Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism & Major Events, Andrew Stoner met with tourism operators in Parramatta last week to help develop the NSW government’s western Sydney tourism, events and conference strategy.
“Once developed, the Western Sydney Tourism & Events Strategy will provide a framework with key actions that guide tourism and events development and coordinate stakeholders in a common direction,’’ he said.
Mr Stoner said the government would deliver $500,000 over two years to develop the strategy, in partnership with industry.
“In the past five years the number of overnight visitors to western Sydney has grown by 48per cent, with around 2.3million international domestic overnight visitors now coming to the region every year,’’ he said.
“Western Sydney has a lot of untapped potential as a tourism destination and the NSW government is working with industry to put in place strategies to boost demand and encourage investment.’’
Mr Stoner said the government had secured 68 events for western Sydney since March 2011, estimated to attract 1.4million overnight interstate, intrastate and international visitors to the region, specifically to attend these events, delivering more than $550million to the NSW economy.
He said Badgerys Creek Airport and investment in major roads and transport upgrades in the region would also help encourage tourism to western Sydney.
Minister Assisting the Premier on Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres said overnight visitors to western Sydney last year spent $2.4million — an increase of 12per cent on the previous year.
‘‘While there is strong growth, we want to increase the amount visitors spend here,” he said.
Parramatta MP Geoff Lee also attended the roundtable.
