NSW CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL VISITOR RECOVERYInternational visitor numbers are approaching pre-COVID-19 levels in NSW. Sydney Airport’s T1 international terminal welcomed 1.5 million passengers in December 2023. This was a 29.4 per cent increase on the same month last year and a 93.3 per cent recovery rate on December 2019. China was the number one international source market for Sydney Airport, followed by New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom and South Korea. The number of passengers from South Korea and India was also above 2019 levels. The airport saw its strongest
monthly passenger traffic since 2019 in December 2023, with a total of 3.58 million passengers passing through the terminals. This represents a 90.6 per cent recovery compared to December 2019. Domestic and regional passenger traffic was up 7.6 per cent on the same month last year, with 2.08 million passengers passing through the T2 and T3 domestic terminals. The strong passenger volumes for December capped off a year where more than 38 million passengers passed through the airport’s terminals, just 13 per cent shy of the annual record of 44.4 million passengers set in 2019. Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said: “International passenger volumes have almost fully recovered and we have experienced one of the strongest China
recoveries of any international airport globally with nine airlines flying 89 return-services weekly to mainland China. "In 2023 we also saw extra international capacity translate into strong passenger volumes in the India and South Korea markets. “We look forward to growing extra seat capacity and securing new services in 2024 and further cementing our position as Australia’s gateway.”
THOUSANDS FLOCK TO TAMWORTH COUNTRY
MUSIC FESTIVAL Thousands of visitors have descended on the nation’s country music capital for Australia’s largest country music celebration, the 52nd Toyota Tamworth Country Music Festival. Supported proudly by Destination NSW, the event kicked off on 19 January and features 700 artists and more than 2800 events, with 10 days of free events alongside ticketed performances. Among the country music artists performing are ARIA Hall of Fame Inductee Kasey Chambers, the most successful Golden Guitar award winner of all time Troy Cassar-Daley, nine-time Golden Guitar winner and ARIA nominee Adam Harvey, country music icon Lee Kernaghan, multi-award winner Beccy Cole, multi-Golden Guitar award winners
and ARIA nominees The Wolfe Brothers, Daryl Braithwaite, 2023 Toyota Album of the Year and ARIA award winner Casey Barnes, eight-time Golden Guitar and ARIA award winner Fanny Lumsden and 2023 Female Artist of the Year Amber Lawrence. The festival, which won Gold in the 2023 NSW Tourism Awards, attracts significant visitation to the New England region and plays a key role in the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 goal of delivering $25 billion in regional overnight visitor expenditure.
GLEN INNES HIGHLANDS SKYWALK GRAND OPENINGThe Glen Innes Highlands Skywalk has officially opened, showcasing the region's Celtic and Ngarabul connections and culture. The $2 million project was funded by the NSW Government as part of the Public Spaces Legacy Program. It included a master concept plan to improve utilisation and attraction of the Centennial Parklands with each of the three viewing points having their own stories to tell, sharing voices from local Traditional Custodians, astronomers, geologists and historians. The parklands new 80m-long boardwalk provides visitors with
spectacular views of the surrounding Glen Innes rural landscape and township. Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said: “I’m sure the Glen Innes Highlands Skywalk project will be a big drawcard for visitors and the local community alike who will come together to experience this unique attraction." Glen Innes Severn Council Mayor Rob Banham said: “This attraction promises to elevate the visitor experience, offering a unique perspective of the lush surroundings and an opportunity to immerse oneself in the rich tapestry of local stories."
WEST SIDE STORY CAST ANNOUNCED
The smash-hit Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production West Side Story is returning for a limited four-week season from 22 March 2024. The inaugural 2019 season was the most successful Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production of all time, attracting record audience numbers and selling more than 65,000 tickets. Indigenous soprano Nina Korbe will make her professional theatrical debut as Maria while Tony will be played by Billy Bourchier, following his multi-city run in Opera Australia’s acclaimed production of Miss Saigon. Watch a preview video of the stars here. Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is supported
proudly by Destination NSW.
VIVID SYDNEY LOCAL BUSINESS WEBINAR
Destination NSW will host a Vivid Sydney Local Business Opportunities webinar on
7 February 2024. Vivid Sydney will transform the city from 24 May to 15 June and the webinar will be an opportunity to learn more about joining the Vivid Sydney Local Business Program. It will cover inclusions and advantages for participating businesses, information on the various tiers of involvement available, how and when to apply and tips for effectively promoting and selling your experiences leading up to the festival. Becoming part of the program is an opportunity to provide an offer or memorable experience during the festival or enhance your storefront window with Vivid Sydney assets.
DESTINATION NETWORKS SEEK DIRECTORS
Destination NSW, on behalf of the Destination Networks, is inviting applications for four Director roles, two for Destination Country and Outback and two for Destination Central West. Destination Networks are the champions of the visitor economy in regional NSW, engaging with stakeholders to identify, prioritise and facilitate opportunities to grow their visitor economies. A Board Director Recruitment Pack is available that includes the role description, how to apply and the requirements. Applications close 2 February 2024.
FOCUS ON INDIA SHOWCASE RETURNS
Destination NSW will host its second annual Focus On India 2024 event in Sydney on 20 March 2024. Focus On India will showcase NSW products and destinations to key India-based travel buyers and will include an appointment-based workshop for export ready NSW visitor economy businesses. View the prospectus link below for more information and the selection criteria, plus a link to the online application form. Registrations close on 24 January 2024. View a highlights video from Focus On India 2023 here.
