NSW STEALS THE SHOW AT
AUSTRALIAN TOURISM EXCHANGE 2022More than 1100 tourism operators and global buyers this week gathered at ICC Sydney for Australian Tourism Exchange 2022 (ATE22). Destination NSW partnered with Tourism Australia to bring the nation’s premier travel trade event to NSW, using the Harbour City as the backdrop to sell Australia to the world. International buyers from 20 countries, including wholesalers, retail travel agencies, inbound tour operators, destination management companies, online travel agencies, online travel booking platforms and tour operators, travelled to Sydney for this year's edition. Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Minister for Tourism and Sport and
Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the NSW Government was proud to host ATE22, which featured 91 NSW visitor economy businesses. “ATE22 plays a key role in turbocharging the NSW visitor economy, showcasing the incredible products and diversity of experiences our state has to offer to hundreds of local and international buyers,” Mr Ayres said. Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox joined Tourism Australia Managing Director Phillipa Harrison to welcome delegates to Sydney on 16 May 2022, while respected Elder Margret Campbell delivered a Welcome to Country.
ATE22 delegates were given the opportunity to start each day on a natural high with the Destination NSW Fun and Fitness program, which offered a Sydney Harbour bike ride with Bonza Bikes, a running tour with Fit City Tours or an early morning surf at Bondi Beach with Let’s Go Surfing. Destination NSW also hosted lunch for delegates on Tuesday, sharing highlights from the state's blockbuster NSW events calendar, while Sydney WorldPride 2023 CEO Kate Wickett provided an update on the event, which will be the first-ever WorldPride held in the Southern Hemisphere.
NSW shared its fantastic food, beverages, hospitality and stunning Sydney Harbour views with 700 ATE22 delegates on Tuesday night at Destination NSW networking and showcase events. Delegates enjoyed transfers across the iconic Sydney Harbour to Luna Park Sydney on the newest addition to the Captain Cook Cruises fleet, The Jackson. At Luna Park, guests were treated to a jam-packed entertainment program featuring exhilarating rides and entertainment from drag performers Hannah Conda and Charisma Belle, DJ Erin Marshall, and Furnance & The Fundamentals.
Destination NSW, in partnership with Tourism Australia, has also hosted 55 international media across 11 markets for ATE22, including New Zealand, Japan, France, Malaysia, Italy, USA, India, Canada, Singapore, Indonesia and Germany. They have been taken on a range of experiences in stunning locations, ranging from Lord Howe Island to Broken Hill, Port Stephens and the vineyards of Orange and the Hunter Valley. Let’s Go Surfing Managing Director and Founder Wacca Wachholz said it had been invaluable to attend the industry’s most important trade event, especially following two years of border closures. “If you’re in tourism and you want to make a difference, you need to go to ATE," he said.
TOP NSW TOURISM TOWNS ANNOUNCED Carcoar, Berry and Mudgee have been named NSW’s Top Tourism Towns for 2022, selected as the state’s most compelling destinations for an outstanding visitor experience. Carcoar, Top Tiny Town winner, was praised as a wonderful piece of living history and a brilliant place to recharge the batteries, step back to yesteryear and be immersed in local hospitality. Berry, Small Town winner, was admired as a gorgeous town between the mountains and the sea, with its greenery and gardens equalled only by the stunning historic homesteads and
abundance of amazing shopping. Mudgee was announced as the Top Tourism Town winner for a second year in a row. It was lauded as a beautiful town with lovely locals, making it a truly special wine and foodies’ destination filled with country charm.
More than 12,000 people cast their vote for this year’s Top Tourism Towns awards from a list of 30 finalists, with the winners announced at the Local Government NSW Destination and Visitor Economy Conference in Orange this week. The awards are managed by the NSW Tourism Industry Council powered by Business NSW, with tourism associations, local councils, local chambers and visitor information centres collaborating to enter their towns. Read more
DESTINATION NSW HEADS TO LGNSW DESTINATION
AND VISITOR ECONOMY CONFERENCE The 2022 Local Government NSW Destination and Visitor Economy Conference, held this week in the NSW Central West, brought together local government staff and councillors, key industry stakeholders and local operators to discuss insights and the ever-changing world facing future visitors. Destination NSW was a strategic partner of the conference, which featured keynote speaker Professor Tim Harcourt, the new Industry Professor and Chief Economist at the Institute for Public Policy and Governance at the University of Technology Sydney. Dr Harcourt discussed creative solutions to tackling supply chain shortages. Destination NSW General Manager, Consumer Marketing Kathryn Illy gave delegates a
deeper insight into the NSW Government's 'Feel New' campaign, which shines the spotlight on the many emotions visitors feel when experiencing the diverse people, places and events NSW has to offer, which energise visitors like nowhere else. The ‘Feel New’ campaign is a key pillar of the NSW Government’s Visitor Economy Strategy 2030, which aims to make NSW the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific.
