The NSW Opposition is calling on the Minns Labor Government to detail how it is planning to achieve the state’s tourism goals set out in its updated NSW Visitor Economy Strategy.

Shadow Minister for Tourism Kevin Anderson said Labor’s target of reaching $91 billion in visitor expenditure by 2035 is aspirational, but more detail should be provided on how the government plans to achieve that growth.

“It’s good to be aspirational when it comes to the state’s tourism goals, but the Minns Labor Government will need more than glossy brochure to build our visitor economy,” Mr Anderson said.

“The updated NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035 builds on years of planning, but the Government hasn’t outlined a proper plan for how that will actually be achieved.

“The strategy highlights a 150,000-tourism worker shortfall, but questions remain about where those workers will come when businesses are already struggling to attract staff.

“Challenges also remain in the state’s transport sector, and while we can acknowledge the pending Statewide Aviation Strategy, other measures need to be looked at including the development of sustainable aviation fuels along with cheaper transport options.”

“This strategy relies on the addition of 40,400 new hotel rooms across the state, but there is no detail on where those rooms will be located, or who will fund them. The private sector will be doing the heavy lifting when it comes to delivering those hotel rooms, but where is the detail on how the government will attract private investment?

“The Labor Government needs to do more to achieve the goal of $91 billion in visitor expenditure by 2035.”