Insights - 31 March 2023
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NSW CRUISE RENAISSANCE GATHERS PACE
Close to one million cruise passengers are expected to pass through Port Authority’s Sydney Cruise Terminals in the 2022-23 financial year, as NSW visitation approaches pre-pandemic figures at a faster rate than expected.
More than 40 different vessels from 25 different cruise lines will make more than 300 calls in NSW during the current financial year.
Cruise Lines International Association Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz said: "By next summer we expect to see around 60 ships – the same level of activity we saw prior to the pandemic.
“Cruise tourism brings economic opportunities to ports and destinations right around the country, including many regional areas and remote communities.
"It benefits a huge range of local businesses, like travel agents, tour operators, hotels, restaurants and retailers, plus a whole spectrum of suppliers like transport workers, farmers, food and beverage providers, entertainers, port workers and maritime service providers.
“Importantly, public enthusiasm around cruising has returned to pre-pandemic levels. Eighty per cent of Australians who have cruised before say they will cruise again, a level similar to the 82% recorded in 2019.”
Business Sydney Executive Director Paul Nicolaou said the NSW capital had been among the first beneficiaries of the cruise revival.
“The combined boost from big events such as WorldPride 2023 and the return of cruise ships to Sydney has been a major factor in restoring the city’s mojo as it continues to roar back from the pandemic,” Mr Nicolaou said.
Tourism Accommodation Australia and Accommodation Association of Australia Chief Executive Officer Michael Johnson said: “To witness the many guests arriving at hotels in Sydney this summer as the cruise ships dock in Circular Quay and White Bay is a wonderful sight to see.”
DESTINATION NSW DEBUTS UPDATED CRUISE GUIDE AT SEATRADE CRUISE GLOBAL
Destination NSW is inviting the world to discover the rich diversity of cruise port and shore excursion options along the NSW coast with an updated Cruise Sydney & New South Wales – Along the Blue Highway guide.
Developed in partnership between Destination NSW and Port Authority of NSW, the new edition of the guide includes new products and experiences in each of the state’s nine port destination as well as updated port parameters and infrastructure, making it an essential resource for the cruise sector.
Destination NSW Chief Executive Office Steve Cox said cruising had never been more important for the state’s visitor economy.
“Cruise Sydney & New South Wales – Along the Blue Highway is a fresh and up-to-date resource that will help sell NSW as one of the world’s best cruise destinations for years to come,” Mr Cox said.
“As we continue to work towards our goal of NSW being the premier visitor economy of Asia-Pacific, Destination NSW is committed to investing in industry resources that help shine a bright light on NSW shore experiences to potential passengers.”
Port Authority of NSW CEO Philip Holliday said: “Sydney is among one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide for cruising. The provisioning of cruise ships with locally sourced produce and the 9000 jobs the sector creates will see long lasting benefits for NSW, so it’s fantastic to have this updated guide as a key industry resource."
Cruise Sydney & New South Wales – Along the Blue Highway was showcased this week at Seatrade Cruise Global in Florida, the world's largest cruise industry trade event.
View the guide here.
Pictured: Port Authority of NSW Chief Customer and Commercial Officer John McKenna, Australian Cruise Association CEO Jill Abel, Port Authority of NSW CEO Philip Holliday at Seatrade Cruise Global.
NEW PRODUCT WORKSHOP BOOSTS
21 NSW BUSINESSES
Twenty-one NSW businesses have showcased their visitor experiences to key domestic and international travel buyers at the annual Destination NSW New Product Workshop.
The New Product Workshop provided a platform for NSW visitor economy businesses to meet with buyers, including inbound tour operators, domestic wholesalers and online travel agents.
The workshop is part of the NSW First Program, a capability-building program delivered by Destination NSW to help businesses in the visitor economy develop, promote and sell visitor experiences.
Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox said the New Product Workshop facilitated more than 500 buyer appointments.
“The New Product Workshop was a valuable opportunity to introduce new distribution-ready NSW visitor experiences to inbound tour operators and online travel agents from domestic and international markets,” he said.
