The tourism sector has welcomed a “victory for the visitor economy” with Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) securing its first overseas-based carrier, according to the Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) Australia.

TTF CEO Margy Osmond said today’s announcement of a strategic partnership between WSI and Singapore Airlines brings exciting opportunities for the tourism industry, when the new airport opens in late 2026.

“This is a significant milestone for Western Sydney International and signals a major boost for the visitor economy of Western Sydney, New South Wales and Australia more broadly,” Ms Osmond said.

“This will increase flights to Australia from one of Asia’s busiest international aviation hubs, helping bring more overseas visitors to our shores from across the region, whilst providing a seamless travel experience when they land.”

“It’ll also unlock new travel opportunities for Western Sydney residents to visit family or friends overseas and make it easier for their loved ones to travel to Australia.”

Ms Osmond said encouraging international visitors to come to Australia remained a key priority for the tourism industry, with numbers still down on pre-pandemic levels.

The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show overseas arrivals in Australia were at 89% of pre-pandemic levels in June 2024, compared with June 2019.

“Today’s announcement will boost aviation capacity, helping return international visitor numbers to pre-pandemic levels or higher, to support the entire tourism sector and the many thousands of Australians it employs,” Ms Osmond said.

“This will also open up new opportunities within Western Sydney, the rest of the city and the state, given the new airport’s proximity to so many spectacular tourism offerings.”

“When visitors land, they’ll be just a short drive from the Blue Mountains, Powerhouse Parramatta and Australia’s largest Botanic Garden at Mount Annan to name a few.”

“This is a wonderful chance for visitors to Sydney to explore areas outside of the CBD, as well as regional NSW, further encouraging investment in tourism infrastructure, accommodation and related industries.”

ENDS