Shadow tourism minister Jenny Aitchison has branded a multi-million-dollar budget cut as an act of sabotage.
The Maitland-based MP says the state government’s decision to reduce Destination NSW’s annual budget by almost $36 million – from $176.7 to $141.1 – is “cutting tourism operators at the knees”.
Trade tensions between the United States and China, as well as the latter’s current account deficit, prompted NSW Treasury to warn of a potential risk to the economy posed by a slowdown in the Chinese visitor market.
“It beggars belief that the Liberals can cut the budget for the second year in a row and not expect the impact to be felt,” Ms Aitchison says.
“This is especially bad news when it comes to our goal of getting tourists to travel to regional NSW.
“Tourism minister Stuart Ayres needs to get out of the Sydney bubble, go to regional NSW and justify his cuts to all of the regional tourism providers.
“The cuts are sabotaging their businesses and their communities – it’s as simple as that.”
Tourism Research Australia data released last week showed the number of visitors and nights spent in the Hunter had risen for the year ending March 2019, though regional expenditure was down.
Mr Ayres says Regional NSW received nearly 25 million domestic visitors, who spent $12.6 billion during that timeframe.
“[This] is exactly the kind of boost our regional communities need right now,” he says.
Meanwhile, an inaugural tourism awards event in Newcastle next week will shine the spotlight on the Hunter’s diverse array of businesses.
Newcastle lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes believes the arrival of the awards is timely amid landmark infrastructure projects and a development boom.
“We’re delighted to partner with the local business chamber to bring these awards to Newcastle as projects like our Bathers Way coastal pathway draw increasing numbers of visitors,” she says.
“The city’s first five-star hotel will soon emerge from our current administration centre when we vacate it, and this will underpin further growth in the cultural, tourism, and hospitality sectors in the Civic and City East precincts in the years ahead.”
Among the Hunter finalists in this year’s awards are Beyond Ballooning, Blacksmiths Beachside Holiday Park, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Oakvale Wildlife Park, and the Christmas Lights Spectacular at Hunter Valley Gardens.
The Destination Sydney Surrounds North Regional Tourism Awards is supported by Destination NSW, the state government, and the NSW Business Chamber Tourism Industry Division.
It will take place at Noah’s on the Beach this Monday 29 July.
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