Insights - 9 December 2022
No images? Click here
NOËL SYDNEY SUPPORTS REGIONAL NSW BUSINESSES
Noël Sydney, a new Christmas celebration supported by Destination NSW, will light up the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney from 9–24 December 2022, with many stalls supporting regional producers from flood–affected areas throughout NSW.
Stallholders are descending on Sydney from the Blue Mountains to Bellingen, Mudgee to Mullumbimby and Cootamundra to Capertree, selling gifts ranging from gourmet foods to homewares, clothing, jewellery and indigenous art.
Inspired by iconic markets around the world, the Noël Christmas Market will feature stalls peppered through a glowing forest, providing an enchanting journey to inspire Sydneysiders and visitors to shop with purpose.
Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said that Noël Sydney would also provide a boost for businesses in the CBD and throughout Greater Sydney.
“Noël Sydney market stalls will give shoppers the opportunity to support small businesses from across NSW as they load up on stocking stuffers and presents," Mr Franklin said.
The event will also include stunning installations, food stalls and food trucks, bars and entertainment, including drone shows, to delight Sydneysiders and visitors during the festive season.
David Campbell, Katie Noonan, Bella Taylor Smith and Emma Pask will be among the performers taking to the stage during the event.
“The NSW Government is bringing magic to the heart of Sydney and lighting up the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and Macquarie Street in a fantastic display sure to bring cheer and happiness to Sydneysiders and visitors,” Mr Franklin said.
“We’re backing events like Noël Sydney that will attract more visitors into our city, support businesses and create more jobs."
The Christmas markets will open at 6pm each night, at which time a forest of digital Christmas trees will light up, with community choirs performing.
There will also be workshops, including Christmas wreath making, origami and decorations, which will run every night until 8:15pm. A variety show will take to the stage at 7pm, with more performances on the main stage from 8:30pm through to 10pm.
A Christmas Skyshow will run twice an evening from 16 December at 8:15pm and 10pm.
The NSW Government’s Sydney in Summer event series includes OPEN FOR LUNCH, Noël Sydney and ELEVATE Sydney, secured by Destination NSW.
A two-day Buy from the Bush Christmas market is also currently underway at The Rocks. The market runs until 8pm tonight on the Tallawoladah Lawn, in front of the Museum of Contemporary Art, and will return on 10 December from 11am-2pm.
FREE PROGRAM TO ACCELERATE DIGITAL SKILLS IN
WESTERN SYDNEY VISITOR ECONOMY
Western Sydney businesses seeking to transform their online marketing have been invited to participate in the Destination NSW Western Sydney Digital Skills Accelerator for Tourism program.
Destination NSW has partnered with digital consultancy Tourism Tribe to offer the free program to accommodation providers, tour companies and visitor attractions.
In addition to receiving a customised digital health check report and Australian Tourism Data Warehouse review, successful applicants will also have two consultation sessions with a digital advisor and access to a course library to help improve their digital skills.
Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler owner Carol Bennett took part in the first Destination NSW Digital Skills Accelerator for Tourism program held earlier this year and said it played a vital role in raising the online profile of her business.
“As a small business, we manage our own digital presence, including our website, social media and Google,” Ms Bennett said.
“The Digital Skills Accelerator Program’s online health check highlighted a lot of improvements to boost our website’s organic search reach as well as useful tips to enhance our Google listing. Since implementing the recommendations, we have seen an increase in our Google ranking, which in turn has increased our organic search results. This program has been invaluable for us.”
The Western Sydney Digital Skills Accelerator for Tourism program is open to 200 visitor attraction, accommodation and tour providers located in Sydney's Central River City and Western Parkland City.
The Western Sydney Digital Skills Accelerator for Tourism program is part of the NSW First Program. Learn more here.
CHRISTMAS TRAVEL BOOM AT SYDNEY AIRPORT
Sydney Airport is gearing up for its busiest Christmas in three years, with more than 2.2 million passengers passing through the terminals during the peak holiday period from 12 December to 1 January, an 82 per cent recovery compared to the same period in 2019.
The airport’s domestic terminals will welcome more than 1.4 million passengers between 12 December and New Year’s Day, a 91 per cent recovery on the same period in 2019.
More than 800,000 passengers are forecast to come through Sydney Airport’s international terminal during this period, representing a 71 per cent recovery on 2019 levels.
Passenger volumes have been building across each successive school holiday period in 2022, with 1.8 million passengers coming through Sydney Airport in the April school holidays, 1.96 million over the June/July holidays and 2.04 million in September.
Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert said: “This is Australia’s first Christmas without COVID-19 restrictions and it’s great to see people back flying and enjoying travel again."
ACCC TO MONITOR AIRLINE CAPACITY
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission's latest 'Airline Competition in Australia' report has revealed that strong demand for flying has pushed up airfares ahead of the Christmas holidays.
ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said: “We accept that the airlines are still experiencing some pandemic-related resource challenges, but the ACCC will be monitoring them closely to ensure they return capacity to the market in a timely manner to start easing pressure on airfares.”
After some sizeable losses due to the pandemic, the airlines are forecasting positive financial returns on the back of strong demand and high airfares. The Qantas Group, Virgin Australia and Rex all expect to be profitable in the current financial year ending June 2023.
The Qantas Group expects an underlying profit before tax of between $1.35 billion and $1.45 billion for the six months to the end of 2022, which is close to the company’s record for a full year of operation. Learn more
LATEST TOURISM RECOVERY RESULTS
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released its latest Tourism Satellite Account, which shows tourism gross domestic product (GDP) rose 26.4 per cent to $35.1 billion in chain volume terms in 2021-22.
Domestic tourism consumption rose by $5.3 billion to $85 billion in 2021-22 while international tourism rose by $5.6 billion to $6.4 billion in chain volume terms.
The growth in domestic tourism activity has seen the gross value added (GVA) for both the accommodation and the cafes, restaurants and takeaway food outlets industries rebound in 2021-22, with increases of 17.1 per cent and 7.8 per cent respectively.
120,000 FEE-FREE TAFE AND VET PLACES
The Federal and NSW Governments have signed a landmark 12-month Skills Agreement to address the current skills shortage and deliver fee-free TAFE and more vocational education and training (VET) places in 2023, including 5000 places in hospitality and tourism. The agreement includes $7.5 million from the Federal Government’s TAFE Technology Fund to upgrade essential infrastructure for training at TAFE NSW campuses.
CAMPAIGN TO KICKSTART HOSPITALITY CAREERS
The NSW Government has launched a major recruitment campaign to help ease staff shortages across the hospitality industry. The Kickstart Your Career in Hospitality campaign will showcase the industry and highlight the range of long-term career options available throughout the sector. The campaign has been designed in partnership with ClubsNSW, Australian Hotels Association and NSW Restaurant and Caterers Association.
VALE DAVID BAFFSKY
Former Destination NSW board member David Baffsky AO has passed away at age 81. Mr Baffsky was also a former Accor Asia Pacific Chair, a founding Director and Life Member of the Tourism and Transport Forum, a Director of the Indigenous Land Corporation, a member of the Art Gallery of NSW Board of Trustees and a member of the Sydney Olympic Park Authority Board. His commitment to growing the visitor economy of NSW, both in his private capacity and during his tenure on the Destination NSW Board, will long be remembered.
LIVE SITE FOR WORLD CUP
Sydney football fans will be able to join together to watch the FIFA World Cup semi finals and final, with the NSW Government activating the Darling Harbour Tumbalong Park precinct for three additional matches. More than 20,000 football fans filled the precinct last weekend to cheer on the Socceroos when they took on Argentina. The live sites will drive momentum ahead of Sydney hosting 11 matches at the FIFA Women’s World Cup next year, supported by Destination NSW. Security and food trucks will be in place for all three matches.
BALLOT OPENS FOR PRIDE MARCH
The Pride March will be a historic moment on the final day of the Sydney WorldPride festival on 5 March 2023. It will see up to 50,000 people take part in a march across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. The event is free, but those wanting to take part need to apply for the ballot, which opened today, via the Sydney WorldPride website. Sydney WorldPride has also announced pop star and Australia's Got Talent host Nicole Scherzinger will be the headline act at its Bondi Beach Party. Destination NSW is a proud supporter of Sydney WorldPride, which will energise the Harbour City like never before during February and March 2023.
FINAL RAINBOW CHAMPIONS ANNOUNCED
Sydney WorldPride has been recognising the achievements of members of the Australian LGBTQIA+ community by honouring them as Rainbow Champions – with the final 10 of 45 Rainbow Champions announced. The latest NSW Rainbow Champions are Patrick Abboud, Kylie Kwong, Bhenji Ra and Ian Thorpe. Sydney WorldPride Chief Executive Kate Wickett said: “As we mark the 45th anniversary of Mardi Gras in 2023, it is an honour to be celebrating the incredible achievements of all our 45 Rainbow Champions and to acknowledge the immense work that has gone into achieving progress for the whole LGBTQIA+ community.”
