No Images? Click here RECORD RESULTS FOR NSWNSW has received its highest ever number of international visitors on record, according to the latest International Visitor Survey released this week. In the calendar year 2017, NSW welcomed 4.2 million international visitors, the highest on record, who stayed 94.4 million nights and spent $10.4 billion. The State attracted 1.5 million more international visitors than Queensland and 1.3 million more than Victoria. Regional NSW also achieved its best results on record, with double digit growth in international visitor numbers and expenditure and a 9.8 per cent increase in visitor nights. NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the results demonstrated the NSW Government’s tourism and major events strategies were delivering for every corner of the State. “In the year to December 2017, communities across rural and regional NSW welcomed 852,500 international visitors, who stayed 14.7 million nights and spent $1.05 billion, delivering a tourism bonanza for local restaurants, hotels and tourism attractions,” Mr Marshall said. “Visitor numbers grew by a mammoth 11 per cent and their dollar spend grew by 19 per cent, which is a phenomenal increase on last year. “While NSW is absolutely smashing records in the tourism industry, we won’t be complacent. I’m committed to boosting these numbers even further and continuing to break records for our State. “The NSW Government will continue to invest in our visitor economy and ensure that our State continues to lead Australia in international tourism,” he said. SYDNEY SECURES GOLDEN TICKETSydney has won a major bid to exclusively host the Australian premiere of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a new musical based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl. Announced this week by the NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall, the premiere production will open at the Capitol Theatre in 2019 and has been secured for Sydney by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. “Securing a major event like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a huge coup for NSW, drawing visitors from far and wide and boosting the State’s visitor economy,” Mr Marshall said. “Musicals are a major driver of tourism – more than 76,000 overnight visitors are expected to travel to Sydney for the Australian premiere of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, generating an estimated $37 million in visitor spend. “The popularity of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is enduring and we’re thrilled to secure the Australian premiere of the latest stage adaptation exclusively for NSW.” John Frost AM, the Managing Director of Gordon Frost Organisation said, “Sydney has a huge treat in store next summer, and it’s a magical concoction ready to satisfy any sweet tooth looking for a golden ticket.” The Australian Premiere of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will open in January 2019. Join the waitlist for tickets at CharlieTheMusical.com.au. Photo: L-R, Craig Donnell, Executive Producer of The Gordon Frost Organisation, John Frost AM, Managing Director of The Gordon Frost Organisation, and Minister Marshall. INDIAN VISITOR BOOM FOR NSWSydney and regional NSW are set for an influx of Indian visitors thanks to the NSW Government’s 2018 Focus On India workshop which aims to encourage more Indian travellers to book a trip to Australia’s premier tourism and events State. NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said India has been NSW's fastest growing inbound tourism market for the past five years. “With the size of India’s middle class rapidly expanding and Indian millennials seeking to travel more than previous generations, the market presents a lucrative opportunity for our tourism industry,” Mr Marshall said. “The 2018 Focus On India workshop is all about tapping into this market and putting NSW in the global spotlight by inviting 30 key India-based travel agents to NSW to meet one-on-one with some of our best export-ready tourism businesses. “There’s no denying that our hard work is paying dividends – the results from the latest International Visitor Survey show that NSW received the highest number of Indian visitors on record in the year ending December 2017, which contributed $337 million in visitor expenditure to NSW. “We will continue to focus on the dispersal of international tourists beyond the fringes of Sydney and into rural and regional NSW so that local communities reap the benefits of tourist dollars being spent all over town,” he said. JAMES CAMERON EXHIBITION SET FOR SYDNEYAcademy Award-winning director and deep-sea explorer, James Cameron, will take visitors on a virtual journey to the depths of the ocean in a brand new immersive exhibition coming to the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney this year. James Cameron – Challenging the Deep will premiere at the Museum supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, and will run from 29 May 2018 until 30 January 2019. NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the exhibition will provide a significant boost to the NSW visitor economy. “Given the worldwide appeal of Cameron’s work, we expect around 4,800 people will travel to Sydney from interstate and overseas to experience the exhibition, with a total visitor spend of approximately $4.6 million,” Mr Marshall said. To learn more about the exhibition, visit anmm.gov.au/jamescameron. Image credit: Mark Thiessen/Nat Geo Creative NORTHERN RIVERS HOLIDAY HOTSPOTSRenowned for its stunning beaches, lush hinterland and enviable coastal lifestyle, the Northern Rivers region of NSW is experiencing an accommodation renaissance with a recent spate In the year ending September 2017, the Northern Rivers attracted almost 2.7 million domestic overnight visitors, with 9.7 million nights being spent in the region. NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said, from Ballina to Tweed Heads, visitors