SYD cramps NSW tourism

“ARTIFICIAL caps” on operations at Sydney Airport are seriously inhibiting the potential growth of tourism in NSW, with the state’s Minister for Tourism and Major Events estimating an annual impact of $800 million on the visitor economy.

Speaking at an event at NSW Parliament House yesterday (see page 7), Minister Adam Marshall blasted the “arbitrary” restrictions which limit aircraft movements to 80 per hour - rate limited to 20 every 15 minutes.

That means that in the event of a brief disruption there is no ability to “catch up” on backlogged movements.

Marshall said this was despite the airport’s operational ability to support 115 movements per hour.

“There is no room at the inn,” he said, with the limits not only impacting international arrivals but also regional dispersal, because it is almost impossible to get a slot for a domestic service.

“Sydney is regulated like no other international airport in the world,” Marshall fumed.

“If we are to grow tourism in NSW this issue is crucial.”

He said while some of the pressure on domestic operations would be relieved when Western Sydney Airport finally comes on stream, “we can’t afford to wait a decade - we will hit the ceiling well before then”.

The Minister said he was planning talks with his Federal counterpart Stephen Ciobo in an attempt to progress the matter.

He also noted the significant ongoing investment by NSW in the tourism sector, pointing out that the state spends more than the Federal Government’s annual funding for Tourism Australia.

MEANWHILE Marshall also promised long-awaited action on infrastructure constraints in Sydney Harbour which are hitting the cruise industry.

He said a working party was currently considering “three or four” options and would report back on a preferred solution by the end of next month.

“Before the end of the year we will have a very clear solution,” he promised - more details in today’s issue of Cruise Weekly.