Insights - 13 January 2023
No images? Click here
BUMPER YEAR FOR NSW REGIONAL EVENTS
Destination NSW has kicked off its spectacular 2023 regional events calendar with the 2023 Parkes Elvis Festival and tonight's opening of Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Destination NSW is supporting more than 35 major events in regional NSW over 2022-23, which are forecast to deliver over $105 million in visitor expenditure.
Delivering world-class sports, arts and cultural events that position NSW as the major events capital of the Asia Pacific is a strategic pillar of the NSW Government's Visitor Economy Strategy 2030.
Regional NSW is already the largest, most diverse regional economy in Australia and continued investment by Destination NSW in major events will accelerate the growth of its visitor economy.
Parkes Elvis Festival delivered five days of live entertainment from 4-8 January.
Proudly supported by Destination NSW, the festival also received a $243,500 funding boost this year from Round Two of the NSW Government's Regional Events Acceleration Fund.
According to Parkes Shire Council, the festival attracts more than 24,000 visitors annually, has a global media reach of 599 million and injects more than $13 million into the regional economy.
This year's theme for the festival was inspired by Elvis’ 1961 musical comedy Blue Hawaii.
Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said: “It has become a must-see, must-do event for visitors from around Australia and the world. The NSW Government is proud to fund this outstanding event."
Learn more about Parkes Elvis Festival here.
TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL OPENS
Tonight’s official opening of the 51st Tamworth Country Music Festival will kick-off 10 days and nights of family-friendly fun in the nation’s home of country music.
Supported by Destination NSW, Australia’s premier country music festival has grown from its origins as a one-day event to the largest festival of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the top 10 country music festivals in the world.
Minister for Tourism and the Arts Ben Franklin said: “This iconic family-friendly event attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Tamworth each year, injecting an estimated $17 million of visitor expenditure into the local economy.
Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said: “This event is more than a music festival, it is a bucket-list experience for visitors and country music fans from around the country.
“Local businesses have been run ragged over Christmas and the New Year in preparation for the festival because they know this will be their busiest period this year.
“Early signs are very positive with accommodation booked, camping sites filling fast and the streets already buzzing with a festive atmosphere. I’d encourage anyone with a a spare day or two to pack the car and make the trip to Tamworth this year for a great festival!”
Tamworth Regional Mayor, Cr Russell Webb said: “It is with great pleasure that I welcome everyone back to Tamworth for the nation’s largest country music festival.
“After the past few years, we are excited to be back in our traditional timeslot of January and we’re ready for one big celebration with some of the country’s finest artists and up and coming stars.”
Tamworth Country Music Festival runs from 13 – 22 January, featuring hundreds of artists, including performances from some of Australia’s most celebrated country music stars, including John Williamson, Kasey Chambers, Troy Cassar-Daley and Fanny Lumsden.
The festival culminates in the nation’s most prestigious country music awards ceremony, the Golden Guitar Awards, on 21 January.
For more information on the Tamworth Country Music Festival and to book tickets visit www.tcmf.com.au and for inspiration on visitor experiences across the New England region go to www.visitnsw.com.
ACTION-PACKED 2023 EVENTS CALENDAR
Destination NSW is supporting a blockbuster calendar of major events for regional NSW throughout 2023, which will drive visitation and economic benefits across the state.
Some of the major events include:
- Snowies MultiSport Festival – 3-26 February – Lake Crackenback
- Bathurst 12 Hour – 3-5 February – Bathurst
- Australian Surf Rowers League Open – 9-12 February – Bulli Beach
- Mountain Bike National Championships – 9-18 February – Snowy Mountains
- NSW Pro Surf Series – 21 February to 18 March – Great Lakes, Port Stephens, Central Coast
- Surfest – 11 February to 24 March – Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens
- World Athletics Cross Country Championships – 17-19 February – Bathurst
- Vanfest – 3-4 March – Bathurst
- National Touch League – 8-11 March – Coffs Harbour
- Men’s NSW Open Golf Championship – 16-19 March – Moama
- Southern 80 – 24-26 March – Echuca-Moama
- Women's NSW Open Championships Golf – 24-26 March – Forster/Tuncurry
- Australian Women's Classic Golf – 31 March to 2 April – Bonville
- Snowy Classic – 1 April 2023 – Jindabyne
- Sail Port Stephens – 24 April to 21 May – Nelson Bay
- Mudgee Classic – 29-30 April - Mudgee
- IRONMAN Australia – 7 May – Port Macquarie
PHOTOGRAPH: Julian Wilson (Australia) competes at Surfest 2022. By Paul Danovaro.
APPLICATIONS CLOSING SOON: DIPLOMA OF EVENT MANAGEMENT SCHOLARSHIPS
Destination NSW is investing in the future of the state’s event industry by providing scholarships for aspiring event managers in partnership with Meetings and Events Australia (MEA).
The scholarship program will support seven up-and-coming event professionals to upskill by undertaking a Diploma of Event Management.
