2009 News
July - December
Most recent media news stories are listed below and relevant information is available for your reference.
For media releases from January - June click here.
For further details, images, interviews or other media requests visit Tourism NSW Media Contacts for your most appropriate contact.
| Date | Title | Description | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19/11/09 | Featherdale Wildlife Park grabs gold | Sydney’s Featherdale Wildlife Park, has won the Gold Award for NSW’s Major Tourist Attraction in the 2009 NSW Tourism Awards. | 45kb |
| 16/11/09 | Dazzling summer Vivacity deals | Sydney residents and visitors will have the opportunity to experience Sydney at its very best this summer with the new ‘Viva Sydney Card’ promotion offering two-for-one deals at more than 70 venues and events across the city. | 24kb |
| 16/11/09 | NSW leading the states in tourism jobs and investment | Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay said a new report published today by the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre shows that in 2007-08 the NSW tourism industry supported more jobs and injected more money into the local economy than in any other State. | 24kb |
| 16/11/09 | NSW Government and Singapore Airlines team up in tourism partnership | The NSW Government and Singapore Airlines today announced a new $1.8 million, three year strategic partnership aimed at attracting more visitors to Sydney and NSW from key international markets. | 23kb |
| 14/11/09 | New summer family holiday campaign | A new ‘Summer Family Holiday’ campaign is offering a range of value for money deals to help families get more from their summer holiday budget. | 24kb |
| 11/11/09 | NSW tourism strategy celebrates first anniversary | Today marked the first anniversary of the NSW Tourism Strategy. Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay said major reforms had been introduced as part of the strategy over the last year. | 33kb |
| 08/11/09 | New crocodile enclosure for Altina Wildlife Park | Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay visited the heart of the Riverina today to celebrate the opening of a new crocodile enclosure at the Altina Wildlife Park, near Darlington Point. | 23kb |
| 06/11/09 | ‘Markets by Moonlight’ on all summer long | Sydneysiders and visitors are being invited to head to The Rocks each Friday night during summer to enjoy free live music, night markets and fabulous food. | 31kb |
| 31/10/09 | NSW to pursue national funding for business events | Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay welcomed the announcement yesterday by Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson of an additional $9 million funding for cooperative marketing campaigns to promote international and domestic travel. | 23kb |
| 28/10/09 | NSW and QLD team up on US tourism mission | The NSW and Queensland Governments have teamed up on a nine day tourism trade mission to the United States, showcasing the ‘Best of Australia’ to key trade partners and travel trade media. | 24kb |
| 28/10/09 | Sydney set for superweek of summer sport | On the eve of the Melbourne Cup, the NSW Government has begun a campaign to attract Australia’s biggest spending sporting fans to Sydney. | 24kb |
| 23/10/09 | Caves beachside resort officially opened | Minister for Tourism and Minister for the Hunter Jodi McKay today officially opened the Beach Suite Accommodation at Caves Beachside Resort in Lake Macquarie. | 24kb |
| 23/10/09 | 2010 World triathlon calendar announced | Sydney will join Seoul, Madrid, Hamburg, London, Kitzbühel and Budapest as a host city for the 2010 Dextro Energy Triathlon International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championship. | 31kb |
| 22/10/09 | Sydney to roll out the green carpet for picnic revellers | Sydney will play host to a number of major events this weekend, including the landmark ‘Breakfast on the Bridge’ event, in a bumper line-up of entertainment for residents and visitors. | 51kb |
| 21/10/09 | NSW and Queensland join forces for Tourism offensive | Premier Nathan Rees today announced a three year, $8.8 million marketing partnership to attract more international holiday visitors to the East Coast of Australia. | 44kb |
| 19/10/09 | Sydney takes the lion’s share of international business travellers | Sydney has officially been named the top business events destination in Australia by Tourism Research Australia (TRA) in a report released on Friday. | 23kb |
| 19/10/09 | $300,000 funding boost for Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast tourism | The Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast regions will receive $300,000 from the NSW Government to boost the local tourism industry. | 26kb |
| 17/10/09 | Sydney rated world’s best travel destination for eighth consecutive year | Sydney has been ranked the world’s number one city for the eighth consecutive year at the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards in New York, outranking San Francisco, Paris, Rome, and Melbourne. | 24kb |
| 16/10/09 | Slow Food founder visits Sydney | Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay today welcomed renowned good food advocate Carlo Petrini to Sydney as part of this month’s International Food Festival. | 24kb |
| 12/10/09 | UK and Europe Mission to drive NSW Tourism | 18 tourism operators and regional tourism organisation representatives from across NSW have embarked on a 12 day trade mission to the UK and Europe. | 23kb |
