New South Wales is Australia's favourite regional holiday destination

Regional NSW was Australia's favourite regional holiday destination in the year ending March 2024, attracting 66 million domestic visitors. 

Source: TRA. International tourism trends for NSW as of December 2023.

The latest data from Tourism Research Australia (TRA) shows regional NSW also recorded the highest year-on-year growth in regional Australia during the period and experienced the best post-pandemic recovery. Domestic overnight visitor numbers to regional NSW in the year ending March 2024 were the second highest on record at 27.1 million.

When compared with the closest corresponding period pre-pandemic (year ending March 2020), visitation was up 4.9%. The top three regions were the Hunter at 114.7% of March 2020 results, the South Coast at 113.2%, and New England North West at 112.3%.

Domestic overnight visitor growth was up 3.3% year on year for regional NSW. New England North West had the strongest growth (up 16.5%), followed by the Central Coast (11.2%).

Destination NSW Acting CEO Ian Maltman said: “These results confirm regional NSW is leading post-pandemic visitor economy rebound in regional Australia.

“Destination NSW has a laser focus on ensuring the visitor economy continues to grow in regional NSW through its capability-building NSW First industry programme, marketing initiatives and vibrant events calendar.”

“NSW is home to Australia's most diverse landscapes - visitors can drive from the Snowys to the Sapphire Coast in a few hours, experience the vastly different climates of Byron Bay and Broken Hill, the sandstone cliffs of the Blue Mountains to the volcanic rock of The Warrumbungles," Maltman added.

“In addition to its spectacular geography, regional NSW is also home to some of Australia's most iconic events, ranging from the Tamworth Country Music Festival to the Narooma Oyster Festival and the world's biggest ute muster in Deniliquin.

“This collision of diverse natural wonders and vibrant culture energises visitors and ensures they return over and over again.”

Regional NSW was also the domestic daytrip capital of Australia in the year ending March 2024, recording 38.9 million domestic daytrips, 84.8 % of March 2020 levels.

The top destination for domestic daytrips were the Hunter, which welcomed 7.27 million trips (up 5.3%) and the North Coast, which hosted 7.25 million trips (up 17.6%). The North Coast and the Hunter were also the top destinations for international visitors to NSW, with 275,400 visits and 156,800 visits respectively.

Regional NSW received 694,400 international visitors who stayed 15.3 million nights and spent an estimated A$1.1 billion. The fastest-growing source markets for Asian visitors to regional NSW were India (up 15.8%) and Indonesia (up 116.5%).

Tour the top 25 travel destinations in the world, beginning with Turkey

The top 25 TripAdvisor destinations in the world for 2015 include a number from the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions.

Source: TripAdvisor website. Istanbul.

• Turkey is the only country with two locations listed, Istanbul (no. 3) and Goreme (no. 14). 
• French Indochina has two entries in the top five, Siem Reap, Cambodia at no. 2 and Hanoi, Vietnam in 4th place.  
• Mainland Southeast Asia is represented by Bali's Ubud, Indonesia (no. 15), and Bangkok, Thailand (no. 18). 
• The Pacific sees Queenstown, New Zealand at no. 22, and Sydney, Australia at no. 25. 
• No. 19 is Kathmandu, Nepal; no. 23 is Hong Kong, China, and No. 24 is Dubai, UAE.

Interested?

View the 2015 Travelers' Choice top 25 travel destinations

Visit Vivid Sydney to experience the world's largest festival of light, music and ideas

Source: Vivid Sydney/Destination NSW.

Vivid Sydney, the world's largest festival of light, music and ideas will light up the Harbour City all the way to 8 June. The festival welcomed 1.43 million people last year.

"For 18 days and nights visitors will experience Sydney like never before as the city bursts with creativity and sheer, brilliant light. It's truly an un-missable event, and one which we are very proud of," said NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres. 

Sydney's iconic landmarks, its Harbour and urban spaces have all been transformed by 3D projections and over 60 light installations, including the iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House.

Vivid Light stretches across The Rocks, Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Walsh Bay, Martin Place in the Central Business District, The Star & Pyrmont as well as new areas for Vivid in 2015 - Central Park in Chippendale, awarded the world's best tall building, and Chatswood to the city's north.