STRIVE 4 SUSTAINABILITY WEBINAR
Visitor economy businesses are encouraged to complete an Expression of Interest for free access to the pre-certification Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard, delivered in partnership with Ecotourism Australia. By completing the scorecard, businesses will have the ability to measure business sustainability performance and make informed decisions to enhance and promote sustainable practices. Experts from
Ecotourism Australia will host a webinar on 30 January covering quick tips for completing the program.
WESTERN SYDNEY AIRPORT METRO UPDATE
Work is powering ahead on the Western Sydney Airport Metro line with nearly one kilometre of a new bridge between Orchard Hills and Luddenham completed. Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said: “Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport will become the new transport spine for Greater Western Sydney connecting travellers from the new airport to a growing region and the rest of Sydney’s public transport system. People will be able to step off a plane and onto a train as soon as the airport opens its doors. When complete, Luddenham Station will deliver a rail service to the future research, innovation and commercial precinct in Luddenham and provide world-class travel for people in an area with limited public transport options.”
CENTRAL COAST'S GREEN ACCOLADE
The Central Coast is one of only six global regions nominated in the Destination Management category of the Green Destinations Story Awards 2024. It follows the Central Coast being named in the Green Destinations Sustainable Top 100 Destinations Awards for a third year running. The Central Coast, a certified ECO Destination with Ecotourism Australia since 2022, was the only Australian destination in the Top 100 List for 2023 and the Green Destinations Story Awards 2024. The region's sustainability story - 'A Destination of Eco Advocates with Whales, Alpacas and Wheels' - focusses on the journey by local operators to achieve ECO accreditation. Winners will be announced on 6 March at the travel industry event ITB Berlin 2024. Voting is also open in the People's Choice category, vote here.
DESTINATION AUSTRALIA CONFERENCE FOR SYDNEY
Tourism Australia's annual Destination Australia conference will be held on 13 March 2024 at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney. Its theme is ‘The next chapter for sustainable growth’, which aims to evolve the conversation around the next phase of sustainable growth for the visitor economy. Industry leaders and topic experts will discuss evolving trends areas of focus, including aviation, distribution, AI, emerging sectors, marketing and accessibility and inclusion.
FIRST LOOK AT NEW PENRITH STADIUM
The NSW Government has unveiled the draft plans for the new Penrith Stadium, which will transform the precinct into a modern venue for sport and entertainment. The redevelopment will include a new western grandstand and a significantly redeveloped eastern grandstand, increasing the ground capacity to 25,000. There will be more food and beverage outlets and amenities, new scoreboards, sound systems and upgraded lighting and four new changerooms for players.
FIRST NATIONS TOURISM FORUM
Destination Country and Outback in partnership with NSW Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council (NATOC) is hosting a workshop focused on visitor economy opportunities for First Nations businesses. The workshop will be held at Brewarrina Visitor Information Centre on 5 March 2024. Participants will hear from a range of industry specialists about opportunities for business development, mentoring programs and more. This event is free to attend and includes lunch, however pre-registration is required.
ICONIC NGA SCULPTURE HEADING TO NOWRA
An outdoor sculpture by American artist Barnett Newman titled 'Broken Obelisk' will be transported from Canberra next month to its new home for the next five years: Shoalhaven Regional Gallery in Nowra. The sculpture is the latest major loan announced by the Australian Government under its Sharing the National Collection program. The program has allocated $11.8 million over four years for transporting, installing and insuring works in the national art collection so that they can be seen across the country.
SELLING EXPERIENCES ONLINE
Join Destination NSW for a free, half-day Sell Online virtual workshop on 6 February 2024 and find out how to increase bookings through online sales – both direct and indirect – by using online booking software, creating effective ATDW-Online listings and working with online travel agents. The workshop will suit businesses such as accommodation, tours and attractions including museums, galleries, wineries, distilleries, breweries and farm gates.
CENTRAL WEST RECOVERY PACKAGE
Recovery efforts in the Central West will be boosted under the joint Commonwealth and State Government $100 million Central West Recovery and Resilience Package. The funding package includes $57 million to replace vital transport infrastructure such as bridges and flood crossings and improve roads. It will also focus on places that bring communities and visitors together, such as sporting fields, parks and playgrounds, recreational centres and libraries.
SYDNEY STARS IN NEW QANTAS SAFETY VIDEO
Qantas is rolling out a new onboard safety video that highlights Sydney as a "magic place" to visit. The video features front line team members and Frequent Flyers taking viewers on a journey through key safety information from unique destinations in Australia and around the world. They share the information from their “magic place” destinations, with Sydney the only Australian city appearing in the video, which will be seen by more than 50 million passengers each year.
AGRITOURISM ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
Destination Central West NSW is inviting agritourism businesses, graziers and farmers to attend a hands-on learning and networking event on 27 February 2024. The session aims to provide information on how to diversify into agritourism and will give a framework on how to run a successful agritourism business. It will include a two-hour masterclass, a tour of the Glen Donald Estate agritourism business and one-on-one mentoring sessions.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS NORTHERN RIVERS RAIL TRAIL EXPANSION: Richmond Valley Council will open the Casino to Bentley section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail in the first half of 2024. The new 13km section includes a separate horse-riding path. Learn more ANGLERS REMINDED TO FOLLOW THE RULES THIS SUMMER: A recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in NSW waters, both freshwater and saltwater, even for those who only fish occasionally. Learn more
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