“I am delighted to welcome Mr Hartigan as Chair of Destination NSW. His qualifications are impeccable, having most recently headed up the largest and most diverse media company in Australia.

“His stellar career in media, which spanned more than four decades, his excellent business connections and business acumen, will ensure Destination NSW maintains its course of delivering against the Government’s goal of doubling overnight visitor expenditure by 2020,” Mr Souris said.

“Mr Hartigan joins Destination NSW as the State has achieved strong tourism results with domestic and international visitors coming to Sydney and regional NSW in greater numbers and spending more nights here than ever.

“Domestic overnight visitors to NSW contributed more than $42 billion into the NSW economy over the last three years. In the year ended September 2013, NSW welcomed three million international visitors, compared to 2.1 million for Queensland and 1.9 million visitors for Victoria.

“In year ended September 2013, international visitor expenditure in NSW totalled $6.6 billion, compared to $4.7 billion for Victoria and $3.97 billion for Queensland to year-end September, confirming NSW as the number one Australian destination for international visitors and visitor expenditure – proving our strategy is working.

“While NSW is out-performing the rest of the country with our growth in visitors and visitor nights, doubling the national increases, there is more to be done. Under the direction of our new Chair, I am confident that Destination NSW will deliver the recommendations of the Visitor Economy Taskforce, and continue the impressive build-up of the tourism industry in NSW.

“I would also like to thank outgoing Chair, Mr John Conde AO, for his diligence in overseeing the formation of Destination NSW and the remarkable results that have been achieved for NSW in the almost three years he was Chair.

“And sincere thanks to Acting Chair Mr Russell Balding AO, who returns to his previous position of Deputy Chair. Mr Balding’s continued contribution is invaluable”, Mr Souris said.

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