Insights - 28 October 2022
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VISITOR SPENDING EXCEEDS PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS
The latest fact sheet from Destination NSW - 'Monthly Domestic Overnight Visitation to NSW July 2022' - has shown strong signs of recovery in visitor economy spending.
Domestic overnight visitor expenditure was up 40 per cent in July 2022 compared to July 2019. Domestic overnight travel to NSW has also increased. Data for July 2022 shows visitation was 24 per cent higher than the month prior.
Visitation was down four per cent on July 2019, but visitor expenditure was $2.8 billion, which was up 524 per cent and 40 per cent on the same month in 2021 and 2019 respectively. The rise for July 2022 compared to July 2019 was mainly driven by an increase in spend on holiday travel, including spend on accommodation, food and drinks.
In the year ending July 2022, NSW received 27.3 million domestic overnight visitors who stayed 91.8 million nights and spent $20 billion.
VISITATION BOOM IN REGIONAL AREAS
The latest data from Tourism Research Australia (TRA) shows domestic visitor numbers have almost returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Domestic travellers made 9.4 million overnight trips in July 2022, down 3 per cent on July 2019. Visitors spent 37 million nights away, which was up 2 per cent on July 2019, while spend was up 38 per cent ($2.7 billion) to $9.9 billion.
TRA noted that travellers were spending more money on average and taking longer trips. The average spend per trip was up $313 (42 per cent) to $1049 in comparison to July 2019.
July 2022 saw strong results for interstate travel continue. While overnight trips were down slightly, nights spent away and overnight spend were up on pre-pandemic levels.
Regional areas continued to perform well in July 2022. Overnight trips, nights spent away and spend were all up on pre-pandemic levels.
In July 2022, Australians took 6.2 million overnight trips to regional areas and spent $5.7 billion. Compared to a pre-COVID July 2019, there was a 2 per cent increase in overnight trips and a 52 per cent increase in spend.
VISITOR ECONOMY HIGHLIGHTS FROM FEDERAL BUDGET
The Federal Government delivered its 2022-23 Budget this week, which included initiatives aimed at driving the recovery of Australia’s visitor economy.
Federal Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell said the last few years had been incredibly challenging for the approximately 300,000 Australian businesses in the sector.
The Federal Government will spend $48 million to support recruitment and marketing in the visitor economy and for infrastructure upgrades to caravan parks over the next four years.
“This funding will support training and upskilling for the accommodation sector, upgrade caravan parks, help small tourism businesses and attract workers to the tourism industry,” Mr Farrell said.
“The Government is committed to growing and rebuilding the sector to return to the economic powerhouse we know it to be."
Caravan Industry Association of Australia Chief Executive Stuart Lamont said: “Caravanning has long been Australian domestic tourism’s largest visitor and economic cohort, an almost $24 billion economic driver in tourism and local manufacturing activity.
“This well-targeted funding will go directly into our world leading caravan park product across the nation. We also believe it will extract private capital expenditure support up to three times over."
The Federal Government will provide additional free TAFE courses, cheaper childcare and extra housing investment to help attract workers to tourism, transport and aviation.
Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) CEO Margy Osmond said: “Starting with 180,000 places next year and increasing to 465,000 over the next four years, these free TAFE spots will help fill the skills gaps, particularly in tourism."
Ms Osmond also welcomed the budget’s commitment to helping clear the backlog of visa applications and other previously announced measures to encourage foreign workers to come to Australia.
Tourism Accommodation Australia CEO Michael Johnson said: "This funding will go a long way to assist with our goals of upskilling existing talent and attracting more people to return to the workforce and share their skills and knowledge.
“It will also allow us to spotlight the career paths that exist in our sector including to those who perhaps haven’t considered it before and help us rebuild.”
Australian Tourism Export Council Managing Director Peter Shelley said: "Along with funding for packages including workforce, capability and better industry research, the budget provides our main marketing force, Tourism Australia, with a top up of funds to help us in this vital period of transition."
Australian Grape & Wine’s Chief Executive Tony Battaglene welcomed the decision to continue the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants program as part of the 2022-23 Budget.
“This grant helps Australia’s grape and wine businesses to invest in their cellar door offerings and employ local people,” said Mr Battaglene. “We know great cellar doors attract tourists to regional Australia and we also know these tourists tend to spend more money in regional communities when they visit, with benefits flowing from the vineyard through to the local pub and bakery.”
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2023TM OFFICIALS
HEAD TO SYDNEY
Following the official draw for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023TM the teams that will play their first match in NSW have been inspecting facilities and hotels in Sydney.
Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox met with team officials from the Republic of Ireland, France, Jamaica, Colombia and Korea Republic to welcome them to the Harbour City.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023TM will see the world's best players compete for the greatest prize in women’s football from 20 July to 20 August 2023.
