The opening of Western Sydney International Airport and expansion of Newcastle Airport will provide a once-in-a-lifetime growth opportunity for the NSW visitor economy.

Destination NSW is holding a series of Inbound Strategy Workshops in September 2024 in Greater Sydney, Newcastle and the Hunter to prepare businesses to sell experiences via travel distribution channels to international visitors arriving in NSW via these airports.

A new international terminal and infrastructure upgrades are due to be completed at Newcastle Airport in early 2025, while Western Sydney International Airport is on track to open in 2026. Both airports will provide new gateways to the state for millions of domestic and international visitors.

Regional NSW was Australia’s favourite regional destination in the year ending March 2024, attracting 66 million domestic visitors. Regional NSW also received 694,400 international visitors in the year ending March 2024, who stayed 15.3 million nights and spent an estimated $1.1 billion in the state.

Western Sydney welcomed 14.7 million domestic visitors in the year ending March 2024 (up 1.5 percent on the previous year). These visitors stayed 8.8 million nights and spent $3.8 billion (up 15.1 per cent and 28.9 per cent respectively).

There were also 604,000 international visitors to Western Sydney in the year ending March 2024, who spent $1.58 billion, up 29 per cent compared to the year ending March 2019. The top five visitor markets were New Zealand, India, Korea, United States and United Kingdom.

Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox said: “Upgrades to Newcastle Airport and the opening of Western Sydney International Airport will be gamechangers for the NSW visitor economy.

“Western Sydney International Airport alone is expected to attract five million passengers in its first year of operation.

“New infrastructure in Newcastle and Western Sydney will transform the way visitors arrive in NSW. Destination NSW has a laser focus on ensuring visitor economy businesses leverage the economic opportunities these airports will bring through our capability-building NSW First program.”

Inbound Strategy Workshops will be held in the following locations:

  • Hunter Valley - 3 September
  • Newcastle - 5 September
  • Sydney CBD - 10 September
  • Parramatta - 12 September
  • Blue Mountains - 17 September

A virtual workshop will also be held on 19 September to enable visitor economy businesses from across NSW to take part.

Learn more about the NSW First Inbound Strategy Workshops and register here.