THE key message to the trade from New South Wales next week is that the province will be fully open for tourism business during 2000 despite the staging of the Olympic Games in Sydney.
Tourism New South Wales regional director Europe Stuart Rigg said: “Our emphasis will not just be on promoting the destination but demonstrating that 2000 is the best time to go, despite the Games.
“We want to correct some misconceptions that Sydney and New South Wales should be avoided because of the Olympic factor. We will be demonstrating to our key wholesalers and specialist agents that there will be lots of availability.”
Rigg conceded that Sydney will be ‘closed out’ in terms of bed capacity for a four-week period from early September to early October but said the city will benefit by an extra 5,000 rooms by late spring.
He added: “We want to allay some fears that accommodation will be overpriced and that the infrastructure will not be ready. There is a great buzz about the city and there will be some great deals in place.”
Rigg said some of the longer-term benefits to tourism include the opening next year of the high-speed rail link between Sydney Airport and the city and the opening of the new Stadium Australia complex in the Homebush Olympics district which has already been used for concerts and sporting events.
Rigg will be joined on the World Travel Market Australia stand, which features sporting images of the country, by Bettina Kramer and Petra Bones – both marketing officers.
Aside from Sydney, they will be promoting the other key regions of New South Wales. Among these is the Hunter Region, incorporating the Hunter Valley wine country, Port Stephens and the World Heritage-listed wilderness area of Barrington Tops.
Rigg said that although the region is famous for its wine trails, it’s becoming a popular wilderness retreat with the emergence of more lodges and activities. Other areas receiving special focus at WTM include the state’s Blue Mountains, the Pacific Coast touring route between Sydney and Brisbane, the outback district of Broken Hill, the surrounding national parks, South Coast and Snowy Mountains.
Rigg said: “More wine and food tourism is being incorporated into itineraries. We have also produced a Wine and Food Trails of New South Wales guide to be launched at WTM.”
Also on the stand will be new bed-and-breakfast guides and accommodation factsheets as well as expanded Web site news. The site also provides a more information for special events. The Web site is www.tourism.nsw.gov.au.