SYDNEY MARATHON WINS PLATINUM STATUS
The Sydney Marathon has become the first marathon event in the Southern Hemisphere to achieve World Athletics Platinum Label. Proudly supported by Destination NSW, Sydney Marathon is now ranked eighth in the world. The news follows Sydney Marathon being confirmed as a Candidate Race for the Abbott World Marathon Majors. If successful, the Sydney Marathon will become one of the world’s most attractive marathon events, with more than 30,000 people participating.
NSW JOINS GLOBAL PURPLE FLAG PROGRAM
A new NSW Government initiative will see Sydney join global cities London, Stockholm and Auckland in flying the purple flag for safety across night-time destinations. A pilot of the Purple Flag Program is underway in the Sydney CBD, Parramatta, Marrickville and Lakemba. The accreditation program assesses going-out areas against a set of criteria, including access to public transport, adequate street lighting and entertainment offerings, to achieve a Purple Flag status.
THREDBO VALLEY TRACK TOOLKIT RELEASED
The Thredbo Valley Track extension is now complete, with the final 1.5 kilometres open in Kosciuszko National Park, providing almost 40 kilometres of world-class mountain bike track from Thredbo Village to the Thredbo River picnic area. The extension was possible through a $9.8 million NSW Government investment and will help boost summer visitation to the popular alpine region and support the local ecotourism economy. A toolkit is available on request, which includes details and imagery of the final section.
2022 AACTA AWARDS WINNERS
Elvis, Mystery Road: Origin, Heartbreak High, and The Twelve were among the winners at the 2022 AACTA Awards, which were supported by Destination NSW. Elvis was the biggest winner of the night, taking home four AACTA Awards including the AACTA Award for Best Film. Chris Hemsworth and Catherine Martin were also honoured for their contributions to the Australian screen industry. Elvis dominated the AACTA Industry Awards on Monday with seven wins, bringing the film's total AACTA Award count to 11.
WINNERS OF THE CROWN LANDS AWARDS
The winners of the NSW Government Community Achievement Awards for maintaining and improving Crown reserves have been announced. Jone Pavelic won the Individual Excellence in Crown Land Management Award as chair of the Temora Showground Land Manager. The volunteer board members who manage Oberon Showground won the Crown Land Management Excellence Award for improving facilities. Ku-ring-gai Council won the Council Crown Land Management Excellence Award for transforming the St Ives Showground site.
FIXING WESTERN NSW ROADS
Hundreds of extra hands are hard at work in the state’s west to support crews repairing and rebuilding the flood-affected road network. Crews have been diverted from other parts of NSW to tackle the worst-hit roads. Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said: “The majority of the work is taking place in the Forbes, Orange, Dubbo, Parkes, Cowra, Cabonne, Bathurst and Blayney LGAs – with priority given to those areas of the road network most impacted and in need of urgent repairs and rebuilding work.”
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
PARRAMATTA LIGHT RAIL TO TRANSFORM WESTERN SYDNEY: The Parramatta Light Rail has reached a major new milestone with the arrival of the first vehicle in the new fleet and construction on the light rail stops nearly complete. Learn more
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE AT SXSW SYDNEY 2023? South by Southwest (SXSW) Sydney has sent an open invitation to budding visionaries to participate in creating its inaugural 2023 event via its session proposal platform, SXSW Sydney Session Select. Learn more
STORM AND FLOOD SUPPORT UPDATE: The Department of Customer Service has released an updated communications toolkit to help share important information with networks and communities impacted by severe weather and floods. Download toolkit here
FREE DISASTER PREPARATION AND RECOVERY CHECKLISTS: The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman has published a useful nine-point checklist to help small businesses with disaster preparation. Learn more
CALLAN PARK REVITALISATION UP AND RUNNING: The NSW Government’s investment in Callan Park has received a major boost, with an additional $6.5 million committed to revitalising the inner west park, taking the total budget to $20.5 million. Learn more
HAVE YOUR SAY ON LIQUOR LICENSING REFORMS: The deadline for public consultation on proposed liquor licensing reforms in NSW has been extended until 13 December 2022. Learn more
200TH ANNIVERSARY OF AUSTRALIA’S OLDEST COURTHOUSE: A commemoration ceremony for Windsor Courthouse, designed by former convict and architect Francis Greenway, has been held in Windsor. Learn more
WORK TOGETHER TO REDUCE VISITOR LITTER: Environmental education and action organisation Take 3 is assisting tourism and visitor economy businesses with strategies for reducing visitor litter. To receive more information on its Ground Swell Program for 2023, email juliette@take3.org.
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
