Insights - 13 December 2024
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SUMMER TRAVEL TO NSW RETURNS TO
PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS
Sydney Airport is forecasting 5.8 million passengers will travel through its terminals from 13 December 2024 to 27 January 2025, a 99 per cent recovery to 2019 levels.
During the period 2.5 million international passengers will pass through the T1 International terminal, which will make it the busiest Christmas holiday season for international travel since 2019 and an eight per cent increase on last year.
On the domestic front, 3.3 million passengers are expected to travel through the T2 and T3 Domestic terminals, a nine per cent uplift on 2023.
The peak day at Sydney Airport for domestic travel will be 13 December 2024, with more than 81,000 passengers, while the busiest day for international travel will be 4 January 2025, with more than 62,000 passengers.
Qantas has unveiled its festive fleet, including QantasLink Q400 ‘Dasher-8’ and Boeing 737 ‘Roo-dolph’ decked out in Christmas livery.
Qantas Group Chief Customer and Digital Officer Catriona Larritt said: “Our teams have been working hard over several months to prepare our operations to be ready to help millions of customers to see their family and friends throughout the holiday season.”
Virgin Australia has announced its domestic capacity over its peak period (from 16 December 2024 to 12 January 2025) is three per cent higher than the same period in 2023 and five per cent higher than pre-COVID-19. The airline has added additional flights to popular holiday destinations, including Byron Bay.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM DESTINATION NSW
Season's greetings to everyone working in the NSW visitor economy and thank you for making our state the number one destination in Australia in 2024.
Whether it's viewing a Sydney International Art Series exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales or Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, shucking oysters in Pambula, exploring our national parks, heading to Australia's home of country music for the Tamworth Country Music Festival or visiting one of Western Sydney’s multicultural food hotspots, NSW really does have it all over summer.
The NSW Government has set an ambitious new goal for the visitor economy to become a $91 billion powerhouse by 2035 and it will be exciting to work with you all in the year ahead to chart the course to realising that vision.
NSW is shaping up for its busiest summer holiday period since 2019 and on behalf of the Destination NSW Board and team, I wish you all a safe and successful festive season.
Stephen Mahoney
Destination NSW Acting CEO
DESTINATION NSW WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham has announced two new appointments to the Destination NSW Board: Director of the Australia-India CEO Forum the Hon. Jodi McKay and former Tourism Australia Managing Director Andrew McEvoy.
Ms McKay was NSW Tourism Minister for the inaugural Vivid Sydney in 2009 and is the Vice Chancellor’s Fellow for Western Sydney University.
Mr McEvoy has more than 30 years of experience in the visitor economy. He chairs companies including Luxury Escapes, Camplify and Travello and was Steering Committee Chair of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 review.
NEW LEADERSHIP AT NSW CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS
A year after launching the state’s first arts, culture and creative industries policy, Creative Communities, the NSW Government has made a range of Board and Trust appointments to drive implementation of the policy and grow the creative industries in NSW.
The NSW cultural institutions welcoming new appointments include Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australian Museum, Museum of Applied Arts and Applied Sciences (the Powerhouse Museum), Museums of History NSW, State Library of NSW and the Sydney Opera House.
DESTINATION NSW STAFF AWARDS
Destination NSW held its staff End of Year Recognition Awards this week, celebrating individuals who exemplify the agency's values. The winners were Christina Klugt (Passion), Renee Arricobene (Collaboration), Mel Stofmeel (Excellence), Jenson Zhao (Agility), Molly Urquhart (Respect) and Candice Keller (Ownership). The ceremony was attended by Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham, Destination NSW Board Chairman Sally Loane, Deputy Chair Anna Guillan AM and Board member and Department Secretary Elizabeth Mildwater.
DESTINATION NSW ANNUAL REPORT
Destination NSW has published its 2023-24 Annual Report, which outlines the progress the major events and tourism agency has made over the past 12 months. The annual report provides a comprehensive summary of the agency's activities and performance. It highlights achievements and initiatives that have been undertaken during the financial year ending 30 June 2024 to support the growth and sustainability of the NSW visitor economy. The report is available on the Destination NSW corporate website in a digital, interactive format or as an accessible and downloadable PDF.
