More than half a billion dollars will be spent by the NSW Government to ensure Sydney and the wider state remains on the map for domestic travellers and vaults to the front of consumers’ minds once international borders reopen.
Handing down the state government’s 2021 Budget yesterday, NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet will pump AUD$373 million over four years into a variety of marketing and stimulus programs as part of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030. This strategy aims to optimally position Sydney and NSW to attract visitors through major events, campaigns, partnerships and industry development.
Funds allocated in this week’s Budget will support a range of initiatives underway with Destination NSW including the establishment of a four-year AUD$200 million State Significant Event Fund to secure high-impact events for Sydney and NSW. Funding will also be pumped into the development of new campaigns, securing new and reinforcing existing air routes to Sydney and regional NSW and investing in new product.
Building on the success of the state-wide ‘Dine and Discover’ voucher program, the NSW Government will soon launch its recently announced CBD accommodation stimulus, in which 200,000 vouchers valued at AUD$100 each will be made available to NSW residents to put towards a hotel stay in the Sydney CBD. The AUD$51.5 million program is aimed at bringing crowds back into the city to boost hotels, restaurants, live music venues and city attractions.
A further AUD$50 million program announced last week will see 500,000 more vouchers made available in lots of four, each valued at AUD$25, for NSW residents to spend on dining and entertainment in the city, valid on Fridays only. According to the government, the program is aimed at boosting the city economy, supporting jobs and will work to “bring fizz back to Friday in the city”.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres, said the NSW Government was committed to turbocharging the State’s recovery from COVID-19.
“We are getting on with the delivery of NSW’s Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 and we are confident that visitors will return to NSW in droves and discover experiences they’ll want to come back for and tell their friends about,” Minister Ayres said.
Regional tourism was also a big winner from the Budget, with AUD$50 million allocated to develop new tourism infrastructure in regional NSW, develop new attractions such as cliff-top walks, improve disability access and boost the appeal among event organisers to take meetings, conferences and events outside of the city.
“We are also supporting accessibility and inclusion improvements by funding upgrades such as a lift in a multi-level venue and clear access pathways to give more people with disability the opportunity to experience what our regions have to offer,” said NSW Deputy Premier, John Barilaro.