Insights - 20 December 2024
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RECORD DOMESTIC TRAVEL SPENDING IN NSW
Visitor spending has broken records in NSW, reaching $31.3 billion for domestic overnight expenditure across the state in the year ending September 2024.
New Tourism Research Australia data shows Sydney also achieved its highest total domestic expenditure on record at $15.8 billion.
NSW was the number one destination for Australians during the period, drawing 37.3 million domestic overnight visitors (up 3.2 per cent compared to the year ending September 2023).
TOP 10 INTERNATIONAL SOURCE MARKETS
There were 3.7 million international visitors to the state in the year ending September 2024 (up 18.4 per cent compared to the year ending September 2023).
Vietnam and South Korea led in visitor recovery (150 per cent and 141 per cent respectively), while Indonesia led in visitor nights recovery (182 per cent). South Korea and Indonesia led in expenditure recovery (151 per cent).
View the top 10 international source markets for NSW in the year ending September 2024 here.
FIRST JUNEYAO AIR FLIGHT LANDS IN SYDNEY
The first Juneyao Air flight this week touched down at Sydney Airport, adding another connection between NSW and China, one of the state’s top performing international visitor markets.
Destination NSW worked closely with Juneyao Air and Sydney Airport to secure the new route through the Aviation Attraction Fund, which will boost the NSW visitor economy by an estimated $80 million and is expected to support around 450 jobs in its first year alone.
Raising aviation capacity is key to growing the NSW visitor economy to $91 billion by 2035. Sydney Airport now offers the highest seat capacity for visitors from mainland China of any Australian airport, with nearly 58,000 weekly seats.
HAVE A SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL HOLIDAY SEASON
Destination NSW would like to wish Insights readers a safe and joyful holiday season.
With record visitation expected across the state, here are some useful NSW Government resources to help ensure a safe and successful summer:
- Destination NSW's NSW First Program offers tips, information and support for visitor economy stakeholders. Learn more here.
- Live Traffic NSW provides real-time information about incidents and changes in traffic conditions that affect travel across the state. Learn more here.
- For the latest public transport information, including service changes, trackwork and accessibility, visit Transport NSW. Learn more here.
- Find water safety information for beaches, national parks, inland waterways and pools here.
- For information on how businesses and communities can prepare for emergencies such as storms, fires, floods and heatwaves, visit the NSW Government's Get Ready NSW website. Learn more here.
- To keep up to date with local emergencies, download the Hazards Near Me app. Learn more here.
The first edition of Insights in 2025 will be on 10 January.
FREE FESTIVE ACTIVITIES FOR NSW
Visitors can join in a range of celebrations in the lead up to Christmas at The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour and The Domain in Sydney and The Station in Newcastle. The NSW Government has created a program of free events, including live music performances, food and beverage trucks, arts and crafts, market stalls and children’s activities, as well as opportunities to meet Santa.
SYDNEY IN SUMMER MARKETING PROGRAM
Destination NSW has launched a 'Sydney in Summer' campaign that highlights the city's diverse visitor experiences. The campaign includes paid media, a partnership with News Corp, broadcast integrations, influencer and media famils and press office activity. Destination NSW has collaborated with cultural institutions to feature their events and experiences as part of the program.
FUTURE SECURED FOR FASHION WEEK 2025
Collaboration between the NSW Government and the Australian Fashion Council has secured an industry-led future for Fashion Week. The event will take place from 12-16 May 2025 at Carriageworks, Sydney, supported proudly by Destination NSW. Fashion Week will provide the industry with the opportunity to connect with buyers and media, amplifying their global presence.
SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL ART SERIES ART PASS
Sydney International Art Series 2024-25 features three exhibitions exclusive to Sydney. Supported proudly by Destination NSW, the Art Gallery of New South Wales is presenting Chinese artist Cao Fei and surrealist René Magritte, while the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia is featuring artist Julie Mehretu. Visitors can experience all three exhibitions with an Art Pass.
LATER TRADING DURING REGIONAL EVENTS
Pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants in regional NSW will be able to trade later over summer thanks to special event extended trading hours and the NSW Government's Vibrancy Reforms. For the first time, the Ballina Cup, Thredbo Blues Festival, Illawarra Folk Festival, Love Lanes Festival in Wyong and the Big Bash League match in Coffs Harbour are among the events where patrons can grab a late night bite to eat and keep festivities going at nearby licensed venues.
NORTHERN RIVERS RAIL TRAIL EXTENDED
The Lismore to Bentley section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail has officially opened. The 16.3km section of the trail, which starts at the heritage-listed Lismore Railway Station, was facilitated by the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund. When completed, the trail will extend 132km from Murwillumbah, heading south through the Tweed Valley to Crabbes Creek, through Byron Shire to Booyong and on through Lismore and Bentley, finishing at Casino.
EV DESTINATION GRANT CLOSING DATE EXTENDED
The closing date for the latest round of the NSW Government's EV Destination Charging Grants program has been extended to 28 March 2025. The program provides co-funding to own and operate public EV fast chargers at visitor destinations across regional NSW.
AUSTRALIAN MJ LEAD ANNOUNCED
Roman Banks, who played the original lead role on Broadway in the award-winning musical MJ, will reprise the role for the Australian season of the production. MJ will debut at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in February 2025, supported proudly by Destination NSW.
AUSTRALIANS PRIORITISE CHRISTMAS TRAVEL
New data from the Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) shows cost-of-living pressures are impacting travel plans for 44 per cent of Australians during the festive season. TTF CEO Margy Osmond said: “More than a quarter of Australians deem travel a non-negotiable spend over the Christmas season, ranking ‘holidays and travel’ as their number one non-essential expense.”
NEW BRIDGECLIMB SUITS UNVEILED
BridgeClimb has unveiled the first resdesign in 12 years of its Climb Suit. Created in collaboration with Aboriginal artist Taleena Simon, the original artwork that served as the inspiration for the new design tells a story capturing the spirit of Sydney Harbour. It honours the memories of the Gadigal people, the first custodians of the area, and invites climbers to pause and reflect.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
LOST CITY WALKING TRACK OPENS NEAR LITHGOW: The family-friendly walking track is the first major visitor project delivered as part of the NSW Government's $49.5 million Gardens of Stone infrastructure establishment package. Learn more
PARRAMATTA LIGHT RAIL OPENS: The new L4 Westmead and Carlingford Line offers a 12km network with 16 accessible stops. Learn more
2025-27 CARING FOR STATE HERITAGE GRANTS PROGRAM: Focused on the preservation, maintenance and conservation of items listed on the State Heritage Register, grant applications close 30 January 2025. Learn more
BUILDING RESILIENCE INTO BELLINGEN ROADS: Roads across the Bellingen Shire are receiving nearly $11 million in Australian and NSW Government funding to help make them more resilient to floods and fire. Learn more
NSW GOVERNMENT RELEASES HALF-YEARLY REVIEW: Economic activity during the period was higher than expected at the time of the 2024-25 Budget, despite softer growth during 2023-24. Learn more
REGISTER TO ATTEND DESTINATION AUSTRALIA: Tourism Australia will host the annual Destination Australia conference on 19 March 2025 at the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney). 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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