Destination NSW - through the NSW Government’s 10 World Cups in 10 Years initiative - has secured 11 matches for Sydney, including knockout rounds and the Final on 20 August 2023.
The Republic of Ireland will face the Matildas in the opening match at Sydney Football Stadium on 20 July 2023.
Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said: “Events like the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023TM are key to the vitality of Sydney and make a significant contribution to the NSW economy by attracting thousands of fans, players and support staff to our state, who stay in our hotels, visit our attractions and spend in our retail, dining and hospitality businesses."
Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said: “This is going to be the best World Cup to date, cementing NSW as the premier sporting state of Australia. We can’t wait to welcome fans and visitors to Sydney cheering on their teams and celebrating the footballing skills of the largest women’s tournament in the world.”
See the full match schedule here.
MEN AND WOMEN UNITE FOR NEW TENNIS EVENT
The world’s best tennis players will unite in January to compete in the United Cup, a new mixed team event that will launch the global season in 2023. Eighteen countries will compete over 11 days. An ATP-WTA event, presented in partnership with Tennis Australia, the United Cup will offer $US15 million in prize money. Destination NSW is supporting the finals coming to Sydney from 6-8 January 2023 as part of the NSW Government's 10 World Cups in 10 Years initiative.
CINDERELLA OPENS IN SYDNEY
Destination NSW has partnered with Opera Australia to bring Cinderella, one of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s greatest scores to Sydney Lyric Theatre. The musical is anticipated to draw around 24,000 visitors to the Harbour City, generating more than $14 million in visitor expenditure for NSW, which will support hundreds of jobs in the creative and hospitality industries. Final tickets are on sale for the production, which premiered last night in Sydney and will play until 29 January 2023.
FIVE-STAR HOTEL FOR PENRITH
The Panthers Group has signed an agreement with Accor for a new five-star Pullman hotel at the Penrith Panthers precinct in Western Sydney. Opening in the fourth quarter of 2023, the precinct will include the 153-room Pullman Sydney Penrith hotel, a 1000-person conference centre and a community centre. The project will transform the area and create a new state-of-the-art business and entertainment destination. The hotel is adjoined to and will service the new Western Sydney Conference Centre.
NEW VIRGIN AUSTRALIA CAMPAIGN
Virgin Australia has launched its Bring on Wonderful campaign, aimed at making flying more inclusive and welcoming. It shows the unique Virgin flying experience through the eyes of a member of the airline’s cabin crew team. A 'Middle Seat Lottery' has been launched as part of the campaign, which turns middle seats into lottery tickets with prizes. Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka surprised all guests who were seated in middle seats on a flight to Adelaide with a Virgin Voyages cruise for two.
NEW GREATER SYDNEY PARKLANDS BOARD
The first board for the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust has been appointed to deliver on the NSW Government’s vision of Sydney as a city in a park. Minister for Cities Rob Stokes said the board provided a stronger voice for First Nations people. It will continue to be chaired by Michael Rose and includes returning members Dr Robert Lang, Siobhan Toohill, Ceinwen Kirk-Lennox and Julie Bindon. New members are Kaylie Salvatori, Sharon Veale and Greater Sydney Parklands CEO Joshua French.
COME SAY G'DAY CAPTIVATES TRAVELLERS
The short film ‘G’day’ that features in Australia's new brand campaign, Come and Say G’day, has already been seen 93 million times across all channels with more than 15 million views on Tourism Australia's YouTube channel alone. In addition to the campaign's global launch event in New York last week, in-market media and viewing events were held in Tokyo, Singapore, Mumbai, Frankfurt, Berlin, Paris and London. Tourism Australia also hosted an industry webinar to provide an update on the campaign.
ABORIGINAL LANGUAGES ACT ANNIVERSARY
Celebrations have begun to mark the fifth anniversary of the NSW Government passing the Aboriginal Languages Act 2017. The Act was the first legislation in Australia to acknowledge that Aboriginal people are the custodians of Aboriginal languages and further strengthens connections to Aboriginal culture and identity. The anniversary coincides with the launch of the Aboriginal Language Trust’s inaugural Strategic Plan, aimed at increasing the number and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages being spoken in NSW.
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE SHINES FOR DIWALI
The NSW Government has added to the hundreds of millions of lights burning around the world for Diwali by lighting the sails of the Sydney Opera House in gold. The lighting of the sails officially marked the start of Diwali, which is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains. It is held on the last day of the month of Kartika in the lunar calendar (falling between October and November) and is celebrated by lighting oil lamps, which symbolise the lifting of spiritual darkness and the renewal of life. It is a time to pray for health, knowledge and peace.
