Insights - 7 March 2025
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DESTINATION NSW HELPS VISITOR ECONOMY
BUSINESSES PREPARE FOR TAKEOFF
The opening of Western Sydney International Airport and the expansion of Newcastle Airport will transform access to NSW, creating new opportunities for visitor economy businesses to attract international travellers. Destination NSW is equipping these businesses to capitalise on the increased demand.
The annual Destination NSW New Product Workshop was attended by 23 visitor economy businesses – largely from regional NSW – giving them direct access to travel buyers including inbound tour operators, domestic wholesalers and online travel agents.
Enhanced airport access will open new pathways for international visitors to explore the Central West, Murray, Hunter, Southern Highlands, and North Coast regions, unlocking fresh opportunities for local visitor economy businesses.
The workshop, held at the Western Sydney Conference Centre in Penrith, highlighted a diverse range of new experiences set to attract international visitors, including:
- 14 unique stays and experiences within 2.5 hours of Sydney
- 9 regional accommodation options ideal for road trips
- 9 visitor experiences near NSW cruise ports
- Byron Bay’s first export-ready Aboriginal-owned and –operated experience.
RECORD OCCUPANCY FOR NSW HOLIDAY PARKS
Destination NSW has partnered with the Caravan and Camping Industry Association on a new ‘Feel More, Live More’ marketing program to boost year-round visitation to the state’s 400 holiday parks.
The initiative follows NSW holiday parks celebrating a record average occupancy rate of 81 per cent during the New Year week commencing 30 December 2024, the highest rate for the period in four years.
Developed as an extension of Destination NSW’s Feel New brand, ‘Feel more, Live more’ supports the sustainable growth of regional visitor economies and will feature on TV and social media.
ASSISTANCE DURING CYCLONE ALFRED
Increased winds, rainfall and large swell are occurring along the Northern and Mid North Coast and Lord Howe Island.
The days ahead will see damaging winds, coastal erosion and potentially major flooding as Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall soon.
The NSW SES (State Emergency Service) is leading the response to Tropical Cyclone Alfred and we encourage everyone to follow their advice.
Stay safe and keep informed by downloading the Hazards Near Me App here: (Download for iOS | Download for Android)
For further information regarding recovery efforts visit the NSW Government's Tropical Cyclone Alfred webpage.
FULL RECOVERY FOR SYDNEY HOTEL SECTOR
A surge in international arrivals and steady domestic demand in 2024 has put Sydney's hotel sector on track for a full recovery by mid-2025. CBRE’s latest Hotels Australia Overview and Outlook report shows Sydney achieved year-on-year gains across occupancy, average daily rate and revenue per available room (RevPAR) in 2024.
NEW GUIDE TO BOOST INCENTIVES REVENUE
Destination NSW has released a new guide to help NSW businesses attract international incentive events and enhance their revenue. Produced as part of the NSW First Program, Quick tips for engaging with the international incentive event market features advice on the value of incentive events to cities and regional destinations.
WORKSHOPS: EXPERIENCE DEVELOPMENT
Registrations have opened for Destination NSW Experience Development workshops in Sydney, Junee and Jindabyne. The free workshops will be delivered under the capability-focused NSW First Program. They are designed for businesses including tour, attraction and accommodation providers looking to create new experiences or refine existing ones.
ABORIGINAL EXPERIENCE DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY
Destination NSW has launched an initiative to support Aboriginal tourism businesses. The 2025 Aboriginal Experience Development Pathway will be delivered in partnership with the NSW Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council (NATOC). It will provide training sessions, the opportunity to take part in media familiarisation programs, a business development workshop and networking.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT NUMBERS REBOUND
There were 26,068 full-fee paying overseas students enrolled in Australian schools in 2024, an increase of 23.4 per cent (or 4944 students) from 2023, according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The pandemic years saw a drop of 41.9 per cent from 26,593 full-fee paying overseas school students in 2019 to 15,461 in 2022.
NSW WELCOMES 23 MAIDEN CRUISE ARRIVALS
Cunard's Queen Anne arrived in Sydney Harbour on 28 February, marking her first visit to Australia as part of her 107-day maiden round-the-world voyage. More than 1.2 million passengers and crew from 312 cruise ships are expected to visit NSW ports by the end of the current summer season, including 23 maiden arrivals across Sydney, Newcastle and Eden.
NEW TOURISM INVESTMENT REPORT
A new Tourism Research Australia report has revealed that NSW had the most tourism-related projects and expenditure of any state in 2023-24, with 94 projects valued at $16.3 billion. Australia's total tourism investment pipeline in 2023-24 included 346 projects with a value of $63.4 billion. NSW also had the most completed accommodation projects.
