NSW First in Australia for Export Ready Tourism Businesses

NSW has continued its reign as Australia's leading tourism State with an export ready boom including new operators showcased at the 2019 Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE19) this week.

Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said the State's tourism and major events agency works closely with operators to ready them to engage third party distributors such as inbound tour operators (ITOs), wholesalers, online travel agents (OTAs) and retailers in international markets and that this was key to attracting overseas visitors.

“Our NSW First Program, which is now in its seventh year, equips the NSW tourism industry with the tools and knowledge needed to gain a competitive edge,” Ms Chipchase said.

“Over the past year alone we have helped to introduce 21 new export ready products to the travel trade through our workshops and assistance.

“We also have nine newly export ready products on display at ATE for the first time in 2019, many of which have been assisted via the NSW First Programs.”

The products on show at ATE are Birkenhead Point Brand Outlet, Eastsail, Mayfield Garden, Mount Warning Tours, Oakvale Wildlife Park, Picture Me Sydney, Platinum Restaurant Group, Sydney Harbour Boat Tours and Wake Up! Hostels.

Overall, New South Wales has 60 new export ready products in 2019.

Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres said the NSW First Program, devised and delivered by Destination NSW, was a valuable program and encouraged NSW based tourism businesses that see an opportunity to capitalise on international markets, but may not know what steps to take, to consider attending as part of the 2019 program.

“Engaging with international tourism markets presents a very different challenge and opportunity to the domestic market,” Mr Ayres said.

“The NSW Government, via Destination NSW, is making it easy for tourism businesses to grow and diversify by offering a collaborative educational program that has helped more than 2000 businesses since its inception in 2013.”

Destination NSW delivers the NSW First program to assist tourism businesses around the State to develop, promote and sell their tourism products.

It includes face to face workshops, online webcasts and industry guides that offer 'how-to' insights on a range of topics for the tourism industry, with events to be added to the calendar throughout the year.

To find a NSW First event near you, go to www.destinationnsw.com.au/nswfirst.

To view all of the export ready product in NSW visit www.destinationnsw.com.au/tradefactsheets.