Lighting artists from around the world were invited to submit their creative ideas, with 140 chosen from 16 countries to create works during Vivid Sydney.

The Vivid Music programme of cutting edge music including Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House showcases unique performances and collaborations, presenting over 90 performances in venues across the city including Grace Jones, Sufjan Stevens, Daniel Johns and Australia's own The Hoodoo Gurus.

Vivid Ideas brings audiences some of the most intelligent and creative minds, who will be together for talks, seminars, conferences, workshops and forums on a grand scale. With 150 sessions and over 400 speakers, the Vivid Ideas programme boasts highlights such as multi-Emmy-winning writer Matthew Weiner -- series creator and exec producer of Mad Men and former executive producer of The Sopranos, who will share insights following his worldwide success in the creative industry.

"Each and every year, Vivid Sydney aims to connect and inspire people in a shared, vibrant, multi-coloured experience. Vivid Sydney puts art into the hands of the public, giving visitors a visually triumphant feast of artistic and technical innovation," said Sandra Chipchase, Chief Executive Office of Destination NSW, the State Government's tourism and major events agency, which owns and manages Vivid Sydney.

Some Vivid Sydney picks:

Source: Vivid Sydney/
Destination NSW.

The famous Sydney Opera House will once again transform the sails into a colourful living mural with help from UK company Universal Everything. Harbour Lights will see a fleet of boats change colours as they ferry through the waterways, and Paint The Town will let visitors take control of the city's skyline and illuminate it in a rainbow of bright lights.

Visit the Argyle Cut to hear from Sir David Attenborough

Get lost in the magic of Mother Nature and hear a few words from Sir David Attenborough at The Argyle Cut from 7pm each week night, and 6pm on weekends. Life Story is based on four years of footage that was captured for BBC's Life Story TV series and will bring The Argyle Cut to life with flowing natural imagery of birds, marine and animal life.

Hug a three-metre crocheted Dolly

Visit Dolly for a Vivid Sydney hug, and take a photo with the Sydney Opera House in the background (hashtag #ilovesydney).

Martin Place hang-out

Spend some time in Martin Place to see light installations like Robotanic, Spectra and Drum Circle. Take on friends with Intel's "a game of drones" before heading to Transcendence, an incredible construction that boasts Intel Real Sense technology, live art projections and some of Sydney's best food offerings including Porteno, Thievery, Agape Organic, Cantina Mobil and the Cow and the Moon.

Chatswood and Sydney University

Vivid Sydney has expanded in 2015 so be sure to get to Chatswood to learn the underwater aquatic story of Norbert and The Nautilus and visit the Cabana Bar and 4 Pines Rooftop Bar at Night Markets at The Concourse for refreshments.

The University of Sydney's Vivid Path to the Future programme kicks off from Monday 25 May. Think awe-inspiring building projections and a jam-packed music programme at the Seymour Centre.

Selfie lovers delight

Chat with roaming Canon ambassadors along the Circular Quay Light Walk who will give tips on how to take the perfect shot of Vivid Sydney, whether it's on a smartphone or SLR. Then head to the You Are Here installation to master the perfect selfie with the Sydney Opera House as the background.

For gamers and YouTube fans 

The first ever event of its kind in Australia, Game I ON is worth a visit for anyone who is into gaming, social media, YouTube, vlogging and creating or developing. Some of YouTube's biggest stars including fouseyTUBE, Jayesslee and The Royal Stampede will share their digital secrets at the Australian Technology Park till 24 May.

Interested?

Get the full Vivid Sydney programme

Thailand gathers momentum as a business event destination

Source: TCEB.

Thailand is positioning itself as a business events destination under the stewardship of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization), or TCEB. As the Thai government's flagship body for the sector, TCEB has a leading role in driving Thailand's leadership position in Asia's business events industry, and Bangkok's role as a premier destination for international business events. 

The Thai business events sector is expected to continue to grow strongly in 2015, welcoming 1,036,300 business events visitors, and generating revenue of approximately US$3.55 billion. Reflecting its position as a preferred business events destination in Asia, Thailand has a diverse lineup of confirmed major events in 2015: 

FDI's 2015 Annual World Dental Congress, which will be held from 22 to 25 September 2015 is an industry forum involving leaders of the dental profession from more than 100 countries, as well as top personalities of the international and national trade and industry. Strong collaboration between TCEB and a range of other government agencies instilled unity and confidence in the bid, while Thailand's wide variety of destinations were seen as a unique asset as delegates can enjoy an unmatched pre- and post-event programme.

