No Images? Click here NSW MINISTER FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY VISITS ATE17NSW Minister for Trade and Industry Niall Blair met with a range of NSW tourism operators when he toured the ATE17 trade floor yesterday at ICC Sydney. “Sydney is undisputedly the gateway to our great State and has the country’s most spectacular and iconic attractions, making it the first choice for international travellers. It is great to see so many sellers at ATE profiling our unique accommodation, experiences, spectacular food and wine, and beautiful regions from right across our State. “ATE is hosting more than 700 buyers including 130 from Greater China, our fastest growing and largest inbound visitor market, providing the NSW tourism industry with the chance to capitalise on the many opportunities presented by this lucrative market.” The four-day event was secured by the NSW Government, through it's tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. Click here for further information on ATE17. ACCOMMODATION BOOM IN NSW SPURRED BY STRONG VISITOR NUMBERSThe State Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW has said growth in overnight visitation to NSW is stimulating an accommodation boom across the State. Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said this week’s ATE was a great opportunity to showcase both new and refurbished hotels. "According to the International and National Visitor Surveys for the year ending December 2016, there were more than 33 million overnight visitors to NSW," Ms Chipchase said. "Sky-high confidence in the visitor economy is driving the hotel boom with 7,800 new and refurbished hotel rooms under construction or approved for development and open for business by 2022. “New and refurbished hotels by the harbour, and luxury makeovers and quality boutique offerings are giving visitors to Sydney and regional NSW just what they want – accommodation in desirable locations, with a choice of styles and price points.” Click here to view the latest hotel news in Sydney and NSW. OVERSEAS BUYERS EXPERIENCE BEST OF NSWDestination NSW is providing hundreds of international delegates attending ATE17 with the opportunity to experience the best of NSW tourism, as part of a special familiarisation program. In the lead up to and following ATE, 300 tourism wholesalers and retailers will experience NSW first-hand when they travel to rural and regional areas on a series of world-class itineraries. Each famil starts and finishes in Sydney, and includes overnight stays in one or more regions, including the North Coast, Hunter, Blue Mountains, South Coast, Southern Highlands, Snowy Mountains, Outback and Country NSW. So far 110 ATE buyer delegates have participated in the program with a further 190 to participate in famils kicking off on Friday. To assist the international buyer delegates attending ATE, Destination NSW has also produced 19 themed factsheets showcasing NSW products – eight of which have been translated into simplified Chinese. NSW FOOD & WINE SHOWCASE FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL BUYERSSome of the State’s finest produce will be showcased to travel buyers from across the globe tonight, as part of a special Destination NSW ATE event. Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said the showcase will be held at a special harbourside location, attracting 1,300 domestic and international delegates. “From artisan smoked Bangalow ham, South Coast cheese, Pinot Noir from Orange, saltbush lamb from Wagga Wagga, and an eight metre long ice bar filled with NSW’s freshest and finest seafood, tonight’s event will take people on an incredible NSW food journey,” Ms Chipchase said. “NSW is home to 14 wine regions, renowned fruit, beef, pork and truffle farms, and over 2,000 kilometres of coastline bursting with fresh seafood and local produce, some of which our guests will be able to enjoy and savour tonight. “There’s a real movement around where and how our food is grown, sourced and prepared, and NSW’s pristine environment and varied typography is creating some of the finest produce in Australia for visitors to enjoy. We look forward to welcoming more international visitors to our State as a result of tonight’s Destination NSW event and continuing to place NSW firmly on the global foodie-map.” See the latest food and wine fact sheet here. |