Record attendance at this year’s Vivid Sydney has demonstrated the value of long-term investment in major events as NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade & Investment Andrew Stoner have announced Vivid Sydney 2013 an unprecedented success.

Preliminary estimates show record attendance of more than 800,000 people across the 18-day event.

 
The Dr Who anniversary projection on Sydney’s Customs House drew enormous crowds.
image credit: Daniel Boud

Industry body Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) chief executive Ken Morrison said the ongoing commitment from the government five years running has delivered extraordinary benefits to the state.

“An expanded program in 2013 drew crowds of 800,000 – a 63 per cent increase on last year’s numbers,” said Morrison, “with 8 per cent growth in domestic travel packages and more than 11,000 international packages sold, including 7200 from China.”

“These visitors spend money on accommodation, dining, transport and entertainment, helping support the jobs of tens of thousands of people employed in Sydney’s tourism sector.

“The phenomenal success of this year’s Vivid Sydney festival shows the value of continuing government investment and the importance of providing ongoing support for major events to continue to build their profile and popularity at home and abroad.

“The outdoor winter festival has been a success in drawing people to the city during the cooler months to experience this interactive, family-friendly event. 

“Destination NSW should be congratulated on its dedication to this iconic event that goes from strength to strength each year.

“Vivid Sydney brings together hundreds of local businesses, partners, sponsors and communities, with Destination NSW hosting more than 350 media and international travel buyers during the event.

“This helped the festival gain media coverage in over 200 countries, providing an outstanding global profiling opportunity for Sydney which will help to develop the city’s brand.

The Southern Hemisphere’s biggest annual festival of light, music and ideas is a signature event in the NSW Events Calendar, owned and managed by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency.
image credit: Daniel Boud

Visitors flocked to the biggest Vivid Sydney ever, which included the largest Vivid Light Walk expanding into North Sydney with the lighting of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Darling Harbour showcasing Australia’s first spectacular water show performances.

The Vivid Music program also expanded into new venues and Vivid Ideas featured more than 180 events with over 6,000 tickets sold. Over 40,000 tickets were sold for Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House.

 Stoner said, this year, Vivid Sydney achieved record results for NSW, with crowds significantly larger than last year.

“Vivid also reached audiences in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide through extensive media coverage. I am confident Vivid Sydney will have delivered this year well in excess of the estimated $10 million in economic impact,” NSW Deputy Premier  Stoner said.

“Bringing so many visitors into Sydney for this Festival also delivered terrific results for local retailers who all embraced Vivid. Some of the waterfront restaurants at The Rocks saw a 300% increase in diners, with reports of their capacity last seen during the Olympics. Many Darling Harbour restaurants also experienced similar growth,” said Stoner
 

The Dr Who projection on Sydney’s Customs House was just one of more than 180 events that took place over the festival.

Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said the most successful Vivid Sydney yet was great testimony to the way the festival has been embraced by Sydneysiders and visitors alike, and the creative services industry.

“So much enthusiasm and passion is invested in making Vivid Sydney a wonderful winter event by not only the creative practitioners involved in the Festival itself, but the hundreds of thousands of people who attended. To be able to hold an event which attracts so many visitors, not only domestically but also from all over the world is very special, and of course is an important contributor to the goal of doubling overnight expenditure by 2020. During Vivid Sydney we hosted 76 media and 284 international travel buyers,” Chipchase said.