NSW VISITOR ECONOMY FORUM PROGRAM ANNOUNCED |
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One year on from the launch of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035, the conversation will move from ambition to action at the NSW Visitor Economy Forum 2026.
Hosted by Destination NSW at ICC Sydney on 9 November, the Forum will bring together leaders from across industry and government to explore the next phase of growth and how to unlock it. Award-winning journalist Rae Johnston will return as MC, alongside guest speakers from FiftyFive5, CommBank iQ, Tourism Australia, Kantar Australia, Australian Traveller Media and more.
The 2026 NSW Tourism Awards will be held at ICC Sydney following the NSW Visitor Economy Forum, hosted by the NSW Tourism Association. |
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INDUSTRY WELCOMES WSI OPENING
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Australia’s first major international airport in more than half a century, Western Sydney International Airport, officially opened on 25 October 2026. Passengers travelled with Jetstar through WSI on its first domestic flight, while Air New Zealand touched down on 26 October, connecting Western Sydney to the world.
Tourism & Transport Forum, Accommodation Australia and Corporate Traveller are among the organisations that have welcomed the airport. Learn more here. |
TRANS-TASMAN BUSINESS TRAVEL BOOST
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Air New Zealand’s arrival at WSI follows corporate bookings on the trans-Tasman corridor growing 8.4 per cent year-on-year.
Flight Centre Travel Group's corporate data for the April–June 2026 quarter indicates the route was already gathering pace ahead of the airline touching down. Air New Zealand General Manager, Short Haul Lucy Hall said: “We’re seeing positive signs for Trans-Tasman business travel and expect demand to continue building through FY27."
Learn more here. |
NEW WESTERN SYDNEY TOURISM
CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES
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The Western Sydney Tourism Taskforce has launched 'A World At Your Doorstep', the region's first unified destination campaign. The campaign aims to grow visitation, strengthen the region's visitor economy and showcase the breadth of experiences on offer.
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SELLER APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR ATE27 |
Tourism Australia has opened seller applications for Australian Tourism Exchange 2027. Australia’s largest annual travel and tourism event will be held in Sydney from 16-20 May 2027. Destination NSW is offering two programs to support businesses to attend. |
| | SYDNEY SCORES SUPER NETBALL GRAND FINAL |
The Super Netball Grand Final will be hosted in Sydney for the first time in 2027. Proudly supported by Destination NSW, the event is expected to attract more than 8000 visitors to Sydney and inject more than $4 million into the NSW visitor economy. |
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VIVID SYDNEY FIRST NATIONS FUNDING |
Destination NSW has launched the Vivid Sydney First Nations Light Accelerator, a funding initiative that provides pathways for First Nations artists to participate in the festival in 2027 and beyond. The program honours the legacy of the late Rhoda Roberts AO, a pioneering creative leader and passionate advocate for First Nations culture and storytelling. |
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Destination NSW attended ATEC Meeting Place 2026 in Hobart this week, connecting with tourism buyers and gaining insights into the trends shaping Australia’s inbound visitor economy. The 2026 ATEC Tourism Export Awards were announced during the event, with Janene Rees (Moonshadow - TQC Cruises, Port Stephens) inducted into the Hall of Fame. |
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BOOKING.COM TRAVEL PREDICTIONS |
Booking.com's Travel Predictions 2027 report shows the defining feature of travel in the year ahead will be the element of surprise. The report features nine predictions that indicate the unique trends, behaviours and motivations set to shape how people will travel in 2027. |
| | GREAT KOALA NATIONAL PARK |
Legislation to create the Great Koala National Park has passed NSW Parliament, securing lasting protection for one of the state’s most significant koala populations. It adds 178,000 hectares of state forest and other Crown land to existing national park reserves on the NSW Mid North Coast. |
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CONSUMER SPENDING SOLID IN SEPTEMBER: NAB data shows discretionary spending rose one per cent, suggesting consumers are still spending despite pressure on household budgets. Learn more
AUSTRALIAN TOURISM DATA WAREHOUSE MASTERCLASS: Destination NSW is hosting a free webinar on 11 November 2026 to help businesses market their products online. Learn more
HAVE YOUR SAY ON SYDNEY AIRPORT FIXED FARE TRIAL: Transport for NSW is seeking feedback from hotels, plus taxi passengers and drivers who have travelled from Sydney Airport during the trial period. The survey will close on 20 November 2026. Learn more
GROWING DEMAND FOR SUSTAINABILITY: Trip.com Group’s 2026 Sustainable Travel Consumer Report has revealed sustainability is important to three in four people when making travel decisions. Learn more |
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