NEW STRATEGIES TO REVITALISE SYDNEY CBD An EY Australia report in collaboration with the NSW Government has suggested dozens of strategies that will attract people back to the bright lights of the city. FLICKING THE SWITCH interviewed more than 3000 Sydneysiders to understand evolving attitudes to the CBD and the activities and activations that would entice people back. EY Oceania Managing Partner, Real Estate and Construction Selina Short said many suggestions, such as cheaper and easier parking, more reliable public transport and safer streets, would
address pre-existing challenges before the pandemic. “But some of the solutions offered by those we interviewed were more intriguing – like more green roofs, walls and streets and more al fresco dining. People love their CBD, but the pandemic has changed the way they interact with space,” Ms Short said. NSW Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Stuart Ayres said: “The CBD is extremely valuable to Sydney’s economy and global identity. The key findings from this independent research show our long-term efforts to energise the 24-hour economy and revitalise our CBD is working. An additional 31 projects are set to stimulate local urban centres, funded through our $50 million CBDs Revitalisation Program. This report will help us build on that success
and create ways for everyone to enjoy the harbour city.” Vivid Sydney, which is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, will also play a vital role in reigniting the visitor economy in Sydney CBD from 27 May to 18 June 2022. The festival fuses mesmerising art displays and 3D light projections with exhilarating live music performances and deep-dive discussions from some of the world’s brightest minds, in addition to the Sydney Opera House Lighting of the Sails. For the full Vivid Sydney program across Light, Music and Ideas go to www.vividsydney.com.
AQUABUMPS PHOTOGRAPHS BROKEN HILL This week, world-renowned photographer and Aquabumps founder Eugene Tan spotlighted Broken Hill in his collaboration with Destination NSW. In a dramatic departure from his typical coastal photo subject matter, Eugene Tan captured the desert landscape of Outback NSW. The NSW Aquabumps series is the latest stunning phase of the NSW Government's ‘Feel New’ campaign, showcasing spectacular destinations across the state, from Byron Bay to Broken Hill, with the images shared globally and locally across social platforms. Read Aquabumps' Broken Hill blog here.
DO HO SUH EXHIBITION SECURED FOR SYDNEY Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) will host the Southern Hemisphere’s first solo exhibition by internationally renowned South Korean sculptor Do Ho Suh in October 2022. Destination NSW has secured the works exclusively for the Sydney International Art Series 2022-23. Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Minister for Tourism and Sport and Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said securing this exhibition positioned Sydney as a global cultural destination.
REFLECTIONS HOLIDAY PARKS FUNDING Regional tourism in NSW is set to grow with a $28 million upgrade to Reflections Holiday Parks. Reflections manages 37 iconic coastal and country holiday parks in NSW. Reflections Holiday Parks CEO Nick Baker said the strategic plan backed by the NSW Government will support the group’s goal to generate $214 million in economic value for NSW annually by FY2030 through boosted tourism, with all profits reinvested into parks, better facilities and supporting local communities.
FORMER GAOL BECOMES BOUTIQUE HOTEL The former Berrima Correctional Centre, which opened in 1839, is set to be transformed into a unique hotel and entertainment precinct. Blue Sox Group will redevelop the site, carefully considering its heritage significance to the local community. The proposal incorporates a boutique hotel and will include a cafe, restaurant, bar, event areas and spaces that will cater for small business opportunities such as antique stores, book shops and art galleries.
CENTRAL STATION TRANSFORMATION The area surrounding Central Station will be transformed into a vibrant new precinct featuring art, restaurants, bars and shops as part of the revitalisation of Sydney’s CBD. Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes said: “Central Station will no longer be just a thoroughfare, instead it will become its own destination, a dining and entertainment precinct that rivals the likes of Parramatta’s Eat Street or Chippendale’s Spice Alley.”
