The NSW visitor economy is set to receive a $142 million boost over summer through 280,000 additional inbound airline seats secured through the NSW Government's Aviation Attraction Fund.
New increased capacity will peak between December and February on routes between Sydney and Abu Dhabi, Auckland, Christchurch, Colombo, Doha, Dubai, Incheon, Los Angeles, Queenstown, Singapore, Tokyo, Vancouver and Wellington capitalising on Sydney's appeal as a summer destination.
This is in addition to new AAF-supported routes already operating between Sydney and Bengaluru (Bangalore), San Francisco, Ho Chi Minh and Houston. The cumulative uplift of confirmed inbound summer activity is expected to support 790 jobs within NSW.
Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said the NSW Government's $60 million Aviation Attraction Fund is delivering on its promise to turbocharge the state's visitor economy.
"This is such an exciting time for Sydney and our State as we welcome international visitors back to our shores for the first summer holiday period since the pandemic," Mr Franklin said.
"The increased capacity on these routes will bring thousands of visitors into NSW which will provide a significant boost to local businesses and tourism operators.
"We're inviting visitors from our top and emerging markets to come and feel the Sydney side of summer with us and immerse themselves in the events, experiences and attractions we have on offer.
"This is a fantastic demonstration of the NSW Government working side-by-side with industry including Sydney Airport and airlines to create additional opportunities for our state and businesses engaged with the visitor economy."
Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert said the additional services on the 17 existing routes would generate further momentum in the recovery of aviation.
"Together with the NSW Government we're working hard to bring much needed capacity back into the system and provide passengers with more options for travel, Mr Culbert said.
"The inbound demand continues to grow, and we look forward to welcoming millions of visitors through our doors over the coming months."
Tourism and Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond said the Aviation Attraction Fund had delivered strong results for the industry and the broader tourism sector in NSW.
"From new routes and airlines to a greater number of inbound seats on popular routes, this NSW Government initiative is stimulating the visitor economy by getting more visitors to Sydney as quickly as possible," Ms Osmond said.