to the region can enjoy an exceptional range of accommodation from backpacker hostels to award-winning boutique hotels. “We’re thrilled to see significant accommodation development in the region from holiday parks to new hotels. In Byron Bay over the last year, we’ve seen the addition of 99 new villas at Elements of Byron Resort & Spa, 18 brand new two-bedroom cabins at Discovery Parks, refurbishments undertaken at luxury hotels The Byron at Byron and Rae’s on Wategos, and the opening of converted boutique hotel, The Bower,” Mr Marshall said. To find out more about the Northern Rivers, go to visitnsw.com. ECO HUTS OPENING UP A WHOLE NEW WORLDThe NSW Government has announced a joint venture between the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the National Parks and Wildlife Service to promote 14 ‘Eco Fishing Huts’ at coastal and inland national parks across the State. NSW Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair said, “These huts will take families and fishers away from their busy lives and allow them to explore the NSW wilderness at its best. “The huts cover a range of fresh and salt water fishing experiences from as far north as Warialda to as far south as Eden and out to Bourke in western NSW.” The program offers 14 ‘Eco Fishing Huts’ at a 30 per cent discount to fishers who enter a promo code (found on the DPI website) and their recreational fishing fee receipt number. Fishers can view and book the Eco Fishing Huts here. NORTH COAST LAUNCHES DESTINATION MANAGEMENT PLANThe North Coast is set to welcome more visitors for nature-based experiences with the North Coast Destination Management Plan launched in Port Macquarie last week. The Plan, which was developed by the North Coast Destination Network in cooperation with Destination NSW, was launched by the NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall, Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams and Destination North Coast Chair Cameron Arnold. The Plan aims to grow the local visitor economy sustainably across a four-year period and has a strong focus on attracting more visitors for signature nature-based experiences including caravan and camping, food and local produce and business events. To receive a copy of the Destination Management Plan, email info@destinationnorthcoastnsw.com. COUNTDOWN TO PARKES AERO SPECTACULARAviation enthusiasts will be flocking to Parkes next month to celebrate 70 years of the Parkes Aero Club at the Parkes Aero Spectacular. The event is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The event will provide a significant boost to the local visitor economy, with many attendees travelling with their families, and extending their stay in Parkes, putting more heads on hotel beds, diners in restaurants and shoppers in local stores. The Parkes Aero Spectacular will be held on Saturday 14 April, 2018 and will include air displays, antique military aircraft, rip-roaring aerobatics and on-ground displays of large multi-engine aircraft from the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society. To purchase tickets, click here. FOLLOW YOUR TASTEBUDS TO MUDGEEKnown for its fresh seasonal produce and wineries, Mudgee is a foodies’ must-visit destination. This weekend, you can follow the Mudgee Region Food + Drink Trail to 21 stops using a hop-on, hop-off bus service between destinations, included in the cost of a Trail Pass. The Trail Pass also comes with five vouchers that can be exchanged for food and drink samples at wineries, restaurants, chocolate makers and cellar doors along the Trail. Find out more. NEW FERRY TO SYDNEY FISH MARKETA new ferry service will connect Sydney Fish Market to King Street Wharf 1 at Barangaroo. Operated by Sealink, the service will take 30 minutes and take passengers around Pyrmont and under the Anzac Bridge, making for a scenic trip. Sydney Fish Market receives approximately three million visitors per year, with over half of them currently arriving by car. The service begins on 24 March and will initially operate every 30 minutes on weekends, between 9am and 5pm. CREDIT CARD USE ON FERRIES AND LIGHT RAILSydney commuters and visitors can now use their credit card to tap on for single trips when travelling on ferries and the light rail. The contactless payment system began this week and is expected to be rolled out on Sydney trains by the end of the year. Commuters will also be able to use mobile wallets linked to their credit card, including phones, tablets and smart watches. Travellers using their credit cards will be charged a full single trip fare and won’t get the discounts that come with the use of an Opal card. FOUR WINDS MUSIC FESTIVAL RETURNSThis Easter, musicians will gather at Bermagui on the South Coast to perform music from around the world at the Four Winds Festival, a grass-roots event celebrating community and music in nature. Over five days, 26 performances by 60 artists and 10 ensembles will take place at 10 beautiful locations including the open-air amphitheatre Sound Shell, the all-weather acoustic space Windsong Pavilion and in private homes. Find out more and book tickets here. ENTER THE 2018 REGIONAL TOURISM AWARDSEntries are now open for the annual Regional Tourism Awards, which celebrate and acknowledge tourism excellence in NSW. Entrants are made up of tourism businesses, events, marketing organisations, clubs and individuals. Winners of the Regional Tourism Awards gain finalist status upon entering the NSW State Tourism Awards and if successful, go on to the national Qantas Australian Tourism Awards. For more information and to enter, click here. NEW RESORT FOR BATEMANS BAYThe first new resort in Batemans Bay in five years is due to open in 2019. Batemans Bay is a popular destination for Sydneysiders and is a key stop-off for those driving from Melbourne to Sydney. The $23-million Ramada Resort Batemans Bay will be the first development on the South Coast for the Wyndham Hotel Group and includes 84 guestrooms. Find out more here. |