FUNDING TO HELP RENEW CITY PRECINCTSA farmer’s market at Circular Quay and street festivals with food, wine and music are just some of the exciting events set to take place across Sydney over the next 12 months thanks to new funding. The City of Sydney has approved 14 grants worth $3 million as part of its new Precinct Activation Grants program. The program is funding collaborations to revitalise Sydney’s CBD and villages.
MEDIUM BUSINESS FLOOD GRANT OPENS Flood-impacted medium-sized businesses and not-for-profit organisations in the Northern Rivers can now apply for up to $200,000 under the Northern Rivers Medium Size Business Grant. Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the grant will help employers get their operations back up and running, and support staff to return to work.
MUDGEE BBQ & SMOKED MEATS FESTIVAL IS BACKMudgee will celebrate the first Saturday of winter with its popular barbecue and smoked meats festival MudgeeQue. The fiery affair will be held on 4 June 2022, featuring Smokin’ Bro & Co., Smo-King BBQ, Crosdales BBQ, Indigiearth, Firebrand BBQ, Mudgee Lamb and Brazilian Flame BBQ; plus refreshments from local winemakers, distillers and brewers and a line-up local live music performances. Entry tickets are $40 per adult and $10 per child. Proudly supported by Destination NSW, the event will be held at the Australian Rural Education Centre.
BLAK DOUGLAS WINS ARCHIBALD PRIZE 2022 Blak Douglas, a Sydney-based artist with Dhungatti heritage, has won the Archibald Prize 2022 and $100,000 for his portrait of artist Karla Dickens during the Lismore floods, titled Moby Dickens. A five-time Archibald Prize finalist, he painted his good friend, Wiradjuri woman Ms Dickens, for the portrait award. With his win Blak Douglas becomes the second Aboriginal artist to win the Archibald Prize in 101 years
after Western Aranda artist Vincent Namatjira won in 2020. Moby Dickens is the first time a portrait of an Aboriginal woman has won the prize.
ARIA AWARDS RETURN IN NOVEMBER Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has announced that the 2022 ARIA Awards will return on 24 November 2022, broadcast across Australia on the Nine Network and streamed to the world on YouTube. Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Minister for Sport and Tourism Stuart Ayres said: "The NSW Government is proud to partner with ARIA Awards again this year. It promises to be an incredibly exciting event at Sydney’s iconic music venue The Hordern Pavilion."
WHALE MIGRATION MAKES A SPLASH The first sightings of whales off the NSW east coast have been recorded as the annual migration from Antarctica to warmer northern waters begins. Minister for the Environment James Griffin said the first of about 40,000 humpback whales have started their long swim towards tropical waters. “We have more than 880 national parks and reserves in NSW, many of which are on the coast and provide excellent viewing opportunities for these oceanic giants," Mr Griffin said.
BARCA EVENT TO SUPPORT FLOOD RELIEF FC Barcelona will play the A-Leagues at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on 25 May 2022, proudly supported by Destination NSW. Fans who attend the match or watch it live on Network 10 will have the opportunity to support a fundraising drive to restore community sporting facilities devastated by the recent floods in Northern NSW. A fundraising portal has been set up and the link will be circulated during the match.
JT TRAVELS TO PENRITH & WALSH BAY Penrith and Walsh Bay will be showcased on Weekend Sunrise this weekend. Weather presenter James Tobin will visit the regions during JT Travels NSW, a recurring monthly segment created in partnership with Destination NSW. James Tobin will film the weather live from Penrith on 21 May and Walsh Bay on 22 May 2022. Weekend Sunrise is one of Australia’s highest rating national breakfast programs.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FIRST HOTEL ANNOUNCED FOR AEROTROPOLIS: Courtyard by Marriott Western Sydney Airport is expected to be the first hotel to open at Sydney’s second international airport in 2026. The new-build $70 million, 200-key hotel will offer 580 square-meters of meeting and ballroom space, an all-day dining restaurant, cafe and bar. Click here for more information on the NSW Government's new Western Sydney Aerotropolis. SYDNEY SURF PRO EVENT RETURNS: World-class surfing has returned to Manly with the Sydney Surf Pro, supported by Destination NSW. The event is captivating crowds at Manly Beach from 14-24 May 2022. Read more PRIVATE LANDHOLDERS OFFERED FUNDING TO PROTECT NSW KOALA HABITAT: The NSW Government is releasing funding support for
private landholders to protect koala habitat in the Northern Tablelands as one of the first actions under the new $193 million NSW Koala Strategy. Read more
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