Insights - 5 May 2023
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NSW SHINES AT
AUSTRALIAN TOURISM EXCHANGE 2023
Destination NSW is celebrating a successful Australian Tourism Exchange 2023 (ATE23).
ATE23 brought together 2300 delegates from Australia and 30 countries around the globe for a four-day event at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The delegates included around 650 international buyers and 80 international media who also had the opportunity to participate in pre and post-event familiarisations.
NSW sellers and international buyers met for speed-dating-style appointments and a rich program of networking events over the course of the four-day event, while the buyers also enjoyed first-hand a range of compelling NSW visitor experiences through pre- and post-familiarisations.
Destination NSW partnered with 84 NSW sellers at ATE23 - 36 from Sydney and 48 from regional NSW - who took part in more than 5800 one-on-one business appointments.
Byron Bay's Vision Walks Eco Tours owner operator Wendy Bithell said: "ATE23 has been totally awesome. I have made amazing connections and discovered so many new markets for my products."
Hunter Valley Resort General Manager Philip Hele said: "ATE23 has been fantastic. It has been wonderful to have everyone back together. We've reconnected with contacts and established new relationships and that's what ATE is all about."
Tourism Australia Managing Director Phillipa Harrison said during her opening address that the sector was looking to recover to pre-pandemic levels by early 2025.
“The good news is that in January and February of this year, holidaymakers outpaced visiting friends and relatives," Ms Harrison said.
"We are seeing those crucial leisure and business holidaymakers starting to come back to Australia in their droves.”
Destination NSW hosted two major networking events at ATE23: a Happy Hour session at its cafe on the trade show floor, followed by a NSW Showcase at waterfront venue Surfers Pavilion, which was attended by 300 buyers and 150 NSW sellers.
The NSW Showcase included a spectacular Jetpack fireworks display and a performance by Ricki-Lee Coulter. It was also an opportunity to share the world-class food, beverages, hospitality that make a visit to NSW so memorable.
Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox said: "It was exciting to partner with NSW visitor economy businesses for ATE23 and welcome buyers from around the world to the Destination NSW Cafe activation and networking events.
"It was also fantastic to have our country managers with us, including the Destination NSW China team who returned to ATE after a three-year absence due to the pandemic."
There were more than 130 buyers from greater China in attendance at ATE23. Tourism Australia forecasts suggest air capacity from China will build to 80 per cent of pre-COVID-19 levels by the end of the year.
CRUISING INTO ATE23
Australian Cruise Association (ACA) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) mounted their first joint presence at Australian Tourism Exchange 2023 (ATE23) to promote the diversity and depth of cruising in this region to the international travel market.
“There has never been a better time for our two associations to harness our joint marketing power and show the world what Australia has to offer with a range of deepwater ports and incredible onshore activities,” said ACA CEO Jill Abel.
CLIA Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz said ATE23 gave both associations the opportunity to meet with key tourism wholesalers and retailers from around the world to discuss the important developments taking place in Australia’s resurgent cruise sector.
“There is an incredible level of energy and enthusiasm being illustrated by our industry, which is on course to new prosperity in Australia,” Mr Katz said.
“Australia continually punches above its weight as a cruise destination and has an incredible amount to offer international travellers.”
CLIA’s Source Market report shows 457,200 Australians went on cruises during 2022. By the last quarter of 2022, passenger numbers were estimated to have risen to approximately 90 per cent of the levels during the same period in 2019.
Australians showed a clear preference for local sailings in 2022, with 66.5 per cent choosing to cruise in Australia.
View the CLIA Source Market infographic here.
SPECTACULAR WINTER CRUISE SEASON FOR NSW
Port Authority of NSW is preparing for a busy winter season, with twice as many cruise ships as last year set to sail into Sydney.
The summer cruise season closed on 30 April 2023, with a total of 286 cruise ships calling into NSW ports, bringing approximately 600,000 passengers.
“With 66 cruise ships scheduled to sail into Sydney Harbour over winter the economic benefits will keep flowing to NSW," CEO Captain Philip Holliday said.
The winter cruise season has been buoyed by Sydney being the home port for vessels Pacific Adventure and Carnival Splendor.
“The benefits from this home port are felt from the restaurants, local tourism industries and operators right through the supply chain,” Captain Holliday said.
Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia President Marguerite Fitzgerald said: “Our 2024 cruises are already selling out fast as more and more of our guests are choosing to sail away to better weather over the coming months. We are seeing a huge rush in bookings.”
EDEN CELEBRATES RECORD CRUISE SEASON
Eden is celebrating the conclusion of its biggest-ever cruise season, with more than 8000 passengers taking part in local tours and shore excursions.
"Cruise has also really supported NSW’s regional communities, with 34 ships visiting Eden alone bringing over 50,000 passengers and injecting over $13.7 million into the local economy," Port Authority of NSW CEO Captain Philip Holliday said.
For the upcoming 2023-2024 season, 47 cruise ships are already booked to visit Eden. Eleven of those vessels are making maiden calls, with more than 90,000 passengers and 36,000 crew expected to be on board.