| 11/10/09 | First Breakfast on the Bridge winners announced | 6,000 ticket ballot winners who will get the chance to enjoy a picnic breakfast on Sydney’s iconic Bridge will begin to be notified from tomorrow. | 23kb |
| 10/10/09 | Sneak preview of the World Masters Opening Ceremony | Sydney Olympic Park will be a buzz tomorrow night with more than 45,000 athletes, friends, family and guests taking part in the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games at ANZ Stadium. | 35kb |
| 08/10/09 | 1938 Empire Games champion back in Sydney for World Masters Games | 1938 British Empire Games gold medallist Noel Morrow will arrive in Sydney today ahead of the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games. | 33kb |
| 07/10/09 | Finalists announced for NSW Tourism Awards | Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay today announced the finalists for the 2009 NSW Tourism Awards, proudly supported by NSW Government and hosted by the Tourism Industry Council NSW. | 42kb |
| 04/10/09 | World Masters Games newlyweds to honeymoon in Sydney | A couple who found love at the Melbourne 2002 World Masters Games will tie the knot today before honeymooning at the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games, which begin next weekend. | 32kb |
| 04/10/09 | Surf’s up at Old Bar Beach Festival | Visitors to the NSW Mid North Coast this long weekend can enjoy some of the State’s best surf and surfing culture at the Old Bar Beach Festival. | 25kb |
| 04/10/09 | Darling Harbour set to come alive for Fiesta | Visitors to the NSW Mid North Coast this long weekend can enjoy some of the State’s best surf and surfing culture at the Old Bar Beach Festival. | 23kb |
| 02/10/09 | Newcastle beaches to promote surf tourism in New South Wales | Newcastle’s spectacular surf beaches will help promote New South Wales as Australia’s premier surf destination. | 24kb |
| 02/10/09 | ‘Red desert live!’ event celebrates outback NSW | Broken Hill is the place to be this weekend, with some of Australia’s best performers taking part in a two-day festival of music, art, film and food. | 24kb |
| 02/10/09 | Festival of Dance hits Corowa this weekend | The historic town of Corowa will come alive this long weekend with the Corowa Festival of Dance. | 24kb |
| 01/10/09 | Australian Reptile Park celebrates 60 years | Minister for Tourism, Jodi McKay and Member for the Entrance Grant McBride will officially launch the Australian Reptile Park’s 60th birthday celebrations at Somersby on the Central Coast today. | 25kb |
| 01/10/09 | Breakfast on the Bridge brings best of regional NSW to Sydney | The best in NSW produce will be on show during the inaugural Breakfast on the Bridge which will be held on Sunday 25 October. | 33kb |
| September Media Releases | |||
| 30/09/09 | Sydney to get knockout punch: Roy Jones Jr vs Danny Green | Roy Jones Jr and Danny Green stood toe to toe at Quay restaurant today to promote the biggest fight ever in Australia – which will kick off a super week of events this December. | 24kb |
| 30/09/09 | Minister to lend a hand during World Masters Games competition | Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay will visit The Dome, at Sydney Olympic Park today to collect her Sydney 2009 World Masters Games volunteer uniform. | 32kb |
| 29/09/09 | NSW: the surfing capital of Australia | NSW will be promoted as the premier surf destination in Australia as part of a NSW Government tourism initiative to be launched today. | 33kb |
| 28/09/09 | Top chefs to promote Sydney as a premier dining destination | Some of Sydney's top chefs will join forces with the NSW Government to promote Sydney as Australia's premier restaurant and fine dining destination. | 34kb |
| 25/09/09 | New campaign to highlight the delights of New England North West | Attractions in the New England North West region will be on show in a new campaign to help attract more visitors to the region. | 23kb |
| 23/09/09 | Hunter Valley wines uncorked in Sydney promotion | Minister for Tourism and Minister for the Hunter Jodi McKay today launched Pyrmont Uncorks the Hunter Valley, promoting Hunter Valley wines in Sydney. | 25kb |
| 21/09/09 | Cowra celebrates Sakura Matsuri Festival’s 21st birthday | Cowra will be in full bloom this week with the 21st Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival kicking off today. | 24kb |
| 21/09/09 | World triathlon returns to Sydney harbour | Sydney’s iconic Harbour will once again play host to a world class triathlon competition when the first leg of the 2010 Dextro Energy Triathlon International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championship kicks off in April next year. | 24kb |
| 19/09/09 | Sydney: An October like no other | Minister for Tourism, Jodi McKay today revealed the state was set for its biggest start to October in living memory with up to 700,000 fans and visitors set to attend seven major events in the first week of October. | 34kb |
| 18/09/09 | Tourism marketing campaign attracts record competitors for Sydney Marathon | A record 33,000 runners will pound the pavement this weekend as part of the largest Blackmores Sydney Running Festival ever. | 25kb |
| 13/09/09 | Opera and tourism on show in India | Opera Australia’s brightest star Amelia Farrugia will join 23 tourism operators on a five-day Tourism NSW trade mission to India to showcase the State’s unique destinations, tourism experiences and cultural attractions to the Indian market. | 24kb |
