Insights - 6 December 2024
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NEW AIRLINE ROUTES TURBOCHARGE
SUMMER TRAVEL TO NSW
The first Turkish Airlines flight has touched down at Sydney Airport, just in time for the busy summer holiday season.
Destination NSW worked closely with Turkish Airlines and Sydney Airport through the Aviation Attraction Fund to secure the new route, which will turbocharge the NSW visitor economy by an estimated $53 million in its first year alone.
The Istanbul to Sydney route will also deliver an additional 68,620 inbound seats and support more than 290 jobs over the next 12 months.
The Aviation Attraction Fund has helped secure more than 40 routes since its launch and has also supported Sydney Airport to land a new Shanghai-Sydney route with Juneyao Air, which will commence later this month.
DESTINATION NSW CELEBRATES SUMMER IN SYDNEY
Summer is here and visitors and Sydneysiders alike are spoilt for choice in experiences showcasing Sydney’s world-class culture, hospitality and thriving 24-hour economy.
Destination NSW has secured a diverse events calendar that includes the United Cup, SailGP, Sydney Festival, Supercars 500, TITANIQUE!, Sydney International Art Series and more, cementing Sydney’s position as the major events capital and premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific.
Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham recently joined with visitor economy representatives to showcase the exciting months ahead. Learn more here
SYDNEY NAMED GLOBAL TOP 10 CITY DESTINATION
Sydney has entered the top 10 on Euromonitor International’s Top 100 City Destinations Index 2024, rising 14 places to eighth position.
The index compared 55 different metrics across six pillars for 100 city destinations to create an overall city attractiveness score. Pillars included economic and business performance, tourism performance, tourism infrastructure, tourism policy and attractiveness, health and safety and sustainability. Learn more here.
SYDNEY'S ACCESSIBILITY IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Destination NSW has joined with one of YouTube's most popular channels and Qantas to highlight Sydney's accessibility for visitors of all ages and abilities.
The Harbour City welcomed 102-year-old San Francisco local Dorothy Smith as she fulfilled her ambition to travel to every continent in the world. Her experiences were shared with YouTube channel Yes Theory's 9.2 million subscribers and attracted extensive media coverage throughout Australia and around the world.
SNOWIES ALPINE WALK OFFICIALLY OPENS
The new Snowies Alpine Walk in Kosciuszko National Park, a joint NSW and Australian Government-funded project, has opened for the summer walking season.
Delivered by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the 56km, four-day walk links Guthega, Charlotte Pass, Perisher and Bullocks Flat. Visitors will experience views of high-country plains and snow-capped mountain ranges as they journey alongside the Snowy River, before descending through subalpine meadows and forests to the Thredbo River.
NSW CONTEMPORARY MUSIC STRATEGY
Sound NSW has released its NSW Contemporary Music Strategy. The 10-year plan for strengthening the NSW music industry focuses on upskilling, improving conditions and infrastructure and championing output. It aims to enable industry growth by reaching new audiences.
CHOOSE TOURISM CASE STUDY: HOTEL ETICO
Destination NSW has produced a video case study featuring Hotel Etico as part of its Choose Tourism NSW program. The video highlights how the social enterprise is transforming workplace inclusivity by employing people with disability across its housekeeping, front desk, kitchen and guest services.
BIENNALE DIRECTOR TOPS POWER 100 LIST
ArtReview has released its annual 'Power 100' list for 2024, with Biennale of Sydney Artistic Director Hoor Al Qasimi taking the number one spot among cultural figures from around the world. The 25th Biennale of Sydney will take place from 7 March to 8 June 2026 and is supported proudly by Destination NSW.
HARBOUR BRIDGE CYCLEWAY PROJECT
Work is set to begin on the NSW Government's $38.9 million Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway project before Christmas. When complete the ramp will link the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Milsons Point and make one of Australia’s most iconic bike routes easily accessible for riders of all ages and abilities.
VIBRANT 2025 OUTLOOK FOR BUSINESS EVENTS
Business Events Sydney secured more than 30 events in the second half of 2024, worth an estimated $100 million in direct expenditure. This cements a pipeline of 76 events to 2030, attracting 111,000 delegates and generating an estimated $451 million in direct expenditure.
NORTH AMERICA ROADSHOW 2025
Seller applications close on 12 December for Destination NSW's North America Roadshow 2025. The trade mission will promote NSW to key travel buyers. It will include workshops, travel advisor events and networking opportunities in Los Angeles and New York in March 2025.
NEW OWNER FOR LUNA PARK SYDNEY
Luna Park Sydney has been sold to one of NSW’s largest privately-owned hospitality operators, Oscars Group, which has a portfolio of hotels and resorts, pubs, event centres and commercial and retail assets across eastern Australia. Managing Director Bill Gravanis said the goal was to grow the amusement park as a visitor destination.
INTERNATIONAL VISITORS DRIVE RECOVERY
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released its Tourism Satellite Account for FY2023-24, which shows tourism gross domestic product (GDP) was $78.1 billion, up 5.5 per cent year-on-year in chain volume terms. International tourism consumption rose by $10.8 billion in chain volume terms. Filled tourism jobs rose 5.7 per cent to 691,500.
'TRAVEL TUESDAY' GAINS MOMENTUM
Have you heard of Travel Tuesday? Following on from the success of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the latest entrant in this calendar category is a day when shoppers can find deals on travel purchases, with interest in the sales event rising in Australia.
WATER SAFETY CAMPAIGN FOR CHINESE VISITORS
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is collaborating with Surf Life Saving Australia to highlight to Chinese visitors and locals the dangers of swimming or rock-fishing at remote, unpatrolled beaches and waterways. The campaign is appearing across print and radio.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
SKY-HIGH MILESTONE FOR AIRPORT METRO: The 3.2-kilometres of viaduct linking the Warragamba viaduct to the future Luddenham Station has been completed for the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project. Learn more
PONDI REOPENS IN WESTERN SYDNEY: The NSW Government has confirmed that Penrith Beach will reopen on 7 December 2024. Learn more
NEW MARIYUNG FLEET WELCOMES FIRST PASSENGERS: Visitors from Newcastle and Central Coast were the first to enjoy Sydney Trains' new Mariyung train this week. Learn more
PAINTING BLITZ ON SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE AHEAD OF 100TH ANNIVERSARY: A third of its surface will be repainted and areas of rust treated as part of the NSW Government's eight-year maintenance program. Learn more
INTERNATIONAL DELEGATES ATTEND SOUTH COAST TRADE MISSION: The NSW Government is hosting delegates from 13 countries to showcase investment, trade and industry development opportunities. 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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