Another prestigious win is One Young World Summit 2015, which Bangkok will host during 18 to 21 November 2015. Bangkok beat Kobe in Japan and Hong Kong to win the right to be the first city in Asia to host this event. This annual summit gathers together approximately 2,000 young visionaries aged 18-30 from every corner of the world, who are leaders in their respective fields. The bid was won in the midst of political uncertainty last year, and underscores international confidence in Thailand. 

Bangkok was also named host city for travel event TBEX Asia 2015, scheduled for 15 to 17 October 2015. TBEX Asia 2015 will provide platform for the world's largest gathering of travel bloggers, writers, new media content creators, and social media savvy travel industry professionals. The bid was won thanks to strong synergies between relevant government organisations working together including Tourism Authority of Thailand, TCEB and Thai Airways, emphasising the TCEB's 4P (public-private-people partnership) strategy.

According to TCEB, large-scale business event organisers are attracted to Thailand thanks to two key factors. One reason is the variety of destinations, on top of nine internationally recognised international convention and exhibition centres that offer a combined 200,174 sq m of floor space. Another reason is how Thailand can raise traditional business events programmes a notch with local night markets, distinctive street cuisine and cultural activities throughout the calendar year. Thailand also offers a wide range of ecological activities, such as releasing turtles, cultivating coral, feeding rescued elephants, or conducting aerial or mangrove reforestation.

The country's unique offerings are captured under TCEB's Thailand CONNECT The World integrated campaign, which highlights Thailand's unrivalled destinations, business prospects, and people. 

Under 'Destinations', Thailand's five top tier business events cities are showcased, offering limitless options both inside and outside the event venue. 'Business' highlights how, as a world leader in a range of industries, Thailand harnesses regional integration to offer global prospects and opportunities to businesses seeking a springboard for ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) success. 'People' emphasises Thailand's proficient professionals who serve with effortless simplicity, gracious smiles and signature Thai service, as well as benchmark-setting industry standards.

TCEB President Nopparat Maythaveekulchai said, "Thailand CONNECT the World highlights how Thailand's diversity of destinations are enriched by world-class infrastructure and seamless connectivity, and it is a core part of our strategy to strengthen confidence in our MICE industry among international stakeholders."

Thailand's world-class infrastructure - from convenient and efficient mass transit systems to a modern highway system - influences decisions too. This is set to be boosted even further through a major infrastructure investment programme, including high-speed rail and the second phase expansion of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport. 

Thailand is also a key part of the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) development policy, which enjoys strong investment by the Japanese government. Designed to connect five countries, from Da Nang in Vietnam to China, Laos, Thailand and Mawlamyine-Myawaddy in Myanmar, the EWEC will be a game-changer, creating a springboard for business success in the fast-growing ASEAN region.

Groundbreaking ceremony completed for Jewel

Source: Singapore Changi Airport.

Jewel Changi Airport Trustee (JCAT)*, a joint venture between Changi Airport Group (CAG) and CapitaMalls Asia, the shopping mall business of CapitaLand, has broken ground for the construction of Jewel Changi Airport (Jewel), a mixed-use complex featuring attractions, retail offerings, a hotel and facilities for airport operations which will be developed in front of Terminal 1 (T1). 

Strategically located in the heart of the airport, Jewel is envisaged to be a world-class lifestyle destination that will enable the Changi air hub to capture passenger mindshare, and boost Singapore’s appeal as a stopover point for travellers. The integration of retail brands and unique dining concepts with indoor gardens and leisure attractions will provide visitors with a myriad of experiences all under one roof – making Jewel a one-of-a-kind lifestyle destination.

The groundbreaking ceremony marked the commencement of expansion works for T1, which will be carried out alongside the construction of the Jewel complex. The redevelopment of the 3.5 hectare (ha) site at T1, formerly an open-air car park, allows Changi Airport to expand the terminal’s footprint, thus increasing T1’s passenger handling capacity to 24 million passengers per annum**.