REX RETURNS TO PROFITABILITY
Rex Airlines' domestic jet operations have swung into profitability for the month of September, the first time since resuming operations in February 2022. Executive Chairman Lim Kim Hai said: "Our domestic jet network passenger numbers for the first three months of this financial year grew by 60 per cent, 34 per cent and 77 per cent respectively when compared to June 2022. Revenue growth has been even stronger at 84 per cent, 47 per cent and 137 per cent for the same three months.”
LIGHT RAIL WRAPPED FOR T20 WORLD CUP
The Light Rail at Moore Park has been decked out in T20 World Cup branding. Transport for NSW advised that public transport is the best way to get to the SCG with plenty of transport options available, including trains, light rail and buses. ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 Local Organising Committee CEO Michelle Enright said: “The NSW Government has been instrumental in their support to ensure fans can get to and from the match safely and at no additional cost.”
FUNDING TO TACKLE REGIONAL POTHOLES
The NSW Government will invest $50 million to help regional and rural councils fix the increasing number of potholes brought on by this year’s extreme wet weather. Funding under the Fixing Local Roads Pothole Repair Round is available to 95 regional councils and authorities to help repair potholes on regional and local roads. Work must be completed by 1 January 2024.
AUSTRALIAN TRAVELLER'S TOP NSW TOWNS
Australian Traveller has published its Top 50 Aussie Towns list, which features 18 NSW destinations. Readers were asked to nominate the five towns they most loved to visit. Mudgee was number one in NSW, followed by Orange, Broken Hill, Yamba, Byron Bay, Bowral, Port Macquarie, Kiama, Berry, Merimbula, Coffs Harbour, Bathurst, Forster, Narooma, Bellingen, Dubbo, Gerringong and Leura.
WESTINVEST FUNDS WOLLONDILLY PROJECTS
Wollondilly residents and visitors will benefit from a state-of-the-art performing arts centre, sports facilities, new community hubs and better local traffic connections as part of the $5 billion WestInvest Fund. More than $21 million in funding has been announced for Wollondilly Shire Council.
WESTINVEST REVITALISES LIVERPOOL PARK
Liverpool's Light Horse Park will be transformed into a riverside recreational park thanks to the $5 billion WestInvest Fund. Almost $28 million in WestInvest funding has been announced for Liverpool City Council to help deliver the $36.7 million Light Horse Park Embellishment and Upgrade.
BANGARRA ANNOUNCES 2023 PROGRAM
Bangarra Dance Theatre has announced the world premiere of Frances Rings’ latest work, Yuldea, for her inaugural season as Bangarra Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director. The production, which headlines the company's 2023 season, will premiere at the Sydney Opera House as part of the 50th Anniversary Season, before touring across Australia from 14 June to 14 October 2023.
HISTORIC TRANSFER OF PEAT ISLAND
The NSW Government has confirmed a landmark agreement to transfer ownership of Peat Island and a portion of the mainland foreshore at Mooney Mooney on NSW’s Hawkesbury River to the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council (DLALC). DLALC Chief Executive Officer Brendan Moyle said the transfer held iconic significance for the local Darkinjung people.
CELEBRITY CRUISES RETURNS TO NSW
Celebrity Cruises has returned to NSW, with Celebrity Eclipse taking passengers on a 12-night round trip. It is the first of 15 sailings from Sydney through to April 2023 and marks the debut of Celebrity Eclipse in Australian waters. Celebrity Cruises CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said: “Returning to this region is another significant milestone in the industry’s global recovery.”
NSW TOURISM AWARDS TICKETS ON SALE
The countdown is on for the NSW Tourism Awards, which will be held on 17 November 2022 at Luna Park Sydney. The NSW visitor economy’s brightest stars will be showcased at the event, which is managed by the NSW Tourism Industry Council in partnership with the NSW Government and Destination NSW. Click here to view the finalists.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
SELLER APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR AUSTRALIAN TOURISM EXCHANGE 2023: The event will be held from 30 April to 4 May 2023 on the Gold Coast. Learn more
SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAN - GUIDE FOR BUSINESS: The NSW Government is banning certain single-use plastics from 1 November 2022, including plastics straws, stirrers and cutlery, plastic bowls and plates and expanded polystyrene food ware and cups. Learn more
NSW SUPERCHARGES EV ROLLOUT: The NSW Government is investing $39.4 million in the first round of Fast Charging Grants to co-fund 86 new fast and ultra-fast EV charging stations, each with four to 15 bays. Maps of the charging stations are available here.
EXPEDITION CRUISING VIRTUAL SHOWCASE: Cruise Lines International Association will hold an expedition cruising virtual showcase from 7-10 November 2022. Register here
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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