Extension of Vivid Sydney Festival

Extension of Vivid Sydney highlights the power of events‐based tourism – TAA

The decision by the NSW Government to extend Vivid Sydney by an additional five nights reflects the power of events‐related tourism, says Australia’s peak accommodation body, Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA).

Vivid will now run from Friday, 27 May to Saturday, 18 June.

From humble beginnings, Vivid has grown to become Australia’s largest festival of its kind, attracting 1.7 million people in 2015, including 117,000 domestic and interstate overnight visitors.

The Festival – which incorporates lights, music and other entertainment – has been particularly successful in attracting high‐yield conference and incentive groups to Sydney, providing major stimulus to the hotel sector over a traditionally quiet winter period.

“Sydney is fortunate to be in the middle of its largest‐ever hotel expansion, with up to 20 new hotel and serviced apartment projects expected to add to the city’s accommodation inventory over the next five years, so demand‐generating events such as Vivid are crucial to justify such large investment by the private sector,” said TAA CEO, Carol Giuseppi.

“The investment by the NSW Government in building tourism infrastructure and funding events such as Vivid is very welcome because competition for tourists and high‐yield conference and incentive groups is intense. The development of the new International Convention Centre and expansion of innovative festivals
like Vivid will contribute significantly to Sydney’s ability to win major events, conferences and general tourism business against other cities in the Asia Pacific region.”

Ms Giuseppi said the Sydney hotel expansion would see new hotel accommodation at all levels opening across the city, as well as major investment by owners in upgrading and extending existing properties.