The Diploma of Event Management, delivered by MEA, is an industry designed and delivered qualification that includes training in the core competencies of the sector, from project and budget management to customer service and operational planning.
Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said: “These professionals will support the delivery of a robust events calendar in years to come that will drive visitor demand and generate visitor expenditure for Sydney and regional NSW.”
Meetings and Events Australia CEO Peter McDonald said: “These are the skills that our future event managers need to be successful and to empower the delivery of outstanding events in Sydney and regional NSW.”
Applications close on 22 January 2023 and scholarships will be awarded to one successful candidate per Destination Network who meets the eligibility and assessment criteria.
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR PILOT TO BOOST
DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT IN TOURISM
Applications have opened for the Disability Employment – Tourism Local Navigators Pilot, which will test a new approach to reduce barriers to small and medium sized tourism businesses hiring people with disability
The Federal Government has committed $3.3 million to fund the pilot, which is designed to address job shortages in the visitor economy and assist businesses in the tourism sector to be more confident to engage with and offer employment to people with disability.
Grants will be offered to establish 'Local Navigators' to help small to medium tourism businesses address barriers previously identified in recruiting, retaining and promoting jobseekers with disability.
Applications for grant funding associated with the pilot close 21 February 2023, with the 12-month pilot commencing on 6 July 2023. Pilot locations in NSW will be located in Greater Sydney and the Illawarra region.
The funding will include:
- Navigator staffing (up to $2 million allocated among successful grantees)
- Development of local information resources and a small business toolkit (up to $500,000 in total for all selected locations)
- Local promotional activities and career fairs (up to $500,000 in total for all selected locations).
For further information on the grant opportunity, contact the Disability Employment Policy Team by emailing DEP@dss.gov.au.
iFLY INDOOR SKYDIVING PROMOTES INCLUSION
Penrith’s iFLY Indoor Skydiving took part in an Austrade-led Accessible Tourism Mentoring Pilot Project last year.
iFLY has many customers with disability and has appointed All Abilities Ambassadors who host regular events at the centre.
"We know we do a lot of things well, but we wondered if we had missed anything," said Head of Sales Barbara McCarthy.
"The pilot project gave us a better understanding of what we need to work on. The pilot project report suggested we hire someone with disability, so we hired an agency to assist with finding a suitable candidate. Our new staff member has now been with us for two months and they have been amazing."
STREET PARTIES AND DINING REVIVE NSW
A new report has revealed the impact of a $66 million NSW Government investment aimed at kickstarting the hospitality and events sector. Initiatives included the Alfresco Restart Package, the Streets as Shared Spaces program, Your High Street and other pop-up events and legislative changes. The report found the measures led to more than 13,500 jobs and more than 530,000 attendees across 300 events in 112 local government areas.
NSW SCORES MATILDAS MATCHES
Destination NSW has partnered with Football Australia to secure the Cup of Nations tournament, which will give football fans the opportunity to watch the CommBank Matildas in action ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™. Cup of Nations will take place in Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle in February, with the Matildas taking on Spain, Jamaica and Czechia.
BONZA GIVEN GREEN LIGHT TO FLY
Bonza has been granted its Air Operator’s Certificate from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. It is the first new high-capacity entrant into the Australian aviation market since the launch of Tiger Airways over 15 years ago. Bonza said its focus would be on regional routes that it regards as currently being underserviced. NSW destinations will include Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Tamworth, Newcastle, Albury and Mildura. Flights will take off from February 2023.
WORLD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL CITIES
Travel + Leisure magazine has named Sydney as one of the '25 Most Beautiful Cities in the World'. The magazine said: "Sydney practically sparkles with its plied-by-yachts harbour, golden beaches, spectacular headland views, lush parks and gardens, abundance of sunshine and overall cleanliness." Travel + Leisure is regarded as one of the top travel media brands in the world and has more than 4.8 million readers, according to its corporate media kit.
$65 MILLION BOOST FOR NOWRA BYPASS
The Federal Government has announced an additional $65 million for the Nowra Bypass planning project, bringing the total joint commitment with the NSW Government to $105 million. The bypass is expected to ease traffic congestion, reduce travel times and improve safety for locals and visitors to the South Coast.
WORLD INDIGENOUS TOURISM SUMMIT 2023
The World Indigenous Tourism Summit (WITS) will be held in Perth in March 2023. The symposium will explore how Indigenous values and wisdom can play a part in building stronger visitor economies. WITS will be hosted at Crown Perth from 13–16 March 2023. Early bird registrations are open until 20 January.
SUPERBIKES RETURN UNDER LIGHTS
The Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) is set to return to Sydney Motorsport Park (SMSP) in 2023.
Through a partnership with Destination NSW the two-wheel championship will return to the SMSP complex for the ASBK Championship round on 24-25 March, and will also kick off the 2023 season with the Official ASBK Test on 1-2 February. ASBK is returning to Sydney’s Grand Prix circuit for the first time since the final round of 2019. It will also be the first-ever ASBK round to be held under lights.
