Western Sydney Ready to Welcome the World
The Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue has brought together some of the region’s leading tourism and visitor economy voices to help ensure that Greater Western Sydney is best-placed to leverage the economic opportunities the city’s only 24-hour International Airport will deliver when it opens in 2026.
Launched today by the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue at its Airport City Summit attended by the Australian Prime Minister, and NSW Tourism Minister John Graham, the GWS airport readiness campaign, Take Flight 2026, will profile the projects and investment needed to ensure Western Sydney is ready to welcome the world.
Dialogue CEO Adam Leto said the region needed to get moving now, so that it was ready to host the millions of visitors who will land at Sydney’s new global gateway.
“We need Western Sydney to be ready to welcome the world, but we only have a small window of opportunity to get the red carpet ready so that visitors stay, play and spend in the West,” Mr Leto said.
“The opening of WSI is set to be a game-changer for the region. To ensure Western Sydney can welcome the 10 million global visitors expected to land on our doorstep from late next year, we need to leverage its unique characteristics and build on its existing assets and strengths.
“That’s why we’ve brought together the industry leaders in the visitor economy and tourism space so we can understand, and leverage, the great opportunities the opening of WSI presents for visitors, attractions and businesses.”
With a number of organisations already on board, the group will soon develop a priority list of short to medium-term investments, projects and initiatives that will grow Western Sydney’s tourism and visitor economy.
The formation of the alliance came as John Graham, Minister for Transport, Roads, Tourism, Jobs, Arts and the Night-time Economy, unveiled the Western Sydney International Take-off Fund – a $16 million joint-fund by the NSW Government and WSI.
“The Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund is , is all about making sure Western Sydney International Airport is set for take-off,” Mr Graham said.
“The Harbour City will no longer be the gateway to the Western part of our city. Western Sydney will be a critical growth area for the NSW Visitor Economy and the airport will play a pivotal role in that growth.
“We expect these incentives to deliver an extra 162,000 international visitors to NSW and generate an estimated $530 million of visitor expenditure.”
Organisations already involved in the newTake Flight 2026 group include Sydney Zoo, Sydney Motorsport Park, Australian Turf Club, Blue Mountains Tourism, Penrith Valley Chamber, Accor, Scenic World, Trilogy Hotels, Winter Sports World and Western Sydney Lakes.
The Dialogue says key areas of focus for the initiative include visitor attraction strategies, support for expanding and upgrading existing tourist assets, destination readiness campaigns and public transport connections that will require coordination and funding from all levels of government.
Sydney Zoo in Eastern Creek is a founding member of Take Flight 2026. Its Managing Director, Jake Burgess, said collaboration was key to fast-tracking the much-needed investment in Western Sydney’s visitor economy.
“To maximise the benefits that the new airport will deliver, the region’s leading industry stakeholders are working collectively and collaboratively so that visitors landing in GWS from late next year will stay and spend their dollars here.
“We’ve got a long list of ideas, projects and investment opportunities that will help transform the region for Australian and international visitors. Now’s the ideal time for local, state and federal governments to also come together and back Sydney’s West.”
The launch of Take Flight 2026 follows the Dialogue’s launch of the first local guide dedicated to celebrating Western Sydney as a dining destination, Best of the West: A Food Lovers’ Guide to Greater Western Sydney. The free guide was launched at WSI by the NSW Minister for Tourism, the Arts, Music, Night-time Economy, Transport and Roads, John Graham, who is also a key speaker at the Dialogue’s 2025 Airport City Summit.
Speaking at the book’s launch, Mr Graham said: “The incredible array of restaurants across the diverse neighbourhoods of Western Sydney will have an increasingly important role in the state’s visitor economy when the new airport opens next year.”
Mr Leto said Best of the West was a great example of how to support local initiatives and businesses.
“We need to get creative and committed, but we need to act fast,” Mr Leto said.
“We need to develop a visitor attraction strategy now to grow the tourism and visitor economy in GWS, one that promotes local products and businesses, leverages and invests in Western Sydney’s unique multicultural offering, showcases its stunning landscapes and gives international visitors the authentic Aussie experience they crave.”