Among the new visitor experiences showcased at the workshop were:
- 9 new stays and experiences less than two hours from Sydney
- 6 agritourism experiences and stays
- 11 new regional NSW accommodation options for international guests, suited to road trips
- 10 experiences and attractions in or close to NSW cruise ports
- 7 experiences operating in NSW National Parks
- 3 businesses eco-certified with Ecotourism Australia
- 6 accommodation providers and 6 experiences on the Sydney to Melbourne Coastal Drive
- 1 new multi-day rail journey experience provider
- New experiences at the Art Gallery of NSW following the opening of its new building.
The South Coast's Navigate Expeditions, which offers immersive, regenerative travel experiences for the environmentally conscious traveller, was among the businesses that attended the workshop.
Owner Jess Taunton said: “This event has opened a whole world of possibility and opportunity for our small business in regional NSW. I couldn't recommend it more. Even if you have worked in tourism for years, you'll still find new information and meeting the team at Destination NSW is vital to putting your product forward on the international stage.”
VIVID SYDNEY 2023 PROGRAM ANNOUNCED
Vivid Sydney will deliver the biggest program in the event's history when it returns from 26 May to 17 June 2023.
Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW. This year’s theme - “Vivid Sydney, Naturally” - will be reflected across more than 300 activations and events that make up the program.
For the first time, Vivid Sydney's brand-new pillar – Vivid Food – will broaden the creative spotlight from Light, Music and Ideas.
Key highlights from the Vivid Sydney 2023 program include:
- The vibrant works of Australian artist John Olsen will be brought to life on the Sydney Opera House for Lighting of the Sails: Life Enlivened (2023).
- British author Jeanette Winterson will reflect on questions of identity, sexuality, religion and more to unpack the idea of nature in LIFE AND MARS: The Future of Human.
- Vivid Music will spotlight First Nations and Australian voices and will celebrate the legacy of the late Archie Roach AC, while a free Vivid Music Program at Tumbalong Park on the Vivid Sydney Light Walk will feature Yothu Yindi, cult Japanese artist Cornelius and many more.
- The Vivid Sydney 2023 drone show Written in the Stars will feature more than 1000 drones over six shows in the biggest drone show in the Southern Hemisphere to date.
WORLD FIRST FOR WYNYARD TUNNELS
Vivid Sydney will add a first-ever activation of the Wynyard railway tunnels to its upcoming program with the world premiere of Dark Spectrum.
Three years in the making, Dark Spectrum will fuse a dynamic musical soundtrack with the latest in laser, robotics, lighting and visual technology to transform the disused Wynyard Station train tunnels in a one-of-a-kind experience in a venue that has never been open to the public.
Watch a video preview here.
NATURE-BASED VISITOR EXPERIENCE GRANTS
Applications have opened for the Nature-Based Visitor Experience Development Grant program. Businesses may be eligible for a share in $3.5 million, which Destination NSW is making available via matched grants from $100,000 up to $250,000 to provide an opportunity for visitor economy operators to expand or improve their business by creating a new nature experience, building viewing platforms, establishing infrastructure such as walkways or glamping accommodation, adding storage facilities for equipment such as bikes and kayaks or creating post-experience recovery facilities.
DIGITAL SKILLS ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
Applications for the Destination NSW Digital Skills Accelerator for Greater Sydney program close today. The course is designed to assist visitor economy businesses from Greater Sydney, Sydney’s Eastern Harbour City, Central River City and Western Parklands City, to digitally transform their marketing. Offered in partnership with digital consultancy Tourism Tribe, the free program includes a customised digital health check report and Australian Tourism Data Warehouse review, two consultation sessions with a digital advisor and access to a course library.
TOURISM JOBS RECOVERY IN JANUARY 2023
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show tourism jobs increased by 12.1 per cent in December quarter 2022, bringing the industry back to almost pre COVID-19 pandemic levels. Head of tourism statistics Jonathon Khoo said: “The recovery in tourism is catching up with the total economy. The number of tourism jobs fell by half (-393,600) in the June 2020 quarter. By the end of December 2022, we saw 312,500 of these jobs had returned to the sector – which is equivalent to saying that nine out of 10 tourism jobs that existed in December 2019 are now filled."
