Tourism and travel operators and the hospitality industry in general are ill-prepared for the opening of the new Western Sydney International (WSI) airport which is set to welcome 8 million passengers a year.
That’s according to several of the panellists who attended a Western Sydney Tourism Taskforce NSW Aviation Forum at Campbelltown Catholic Club on Friday which included new Destination NSW CEO Karen Jones, Gavin Harris from WSI Airport, David Donohoe from Qantas, David Borger from Business Western Sydney and Simon Bernardi of travel wholesaler Australia & Beyond Holidays.
Other major sticking points are a lack of signatures of other airlines, beyond Singapore Airlines and Qantas Group (Qantas, Qantas Freight and Jetstar) who have already committed.
Gavin Harris from WSI Airport, said “we’ll talk to anyone” about signing to land at the airport.
“We’re talking to probably over 60 airlines overall,” he said adding there was a focus on South East Asia. “We’re not just focused on those markets. We’re looking, obviously, at Europe and we’re looking at the US, but really the ones that we think are going to be the early moves are the ones in that Southeast Asian market.”
While it will have its own metro station, there is also a lack of direct transport for tourists to the city and to and from Kingsford Smith Airport, too few hotels in the region, and a lack of major landmarks also add to the list.
Add to that a lack of accommodation for workers in the 24/7 economy that will service the airport and the number of hurdles are mounting. They include staff for the freight hub and to meet the needs of the 24-hour passenger arrivals with staff including Customs, Border Force and caterer DNATA.
There’s also a nearby business park owned by the airport, and run by Charter Hall, that will also require staff and transportation.
The airport is part of an experience-led tourism campaign that is set to transform the state’s visitor economy into a $91 billion powerhouse by 2035 as set out in a government review of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy.
WSI is expected to boost the region’s economy significantly, with a projected 63 per cent population growth and the need for 40,000 hotel rooms and 150,000 skilled employees.
“The 24/7 airport is going to be absolutely vital, but there is so much more work to do, particularly in terms of getting airlines,” Campbelltown’s state MP Greg Warren said.
“We don’t only need it in Western and South Western Sydney, we deserve it. We deserve those jobs. We have put up with houses upon houses. We have seen the impact and carried the burden of the economy in New South Wales. And is the third largest economy in Australia, by extension, the national economy. That dictates, in itself, that we deserve our fair share and the attention in Government.”
Gavin Harris from WSI Airport “We are open for business, so we are in the process of handing over the asset from the builder to us, so we’re getting the keys, and the keys will be with us very soon. You know, I’m talking, you know, days rather than months.”
Travel wholesaler Simon Bernardi said travel agents selling inbound need to be educated on how to market to new audiences expected to come in, including taking advantage of workshops run by Destination NSW and the Australian Tourism Export Council.
He also said there was a lack of distinct marketing and branding for Western Sydney.
“What is Western Sydney?” he asked. What’s it offering? Is it going to be a tack-on to big Sydney? Is it going to be a destination in its own right?
“How do you get together with the other people in the area and create a signature product?”
Wholesalers are also fast running out of time to develop new itineraries in their inbound tourism program for the area, too, he said as they develop them between 12 and 18 months ahead.
David Borger said there needed to be more thought behind launching major events to attract the attention of international tourists and encourage stays in the area, mentioning new developments such as the opening of the new Parramatta Powerhouse Museum.
Also, he said, once more airlines signed “you would have to think there’ll be a bit of a price war” for outbound tourists.
“I think we’re going to be going on holidays a lot more,” he said.
