TTF Media Release

Wed 2 September 

TOURISM INDUSTRY APPLAUDS MINISTERIAL HEAVYWEIGHTS TO SECURE EVENTS FOR NSW

The tourism and events industry has welcomed a major push by the NSW Government to retain and attract new events to the State by forming a prominent new taskforce led by three senior NSW Ministers.

Tourism & Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond today said that as the significant challenges brought about by COVID-19 will remain front and centre for years to come, it was critical that each State and Territory follow the lead of NSW and establish dedicated tourism and events attraction taskforces with political weight.

“The fact that NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has asked NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro and NSW Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres to jointly head this taskforce shows the priority that this State Government is placing on a tourism and events-led recovery in NSW,” Margy Osmond said.

“Our sector has been losing almost $10 billion per month due to COVID-19 and of course this came off the back of a catastrophic bushfire season that decimated tourism reliant destinations across the country.

“While some State borders around the country continue to remain shut and therefore any sort of significant national tourism recovery remains on hold until National Cabinet agree on hotspot uniformity and eventual border openings ideally well before Christmas, it is important to focus now on what will contribute to the recovery.

“Today’s announcement is heartening at it shows that is that the NSW Government is looking to the future and aiming to restore the many of thousands of tourism and events jobs in this tourism gateway state that have either been lost or put on hold as result of this pandemic.”

Ends.

Contact: TTF Manager Policy and Government Relations Lindsay Hermes lhermes@ttf.org.au 0418 948 447