KIM PETRAS JOINS SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE LINE-UP
German pop sensation and songwriter Kim Petras has been confirmed as a headliner at Sydney WorldPride’s Rainbow Republic closing concert on 5 March 2023. Petras will be joined at The Domain by American band MUNA, as well as Peach PRC, Alter Boy, BVT and Vetta Borne. Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said: “As the major strategic partner of Sydney WorldPride, the NSW Government is so pleased that Kim Petras is joining the Rainbow Republic as a headline performer."
NEW ECO-ADVENTURE DESTINATION FOR NSW
The Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area will soon host a new eco-adventure destination with the establishment of the Lost City precinct ready to move forward. The new experience, which will be a partnership between the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and adventure tourism experts Experience Co, will position Lithgow as a visitor destination. Experience Co will work with NPWS to bring to life plans for the park's new multi-day walk, including overnight accommodation and the Lost City zipline adventure experience. The zip line and via ferrata experiences at Lost City are anticipated to open in December 2023.
STEADY GROWTH IN TOURISM JOBS
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows there were 604,200 tourism jobs in the September quarter of 2022. This was 18,600 (3.2 per cent) more jobs compared to June quarter 2022 and 223,500 (58.7 per cent) more jobs than September quarter 2021. Tourism jobs peaked at 758,000 in December quarter 2019 and are at their highest level (604,200) since the pandemic started. The industry with the largest quarterly change during the quarter was travel agency and information centre services, with an increase of 5700 (18.8 per cent), followed by clubs, pubs and bars with an increase of 5200 jobs (12.2 per cent).
MORE EXTENDED TRADING FOR NSW VENUES
NSW hotels and clubs will keep their doors open for longer for special events in 2023, supporting the state’s visitor economy. Minister for Hospitality and Racing Kevin Anderson said the NSW Government would extend trading hours for events including the Tamworth Country Music Festival, WorldPride Sydney, the NRL Grand Final and Vivid Sydney. “These extensions will provide an extra 44 hours of trading across the year and will deliver a huge boost to our state’s hospitality industry, by creating more jobs and boosting business, while giving patrons more opportunities to socialise at venues during and after special events,” Mr Anderson said.
SWIMMERS TAKE DIP AT BARANGAROO
A swimming enclosure has opened at Marrinawi Cove, located at the northern end of Barangaroo Reserve. Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes said it was the first new harbour swimming spot to open west of the Harbour Bridge in more than 50 years, demonstrating the NSW Government’s commitment to building more recreation facilities for future generations. To ensure the community can swim safely, safety netting, signage and a new shower has been installed. Following the summer period, the NSW Government will consider whether further facilities, such as decking or ladders to enter the water, are required.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
$500 MILLION BOOST TO TACKLE FLOOD DAMAGED ROADS ACROSS THE STATE: The NSW Government has announced a $500 million boost to help metropolitan and regional councils repair the state’s road network following extreme weather events. Learn more
$100 MILLION JOBS BOOST FOR REGIONAL NSW: Applications are open for the $100 million Regional Job Creation Fund Round Three, which will provide grants for regional businesses to expand their operations and attract interstate and international businesses to relocate to regional NSW. Learn more
MORE MUSIC, THEATRE AND VISUAL ARTS TO TOUR REGIONAL NSW: Communities will enjoy an even wider range of enriching and entertaining experiences, thanks to $540,000 in funding through the NSW Government's Regionals Arts Touring program. Applications for the Regional Arts Touring Round 2 funding open 3 February 2023. Learn more
$6.7 MILLION INVESTMENT INTO THE NSW COAST: More than $6.7 million is being invested in restoring and preserving the NSW coastline, thanks to the NSW Government's budget boost in the Coastal and Estuary Grants Program. Learn more
FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT FOR MANLY FAST FERRY: The Manly Fast Ferry service will operate for another 15 years as part of a new deal signed by the NSW Government and the NRMA. The new contract will deliver more peak services and a new environmentally friendly fleet. Learn more
MAJOR UPGRADES AT CENTENNIAL PARK: More than 200 native gum trees have been planted at Centennial Park as part of a major regeneration project to create a native urban forest, while a completed $4.8 million upgrade of the E.S Marks athletics field will provide state-of-the-art facilities and amenities. Learn more
PASSENGER SERVICES ON THE MAIN WESTERN RAIL LINE TO RECOMMENCE: Passenger services on the Main Western Rail Line in the Blue Mountains will recommence from 21 January 2023, following last month’s freight train derailment. Learn more
SHOALHAVEN CITY COUNCIL LAUNCHES EVENT SUPPORT PROGRAM: From 19 January 2023, event owners from across the country can apply for up to $20,000 in funding if they can prove their event will encourage visitors to experience Shoalhaven in autumn, winter, or spring. 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
DID YOU ENJOY THIS NEWSLETTER? Forward it to colleagues and friends so they can subscribe too. Was this issue forwarded to you? Click here to sign up
