Shadow Minister Media Releases
Government Must Act To Ensure Tourism Boost From World Youth Day ( 01/05/2008)
Shadow Minister for Tourism, Don Page MP, said today the NSW Minister for Tourism must urgently take steps to ensure the tourism industry can make the most out of World Youth Day.
“There are reports the number of expected visitors for World Youth Day have been more than halved with only 123,000 visitors now expected to attend the event. This is significantly lower than the 250,000 visitors originally predicted,” Mr Page said.
“This is a potential disaster for Sydney’s tourism industry, which is already struggling under this Labor Government. “
It was reported that hundreds of hotel rooms and Countrylink seat reservations had been cancelled.
“With the amount of publicity this event has had, many believed Sydney was going to be filled to the rafters. Potential visitors unrelated to World Youth Day will stay away.
“Matt Brown needs to act quickly to get the word out there that Sydney is open for business during the World Youth Day event in July.
“With only 21,576 visas issued and a further 4,000 applications to be processed, it certainly doesn’t look like this event is going to be the tourism boon the State Government originally predicted it would be.
“The State Labor Government have been billing this event as the largest since the Sydney Olympics.
“Now World Youth Day looks like being a double blow for Sydney tourism due to significantly reduced attendance to the event and other visitors staying away because of perceived transport difficulties and lack of accommodation.
“I call on the Minister for Tourism to take urgent action to reverse this looming tourism disaster,” Mr Page said.
