With visitor numbers growing strongly, the Western Sydney Business Chamber is calling on all candidates for the state election to recognise Western Sydney as a tourist region and commit to creating a Destination Network Western Sydney.
David Borger, Executive Director of the Western Sydney Business Chamber, said, "Visitor numbers to Western Sydney have grown by an incredible 49 per cent in the past decade, with the region now welcoming more than 9.6 million visitors a year.
"Despite this exponential growth, a dedicated Destination Network for Western Sydney is yet to be established, meaning the region misses out on government support for new tourism initiatives and there's no umbrella mechanism to drive forward industry co-ordination,"
"Western Sydney now ranks fourth in terms of total annual visitors behind recognised NSW visitor regions such as Eastern Sydney, the North Coast and South Coast and so it is very important a dedicated agency for the region be established.
"In the lead up to this state election, we're calling on political parties of all persuasions to put Western Sydney on the tourism map and commit to the creation of Destination Network Western Sydney.
"We've got a range of cultural, natural and sporting assets and with the construction of the airport, the soon to be Metro West, Parramatta Light Rail, along with cultural facilities such as the Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta, the visitor economy is set to thrive," Mr Borger said.
Last year the Chamber released a paper that identified a need for a business events bureau, which would work closely with existing business events organisations in Sydney, aimed at attracting domestic conferences and meetings and boosting visitor numbers to Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
Jake Burgess, Managing Director, Sydney Zoo, said: "We need to look at ways to co-ordinate effort within the region to grow the visitor economy.
"A Destination Network for Western Sydney will help focus the development and marketing of Western Sydney as a visitor destination," Mr Burgess said.