Designed by a consortium of consultants comprising Safdie Architects led by Architect Moshe Safdie, as well as Benoy and local architects RSP, Jewel will seamlessly integrate greenery amid other attractions and facilities within the same building. The complex – scheduled for completion by end of 2018 – will have five storeys above ground and five basement storeys, covering a total gross floor area of about 134,000 sq m.

In line with Singapore’s reputation as a garden city, Jewel will house one of the largest indoor collections of plants in Singapore – with about 22,000 sq m of space dedicated to landscaping throughout the complex***. One of Jewel’s centrepiece attractions will be the Forest Valley, a huge five-storey garden filled with thousands of trees, plants, ferns and shrubs. Visitors can immerse themselves in the beauty of nature within this idyllic valley of verdant landscaping and waterfalls, and can even take a hike up the valley in air-conditioned comfort.

The other centrepiece of Jewel will be the 40m high Rain Vortex, expected to be the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Additionally, the top level of Jewel will feature park space of approximately 13,000 sq m, comprising gardens, walking trails, playgrounds and dining outlets.

To strengthen Changi Airport’s appeal as a transit hub, there will be facilities in Jewel to enhance passengers’ journey. The complex will house an integrated multi-modal transport lounge offering dedicated services for fly-cruise and fly-coach passengers, such as ticketing, issuance of boarding passes and baggage transfer services. These will allow Changi to leverage new opportunities such as the growth of Singapore as a regional cruise centre. In addition, early check-in facilities in Jewel will enable passengers to check-in for their flights and deposit their luggage ahead of the regular check-in timings - providing them with added convenience.

To widen the range of accommodation options available at the airport, Jewel will offer its own hotel with approximately 130 rooms, operated by YOTEL – an international hotel brand with an established presence in Europe and the United States of America. This provides an additional choice of accommodation for transiting travellers.

The expanded T1 Arrival Hall will be seamlessly integrated with Level 1 of Jewel while the Baggage Claim Hall will also see more circulation space and the installation of additional baggage belts, operated by an upgraded baggage handling system. At the T1 Departure Hall, a revamp of the check-in counters will take place, with the incorporation of self-service kiosks. This will improve efficiency as well as optimise the space available.

Currently, only Terminals 2 and 3 are directly linked to the Changi Airport Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station. New pedestrian linkages will be constructed connecting T1 and Jewel to the MRT station, improving inter-terminal connectivity and accessibility.

Lee Seow Hiang, CAG’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Jewel Changi Airport Devt (JCAD)**** said: “An important hallmark of Changi Airport’s growth over the past thirty-odd years has been continual change and innovation. In charting the airport’s future, this spirit continues to underpin our strategy. Faced with intensifying competition, we challenged ourselves to rethink what an airport can be – not just as a gateway for flights, but as a tourism destination on its own."

Philip Yim, Chief Executive Officer of JCAD said: “Apart from distinctive design, Jewel will break new ground with its unique mix of attractions, retail and airport facilities, integrated in a way like never before to create a slew of different experiences in a single visit. Located at the doorstep of the award-winning Changi Airport, it will be a place where Singapore and the world meet."

*Jewel Changi Airport Trustee, the trustee-manager of Jewel Changi Airport Trust*****, is formed between Changi Airport Group (CAG) and CapitaMalls Asia (CMA), the shopping mall business of the CapitaLand Group. CAG is a 51% shareholder and unitholder of the joint venture entities while CMA owns the remaining 49%.

**This is 35% more than the 17.7 million passengers handled at T1 in 2013.

***Comparable to the combined space of the two indoor Conservatories at Gardens by the Bay.

****JCAD is the development and property manager of Jewel.

*****Jewel Changi Airport Trust is formed between Changi Airport Group (CAG) and CapitaMalls Asia (CMA), the shopping mall business of CapitaLand, to jointly own Jewel Changi Airport. The other two joint venture companies are Jewel Changi Airport Trustee, the trustee-manager of Jewel Changi Airport Trust, and Jewel Changi Airport Devt, the development and property manager of Jewel. CAG is the majority 51% unitholder and shareholder of the joint venture trust and companies, while CMA owns the remaining 49%.