NSW WINS AT GREEN DESTINATIONS AWARDS
NSW has triumphed at the Green Destinations Top 100 Story Awards, which recognise destinations working towards more responsible tourism development.
Barrington Coast won second place in the "Destination Management" category; Central Coast won second place in the ‘Nature & Scenery' category.
NEW EDITION OF contentED OUT NOW
The latest edition of the Destination NSW Content Library's contentED newsletter is out now, with a focus on accommodation, wellness and winter escapes. The newsletter features new albums that offer a range of assets to help visitor economy businesses, travel media, government agencies and select commercial partners tell NSW stories. All assets are available to order and download through the Destination NSW Content Library.
DESTINATION AUSTRALIA PROGRAM
The program for Destination Australia 2025 has been released, with speakers including television journalist and radio presenter Ross Greenwood, who will share the macro-economic outlook for business. The Lumery CEO Rajan Kumar will share insights around AI and Australian Tourism Minister Don Farrell will also give an industry update. The event will be held on 19 March 2025 at the ICC Sydney, hosted by TV presenter Karl Stefanovic.
SYDNEY THE WINNER FOR WOMEN'S ASIAN CUP
Asia’s top 12 women's football teams will compete in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ from 1-21 March 2026. Six group stage matches will be held at Western Sydney Stadium, while one group stage match featuring the Matildas, two quarter-finals, a semi-final and the final will be played at Stadium Australia in western Sydney.
SYDNEY TO HOST MAJOR ROBOTICS CONFERENCE
BESydney has secured the 2028 IEEE/Robotics Society of Japan International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems for Sydney, supported by Tourism Australia's Business Events Bid Fund. The conference is estimated to attract up to 10,000 delegates and $31 million in direct expenditure.
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
This International Women’s Day, Destination NSW celebrates the talented, driven, and inspiring women shaping the future of the visitor economy. Women make up more than half of Australia’s visitor economy workforce.
At a panel discussion hosted by the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport, Destination NSW Acting CEO Karen Jones reflected on this year’s theme, March Forward, encouraging women to drive meaningful change.
ALL FEMALE OPERATED FLIGHTS FOR QANTAS
Qantas and Jetstar took to the sky this week with more than 50 flights operated entirely by women in the lead up to International Women’s Day. Planned, dispatched and operated by more than 250 female pilots, cabin crew, engineers and airport and operations staff, the flights have spanned more than 20 routes in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. The flights aim to inspire the next generation of girls and women to explore career opportunities within the aviation industry.
CAPTAIN COOK CRUISES CELEBRATES 55 YEARS
The cruise company celebrated the milestone with a black tie event aboard The Jackson, which was attended by industry representatives as well as current and former staff. Nearly half of the current crew (44 per cent) has been with the company for more than two decades. Captain Cook Cruises was a Gold winner at the NSW Tourism Awards 2024.
NET ZERO PLANNING GRANTS
NSW businesses can receive up to $30,000 in NSW Government funding to cover up to 75 per cent of the cost to strategically plan for and progress their path to net zero. The funding is part of the NSW Government's Business Decarbonisation Program, a $22 million initiative to help businesses plan and take practical, low-cost steps towards decarbonisation.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FULL PROGRAM FOR 2025: Supported proudly by Destination NSW, the festival's biggest-ever program will feature more than 350 artists for its 20th anniversary from 21 April to 18 May. Learn more
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA APPOINTS DAVE EMERSON AS CEO: Mr Emerson, who is currently the company's Chief Commercial Officer, succeeds Jayne Hrdlicka. Learn more
RECORD-BREAKING LIVE EVENT FOR ICC SYDNEY: The venue has broken its house records for the longest-running event and highest number of ticket sales with the upcoming Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular. Learn more
SYDNEY METRO WEST TUNNELS ENTER THE FINAL STRETCH: Two tunnel boring machines have reached Clyde Metro junction meaning more than 80 per cent of the tunnels for the NSW Government project have been completed. Learn more
HAVE YOUR SAY ON RANK AND HAIL TAXI FARES: The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal has invited feedback on proposed maximum fares for rank and hail taxi services before making recommendations to the NSW Government. Learn more
WORLD'S LARGEST ATLAS ON DISPLAY AT STATE LIBRARY: Earth Platinum can be viewed in the Mitchell Library Reading Room until 10 March. 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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