OVERSEAS ARRIVALS RISE IN JANUARY 2023
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics Statistics data on international travel arriving in NSW shows there were 159,130 short-term visitor arrivals in January 2023, an increase of 132,280 compared with the corresponding month of the previous year. The three leading source countries were: United States (26,390 trips) New Zealand (20,710) and the United Kingdom (20,670). For visitors arriving for a long-term trip (one year or more) there were 25,570 arrivals, an increase of 12,590 compared with the corresponding month of the previous year.
HOLIDAY-RELATED SPENDING RISES
Household spending rose 17.8 per cent in January compared to the same time last year, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). ABS head of business indicators Robert Ewing said: "Household spending remained high to start the new year. These increases were led by spending on transport (up 41.5 per cent), hotels, cafes and restaurants (38.5 per cent) and clothing and footwear (20.9 per cent)."
TRA RELEASES TOURISM BUSINESSES REPORT
Tourism Research Australia has released its Tourism Businesses report 2017-2022 report. It provides statistics on businesses including changes in their number and profile from June 2017 to June 2022. The report reveals there were 358,277 tourism businesses operating nationwide at 30 June 2022. This is 5.7 per cent or 19,233 more businesses than the previous year, with 82 per cent of tourism businesses in NSW (117,781).
NEW ABORIGINAL EXPERIENCES WEBSITE
The new website for Discover Aboriginal Experiences has launched. It features the following export-ready NSW businesses offering Aboriginal experiences: Australian Museum, Bundyi Cultural Tours, Dreamtime Southern X, Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, Sand Dune Adventures, The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours, Firescreek Aboriginal Storytelling and Wine Tasting Experiences and Burrawa Bridgeclimb Experience.
BLAK MARKETS HEADS TO BROKEN HILL
Blak Markets will hold its inaugural Broken Hill/Wilyakali event on 15 April 2023, giving visitors the chance to shop local and support a good cause, with 100% of all profits enriching Aboriginal communities. The event will include a traditional Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, plus Indigenous dances, singing performances and weaving workshops. It will feature 20 Indigenous stalls selling a range of authentic and handmade artworks, jewellery and homewares.
SXSW SYDNEY: SESSION SELECT VOTING
SXSW Sydney is collaborating with the world’s top creative professionals and industry experts to deliver its inaugural conference program through Session Select. SXSW Sydney, which is proudly supported by Destination NSW, has received over 1400 proposals for panels, presentations, workshops, meet-ups and mentor sessions. The community has been asked to give feedback on the concepts they would like to see come to life. Voting closing on 11 April. SXSW Sydney will be held from 15-22 October 2023.
$2 MILLION FOR BUSINESS EVENT DATA
The Federal Government has confirmed a $2 million allocation to measure the impact and benefit of business events. The project includes the addition of new questions to Tourism Research Australia’s National and International Visitor Surveys, and data collection points across the country. Business Events Council of Australia Chair Leo Jago said it was the country’s largest ever single investment in business events research and would help establish a long-term framework to measure the sector’s contribution.
OUTDOOR INDUSTRY SUMMIT ANNOUNCED
Outdoors NSW & ACT will host a biennial Outdoor Industry Summit at Lennox Head from 28-30 June 2023. CEO of Outdoors NSW & ACT Lori Modde said: "The Outdoor Industry Summit is a unique opportunity for everyone in the industry to come together, network with each other, and collaborate to drive positive change." Supported by Destination NSW, the event will feature keynote speakers including social researcher, futurist and TEDx speaker Mark McCrindle.
WINNERS: AUSTRALIAN
TOURISM AWARDS
Congratulations to all the NSW winners at the Australian Tourism Awards, which were held in Sydney earlier this month and proudly supported by Destination NSW. Gold awards went to Mudgee Region Tourism and Mt Hay Retreat; Silver awards went to Sydney Harbour Kayaks NSW, Potager, Courabyra Wines and Destination Barrington Coast; and the Bronze winners were Margan Wines & Restaurant, The Byng Street Boutique Hotel and Tumbafest Inc.
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