| 11/09/09 | 72 hours of non-stop tweeting a winner for NSW Tourism | Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay has welcomed three Los Angeles based winners of a Twitter campaign arriving in Sydney yesterday to ‘tweet’ about Sydney’s appeal as a short break destination. | 23kb |
| 08/09/09 | Ambassadors to draw more business events to NSW | Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay has commended Business Events Sydney’s new initiative designed to give NSW a winning edge in attracting lucrative international events to the State. | 23kb |
| 07/09/09 | “Come to the Coast” tourism campaign launched | Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay today officially launched the Come to the Coast marketing campaign aimed at attracting Sydneysiders to the region for short getaways. | 24kb |
| 04/09/09 | Flying weekend in Temora | Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay today encouraged people to visit Temora this weekend and witness one of the world's unique collections of historic aircraft take to the air. | 23kb |
| August Media Releases | |||
| 29/08/09 | Tourism campaigns boost regional tourism | Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay today announced that an intensive Government campaign to boost tourism in regional areas had exceeded expectations boosting numbers by over 500 per cent. | 24kb |
| 31/08/09 | Breakfast on the Bridge boost for business | The centrepiece of the recently announced Crave festival, Breakfast on the Bridge, is set to give a spring boost to business in Sydney. | 24kb |
| 27/08/09 | Blue Mountains getaway of choice | Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay today welcomed a recent poll showing more than a third of Sydneysiders would choose the Blue Mountains region as their preferred destination for a day visit. | 31kb |
| 26/08/09 | NSW dominates Gourmet Traveller Awards | Sydney has confirmed its status as Australia’s premium dining capital after dominating the Australian Gourmet Traveller 2010 Restaurant Awards announced this week. | 26kb |
| 25/08/09 | ‘Barmy Army’ set for a record New Years invasion | NSW Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay today said the recent Ashes result guaranteed one thing – record numbers of English cricket fans will descend on Sydney for the next Ashes series. | 24kb |
| 05/08/09 | 50 Fashionable NSW Experiences | Fifty of the most luxurious and fashionable experiences in Sydney and NSW will be featured in a special supplement to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Vogue Australia, released today. | 22kb |
| July Media Releases | |||
| 31/07/09 | Celebrate winter at Yass Fireside Festival | NSW residents and visitors to the State are being encouraged to sample premium regional cool climate wines, enjoy local food and explore NSW’s Capital Country at the annual Yass Fireside Festival this August. | 21kb |
| 27/07/09 | $19 million investment provides Perisher with ready made snow | Perisher will officially launch the final stage of a $19 million, three year expansion of their snowmaking facilities today. | 101kb |
| 27/07/09 | Getting down to business in the regions | Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay was at Novotel Lake Crackenback Resort in the NSW Snowy Mountains today to launch a new $200,000 print and online campaign to promote business events in Regional NSW and Greater Western Sydney. | 21kb |
| 21/07/09 | New South Wales ...Australia’s premier adventure tourism destination | Fifty of the State’s most adventurous, extreme and rugged outdoor activities will feature as part of an innovative new marketing campaign from the NSW Government aimed at attracting thrill seeking visitors to the State. | 21kb |
| 20/07/09 | Tourism Toolkit for Sydney councils | Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay was in Penrith today to announce the release of a new marketing toolkit to help Sydney’s 37 councils and their local tourism businesses promote their tourist attractions. | 23kb |
| 17/07/09 | Parkes opens up to the stars | NSW families and visitors to the State are being encouraged to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landings at the CSIRO Parkes Telescope this weekend. | 30kb |
| 16/07/09 | NSW set to benefit from new international youth tourism campaign | The NSW Government will today launch an innovative campaign promoting Sydney and NSW as an exciting, accessible and affordable destination to 18-30 year olds from the UK, Ireland and United States. | 22kb |
| 14/07/09 | School holiday fun that won’t break the budget | Families looking to take a break over the winter school holidays should look no further than NSW, with a wide range of affordable activities for children of all ages on offer across the State. | 22kb |
| 06/07/09 | NSW Tourism wins accessibility award | An innovative Tourism NSW website has been recognised by Vision Australia’s “Making a Difference” awards for the provision of information about tourism experiences visitors with accessibility needs can enjoy in Sydney. | 16kb |
| 06/07/09 | NSW Indigenous culture experiences online | NSW residents and visitors to the State are being encouraged to explore the range of Indigenous tourism experiences available in NSW as part of National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) week. | 21kb |
| 03/07/09 | Delta’s first Aussie flight touches down | Delta Airways, the world’s largest airline, will introduce new non-stop daily flights into Sydney from Los Angeles today. | 20kb |
| 02/07/09 | New jobs and tourism opportunities to flow from Tiger services | Low-cost airline Tiger Airways will today announce new flights from Melbourne to Sydney. | 20kb |