HOSPITALITY AND ACCOMMODATION SECTORS WELCOME MIGRATION REFORM REVIEW
The Federal Government has released for discussion an outline of its new migration strategy. The document, informed by a Migration Review and stakeholder consultation, articulates proposed policy shifts to reform the nation's migration system.
The reforms aim to enhance Australia's security and economic prosperity, make the system simple for migrants and efficient for employers and deliver better post-arrival outcomes.
National Cabinet met last week and agreed to support a better migration system through increased visa processing capacity, expanding pathways to permanent residence for temporary skilled sponsored workers and taking steps to address migrant exploitation.
The Federal Government will also increase the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold from $53,900 to $70,000 from 1 July 2023. Learn more
Australian Hotels Association CEO Stephen Ferguson said: “Our sector is desperate for workers – yes, we all want to hire Australians first, but there are simply not enough people to do the jobs. Migration is the only way to fill tens of thousands of positions, especially in the regions."
TAA CEO - and interim CEO of the Accommodation Association - Michael Johnson said the review “sets out sensible actions which will make the system better for businesses and applicants alike.”
“The reality is overseas workers remain a necessary part of the accommodation sector workforce – overseas workers fill gaps where, unfortunately, Australian workers are unable to fill the roles required,” Mr Johnson said.
“Many also bring with them skills that we may not have an abundance of in Australia and help to train Australian workers – everyone wins."
Australian Council of Trade Unions President Michele O’Neil said: “We welcome a system that enables temporary skilled visa holders having a pathway to permanency."
QUICK TIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE EXPERIENCES
Destination NSW has released a Quick Tips for Creating Sustainable Experiences guide as part of its NSW First program. Produced in collaboration with EarthCheck, it includes small steps every business can take to start their sustainability journey, examples of how businesses can reduce their carbon footprint and information on the types of sustainable experiences that resonate with travellers.
(SXSW) SYDNEY EXPANDS INAUGURAL PROGRAM
South by Southwest (SXSW) Sydney Music Festival has announced the first local acts that will be performing, including 1tbsp, Alter Boy, Andrew Gurruwiwi Band and Ashli. Additionally, K-pop expert Chris Lee, Chief A&R Officer of one of Korea’s largest entertainment companies, SM Entertainment, has joined the speaker line-up. SXSW Sydney is proudly supported by Destination NSW.
NAROOMA OYSTER FESTIVAL RETURNS
The Narooma Oyster Festival will be back bigger and better from 5-7 May 2023. Destination NSW is a proud supporter of the festival, which has grown to be the largest food and wine event in southern NSW. It contributes an estimated $1.4 million into the South Coast visitor economy and attracts thousands of visitors from outside the region during a traditionally quiet time of year. More than 70,000 Sydney Rock Oysters are shucked and slurped at the festival each year.
PUSH TO RAISE SCG PRECINCT CONCERT CAP
The NSW Government has directed Venues NSW to seek regulatory approval to lift the SCG Precinct concert cap from an average of four major events per year to 20. NSW Premier Chris Minns said: “The cap means NSW is missing out on millions of dollars a year in economic activity and the tourism and jobs it brings with it. In lifting this concert cap to 20 per year, we could bring in an additional $1.3 billion for NSW businesses over the lifetime of the stadium.”
NSW CARAVAN & CAMPING REBOUND
The December 2022 NSW Caravan and Camping Visitor Report shows a significant rebound for NSW, with 4.68 million caravan and camping trips (up 31 per cent) and 17.3 million nights (up 32 per cent), contributing over $3 billion (up 55 per cent) to the visitor economy. The December quarter alone saw 1.27 million trips and 4.2 million visitor nights, the highest December quarter on record for NSW. NSW Caravan and Camping Industry Association CEO Lyndel Gray said: "These outstanding results reflect the hard work and dedication of all the people behind the incredible businesses in our industry."
HUGE CROWDS AT SYDNEY SUPERSHOW
The 2023 Caravan Camping Holiday Supershow (Sydney) welcomed 48,000 attendees from 18-23 April. NSW Caravan and Camping Industry Association CEO Lyndel Gray said: “The event was an opportunity for people with a real interest in the sector to see all the new RV products and the latest innovations and models at the largest caravan and camping exhibition in the state. Feedback from both visitors and exhibitors has been incredibly positive and we can't wait for the next Sydney Supershow, which will be held from 16-21 April 2024 at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse.
NEON NIGHT-TIME ECONOMY FORUM
Local and international night-time economy thought leaders met in Sydney this week to share ideas at the NEON International Night-Time Economy Forum. NSW 24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues said: “Data shows that night-time visitation in Sydney is up beyond pre-pandemic levels. This hasn’t happened by chance. It has been the result of a focussed and determined effort to create a vibrant, diverse, inclusive and safe night-time economy. I am incredibly excited to activate the next phase of our 24-Hour Economy Strategy.”