DATES ANNOUNCED FOR GREAT SOUTHERN NIGHTS
Missy Higgins, Hoodoo Gurus, Birds of Tokyo, Troy Cassar-Daley and The Cat Empire are among the artists who will light up NSW stages from 21 March until 6 April for Great Southern Nights 2025. Delivered by Destination NSW in collaboration with ARIA, the event will feature more than 300 live performances across the state, including Inner and Western Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Central Coast, Byron Bay, Broken Hill, Orange, Tamworth and Tilba.
MEN'S WORLD CUP QUALIFIER FOR SYDNEY
The Subway Socceroos will host Indonesia in Sydney on 20 March 2025 as they continue their journey towards the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The match at Sydney Football Stadium was secured through a partnership between Destination NSW and Football Australia, guaranteeing a suite of international fixtures to be held in Sydney between 2023 and 2026. Football fans from around Australia will be there in March to witness this crucial qualifier.
AUSTRALIA ON TOP FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL
A survey by Corporate Traveller has found 36.5 per cent of Australian and New Zealand businesses send employees on at least one work trip a week, more than any other nation around the world. Global Managing Director Tom Walley said: "As we move into 2025, we expect ANZ businesses to continue leading domestic travel, leveraging it as a tool for business success and a way for flexible work teams to connect, network and engage on a far more impactful level.”
TRA RELEASES 2024-29 TOURISM FORECASTS
A new report from Tourism Research Australia (TRA) estimates an average visitor night growth of 3.4 per cent for NSW over each of the next five years. TRA's Tourism forecasts 2024-2029 predicts international visitors to Australia will surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2026, setting a record of 10 million international arrivals. International arrivals are forecast to reach 11.8 million in 2029, with China accounting for almost one-quarter of the total increase.
BLAK MARKETS CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
First Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation will host the Blak Markets Christmas Market on 22 December at Dawes Point. The event is an opportunity to celebrate First Nations culture while buying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island cultural gifts, with 100 per cent of profits going back into their communities.
THEME FOR NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2025 has announced its theme, Bridging Now to Next, reflecting the ongoing connection between past, present and future. The theme's artwork features native plants known for regenerating after fire and thriving through adversity, symbolising collective strength and renewal.
NSW NUMBER ONE FOR LUXURY TRAVEL
Tourism Research Australia data shows NSW is the number one destination in Australia for luxury holiday travel. Luxury expenditure by international visitors to NSW rose 63.9 per cent in the year ending December 2023 versus the year ending December 2019. NSW attracted 626,000 international luxury travellers during the period (up 0.3 per cent), who stayed 2.9 million nights (up 34.2 per cent).
NSW VISITOR ARRIVALS OCTOBER 2024
New Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows there were 255,470 short-term visitor arrivals to NSW in October 2024, an increase of 20,240 compared with the corresponding month of the previous year. The number of trips for October 2024 was 10.4 per cent lower than in October 2019. The three leading source countries for NSW were New Zealand (42,460 trips), China (29,380) and the United States (28,760).
GUULABAA PLACE OF KOALA OPENS
The Guulabaa Place of Koala precinct has officially opened in the Cowarra State Forest, following a $6.1 million investment from the Australian and NSW Government’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund. It features a world-first wild koala breeding facility, Bunyah Local Aboriginal Land Council’s café, Bunyah Bilbay Aboriginal art gallery, The Big Koala (part of Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail) and WildNets treetop playground.
COFFS HARBOUR SECURES MAJOR EVENT
Coffs Harbour will host the Australian Event Awards and Symposium from 2025-27, with the successful bid supported proudly by Destination NSW. Managing Director of the Event Awards and Symposium Ian Steigrad said: “We were looking for a destination that can help us to grow the industry while simultaneously leveraging Australian events to benefit the destination. I think we've found a great fit here with Coffs Harbour."
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
DATES SET FOR SXSW SYDNEY 2025: Destination NSW is a proud partner of the largest festival of creative industries in the Asia Pacific, which will return from 13–19 October 2025. Learn more
CREATIVE AUSTRALIA INVESTS $12 MILLION IN 246 PROJECTS: The projects spanning First Nations arts, literature, theatre, circus, visual arts, dance, emerging and experimental, community arts and cultural development. Learn more
CAPELLA WINS GOLD AT LUXURY TRAVEL AWARDS: Capella Sydney won the Luxury Hotel or Resort (Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific) category at the 2024 Luxury Travel Gold List Awards. Learn more
ICC SYDNEY ACCOLADE AT AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS EVENTS ASSOCIATION AWARDS: ICC Sydney was awarded Venue Team of the Year. 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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