regional NSW businesses and councils by co-funding the purchase and installation of EV chargers. The grants cover up to 75 per cent of the cost to purchase and install EV chargers. The closing date for round two applications has been extended to 2 August 2024. View the applicant handbook here. ![]() ![]() JOIN AN EXPERIENCE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPDestination NSW is presenting a series of free Experience Development workshops delivered under the capability-focused NSW First Program. The workshops are designed to assist businesses create and refine visitor experiences that showcase the strengths of NSW. Focus areas include agritourism, nature, culinary and wellness experiences. The next workshops will be held in Bellingen (25 June) and Central Coast (26 June). ![]() ABORIGINAL TRADE |