NEW SYDNEY NIGHTLIFE STUDY
A new research project by urban night-time experts VibeLab will use local insights to examine the value and impact of Sydney’s music and nightlife spaces. NSW 24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues said: "The project’s findings will help us to further boost Sydney’s nightlife renaissance. The research team will gather insights from dozens of stakeholders and decision-makers embedded in Sydney’s creative, music and nightlife scene to assess the current picture and provide actionable solutions.” A final report outlining policy recommendations will be released by October 2023.
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS ART AND CULTURE FAIR
Indigenous artists from around Australia will come together from 1–2 July 2023 for the fourth National Indigenous Art Fair (NIAF) — an ethical art market and festival taking place at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks, Sydney. The event will also feature a program of live music and dance performances, a weaving circle and an Indigenous bushfoods area. NIAF is proudly supported by Destination NSW.
BONZA CONNECTS TAMWORTH
Bonza has launched its Melbourne to Tamworth route. CEO Tim Jordan said: “Melbournians can now explore Australia’s backyard with a country NSW experience including Australian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Big Golden Guitar, art galleries and museums. Travellers can take in the wide-open spaces of the New England region including World-Heritage listed national parks."
QANTAS ANNOUNCES NEW CEO
The Qantas Group has announced Vanessa Hudson will become its next CEO and Managing Director, taking over from Alan Joyce when he retires in November 2023. Ms Hudson is currently the Group’s Chief Financial Officer and has worked in a number of executive positions across the Group over 28 years, including Chief Customer Officer and Senior Vice President for Qantas across the Americas and New Zealand.
TOP TOURISM TOWNS FINALISTS
The 32 NSW finalists in the 2023 Top Tourism Town Awards have been announced. The awards provide communities, business chambers, visitor centres and local governments with the opportunity to showcase how their town encourages development, increases visitation and drives the visitor economy for NSW. Public voting has opened to determine this year's winners and will close on 12 May 2023.
IRONMAN PORT MACQUARIE
International triathlon event IRONMAN Australia and IRONMAN 70.3 will be held in Port Macquarie on 7 May 2023, bringing more than 10,000 visitors to the region from around the world. Proudly supported by Destination NSW, the race offers a unique challenge set along the Port Macquarie region's spectacular coastline.
TINA - THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL
Previews have commenced at Theatre Royal Sydney for TINA - The Tina Turner Musical. Show star Ruva Ngwenya recently climbed Sydney Harbour Bridge in a special moment to honour Tina Turner, who made a similar climb in 1995 as part of her iconic NRL ad campaign. Destination NSW is proud to support the production.
BUS INDUSTRY TASKFORCE ESTABLISHED
The NSW Government has established the Bus Industry Taskforce, with the aim of delivering improvements to bus services across the state. Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said: "Passengers have had enough of service cancellations and routes being cut. They expect better bus services, and we need to do better. This means better contract and performance management, better service planning that looks at the routes that passengers and communities want, and a better industry that is able to attract more drivers." A final report will be delivered by 1 May 2024.
SOLAR ECLIPSE TOURISM BOOST FOR NSW
Regional NSW tourism operators are being urged to consider the potential of the next Australian solar eclipse, which will plunge many parts of the state into darkness for up to four minutes. The eclipse is expected to occur on July 22, 2028. Bourke, Dubbo and Sydney are among the spots on the totality path, while destinations such as Broken Hill are expected to see just under 90 per cent of total coverage. Around 20,000 interstate and global visitors flocked to Exmouth in regional Western Australia last month to witness a solar eclipse.
LAKE ILLAWARRA FORESHORE PLANS
The NSW Government has announced it will retain ownership of an 8.2-hectare parcel of land on the Lake Illawarra foreshore at Warrawong and develop a plan to transform the foreshore location into a destination for Illawarra locals and visitors. Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said: "We will now work on identifying opportunities for this wonderful public space to make it more of a drawcard."
NEW BUSINESS EVENTS ASSOCIATION
The Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB), the Australian Convention Centres Group (ACCG) and the Exhibition & Events Association of Australasia Ltd (EEAA) have joined forces to provide a unified voice for the industry and will launch the Australian Business Events Association on 3 July 2023. Peter King has been appointed as independent chair of the board and the association is now looking to fill the post of CEO.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
BUSINESS EVENTS SYDNEY APPOINTS NEW EUROPE DIRECTOR (NSW): Jamie Ades has joined BESydney, boosting coverage of the world’s largest source market of globally rotating association conferences, conventions and meetings. Learn more
AGRITOURISM STRATEGY FOR RIVERINA MURRAY: Destination Riverina Murray is developing an agritourism strategy and is holding community consultation workshops across the region during May. Book here
DARLING RIVER RUN IS NOW FULLY OPEN: The Darling River Run has reopened along the full length of the Darling River after extended road closures due to flooding. Learn more
MURRUMBATEMAN WINE TRAIL LAUNCHES: The 14km trail passes eight of the region's award-winning wineries and connects many other attractions. The project was jointly funded under the NSW Government's Building Better Regions program and Yass Valley Council.Learn more
MILTON ULLADULLA STORYFEST RETURNS: StoryFest will be held from 15-18 June, with a line-up that features Pip Williams, Peter FitzSimons, former MasterChef Australia winner Adam Liaw and ABC Radio’s Richard Glover. 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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