Insights - 24 April 2025
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OYSTER TOURISM TURBOCHARGES VISITOR ECONOMY
The South Coast will celebrate Rock Oyster Week from 26 April 2025, elevating NSW's reputation as the oyster tourism capital of Australia.
Restaurants, cafes and farm gates from Shoalhaven River to Pambula Lake will offer immersive visitor experiences throughout the week.
Rock Oyster Week will be followed by the Narooma Oyster Festival from 2-4 May, with program highlights including Oyster Farmers Alley, cooking demonstrations, the Australian Oyster Shucking Championships and Australia’s Biggest Oyster.
Supported proudly by Destination NSW, the Narooma Oyster Festival will attract thousands of visitors to the region, with 65,000 oysters expected to be harvested, shucked and consumed throughout the weekend. Learn more here.
In-water oyster agritourism experiences are also bringing rising numbers of visitors to NSW. Often offered on boat tours or with in-water dining, the experiences allow visitors to learn about oyster farming and enjoy fresh oysters directly from the water. Learn more here.
TATHRA OYSTERS CLAIMS PRESIDENT'S MEDAL
Tathra Oysters has been awarded the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW’s 18th Annual President’s Medal.
The business was selected from 4274 exhibits and 110 Sydney Royal Champions awarded throughout the 2024 Sydney Royal year. Owned by the Rodely family for more than 36 years, Tathra Oysters grows Sydney rock oysters in the Mimosa Rocks National Park.
Its oysters also took out Champion Boutique Sydney Rock Oyster at 2025 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show during Sydney Royal Easter Show.
PORT STEPHENS ELEVATED AS GLOBAL
SAILING DESTINATION
Port Stephens is charting the course to become a global sailing destination when Newcastle Airport’s upgraded international terminal opens later this year.
One of Australia’s largest regattas, Sail Port Stephens, is welcoming thousands of sailors and spectators to the region’s pristine waters from 31 March to 4 May 2025.
Destination NSW has supported Sail Port Stephens since 2010, helping the event grow to become a major visitor drawcard for the region.
Destination NSW has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Newcastle Airport to help it secure new international and domestic routes, which will enhance access to the destination for both racing and leisure boating enthusiasts.
Ahead of the Sail Port Stephens Performance Series commencing on 25 April 2025, Minister for Tourism Steve Kamper visited d’Albora Marina to celebrate the event’s success.
Pictured: Destination Port Stephens Chair Matthew Borger, Minister for Tourism Steve Kamper, Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington, d'Albora Marina Nelson Bay General Manager Matt Bonser, Mayor of Port Stephens Leah Anderson, Bannisters Port Stephens Deputy General Manager Jarrah Morgan, Magnolia Cafe owner Billy Barton and Sail Port Stephens founder Paul O'Rourke.
The latest Tourism Research Australia data shows the Port Stephens visitor economy is booming. The region welcomed 836,300 domestic overnight visitors in the year ending December 2024, up four per cent year on year. Domestic overnight visitor expenditure injected $683 million into the local visitor economy. There were 25,300 international visitors to Port Stephens during the period, who spent $11 million during their trip.
NSW IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT ATE25
Destination NSW will join 155 NSW destinations and visitor experiences at Australian Tourism Exchange 2025 (ATE25) from 27 April to 1 May 2025.
The four-day trade program will be an opportunity for global distributors including wholesalers and online travel agents to connect with visitor economy businesses from across the state.
Delivered by Tourism Australia, ATE25 will combine more than 50,000 scheduled business appointments with networking events. NSW will be showcased to more than 700 travel buyers and 67 international media representatives from more than 37 countries.
DESTINATION NSW LEADERSHIP UPDATE
The Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport has commenced the recruitment process for an ongoing CEO for Destination NSW.
Working closely with the Destination NSW Board and directly with the Minister for Tourism, the CEO will lead Destination NSW to grow the state’s visitor economy and strengthen its global profile.
Applications close on 4 May 2025. Learn more here.
SUPPORT FOR NSW
MUSIC FESTIVALS
The first round of the NSW Government's Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund has allocated a combined $2.25 million in funding to Bluesfest in Byron Bay, Lost Paradise on the Central Coast, Yours & Owls in Wollongong and Listen Out and Field Day in Sydney.
WORKSHOPS: EXPERIENCE DEVELOPMENT
Destination NSW is hosting Experience Development workshops in Maitland (13 May), Lismore (15 May), Wollongong (21 May), Coonamble (3 June) and Orange (5 June). The free workshops support businesses to create new experiences or refine existing ones.
ARTEFACTS ON DISPLAY AT WAR MEMORIAL
A collection of wartime artefacts honouring the legacy of the ANZACs is on display at the Anzac Memorial as the nation marks 110 years since the landing at Gallipoli. Entry to the Anzac Memorial in Sydney's Hyde Park is free, with the exhibition open daily from 9am to 5pm.
ANZAC DAY TRADING RESTRICTIONS
Retailers are reminded of changes to Anzac Day trading to ensure people can commemorate the day. From this year, retailers who were closed prior to 1pm will remain closed for the entire day. The decision follows public consultation that received strong community support.
MALAYSIAN AIRLINES BOOSTS SYDNEY FLIGHTS
Malaysia Airlines is adding a third daily service between Sydney and Kuala Lumpur from October 2025 to meet increasing demand. The new flights will bring the airline’s capacity on the route to more than 630,000 seats annually, the highest for any Australian airport.
AUSTRALIA'S FIRST DARK SKY LODGING
The Riverina's Kestrel Nest EcoHut has been recognised as Australia’s first DarkSky Approved Lodging. The certification coincides with International Dark Sky Week, which raises awareness of protecting the night skies for future generations.
FIRST REGIONAL ENTERTAINMENT PRECINCT
The NSW Government has announced Byron Bay will become the first regional area to establish a trial Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP). SEPs allow councils to change trading hours and sound rules within a designated area to ensure shops, businesses and local hospitality and entertainment operators can thrive and protect them against neighbour complaints.
NEW BESYDNEY CEO ANNOUNCED
Amanda Lampe has been appointed BESydney CEO, commencing 16 June 2025. BESydney Chair Professor Mary O’Kane AC said: “Amanda’s unique combination of private and public sector experience and connectivity with industry and Government at all levels will be a great asset to BESydney as the NSW Government prepares to release its Visitor Economy Strategy vision to 2035."
MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL BOOSTS NAROOMA
The upgraded Narooma Mountain Bike Trails have attracted 63,000 visitors to the region since opening, boosting the local visitor economy. Following $4.1 million in funding from the Australian and NSW Government’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund, 58km of trails have been added in Bodalla State Forest.
COUNTING DOWN TO MUDGEE CLASSIC
The Mudgee Classic will return on 3-4 May 2025, with record participants expected from around Australia and the globe. Cycling enthusiasts can choose from road courses ranging from 35km to 170km, plus an off-road gravel ride. Mudgee Classic is supported proudly by Destination NSW.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
2025 TOP TOURISM TOWNS: Public voting closes on 4 May 2025 for the NSW Top Tourism Town and Top Tour Guide awards. Learn more
CONNECT TO COUNTRY LATEST ISSUE: Tourism Australia's digital magazine dedicated to telling the stories of Discover Aboriginal Experiences members is out now. Learn more
BEST WALKING TRAILS IN NSW: Outdoor activity app AllTrails has named its top 10 NSW walking trails. Learn more
TRAVEL + LEISURE 100 BEST NEW HOTELS OF THE YEAR: The Eve Hotel Sydney and Basq House on the Byron coast both made the list. 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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