The New South Wales Government has made public the final report of the Visitor Economy Taskforce (VET), comprising strategic recommendations and action plans to realise the primary goal of doubling overnight expenditure by 2020.

The report outlines the need for “a whole of government approach” and has requested the Federal Government relax operating capacity restrictions at Sydney Airport, improve berthing access for cruise ships to Garden Island and adjust funding models for regional tourism, according to the Tourism Industry Council NSW.

“It is a bold and innovative approach to helping tourism realise its potential in NSW,” Accommodation Association of Australia chief Richard Munro said.

“It’s pleasing that the State Government continues to devote resources to advancing our industry following a strong State Budget earlier this year.”

Mr Munro added that a focus on attracting visitors during the weaker trading months of winter was important in realising the goal of doubling overnight expenditure by 2020.

Tourism Industry Council NSW general manager Andrew Jefferies said the final report has outlined sensible practices, ensuring Sydney Airport operates at its natural capacity.

The report has called for an increase in landings per week, movements per hour and urgent action to address rail, bus and road network access to Sydney Airport.

The VET report also put forward an aviation strategy to support growth to regional airports and the introduction of a common air border between Australia and New Zealand.

“Whilst the issue of a second Sydney Airport was not addressed in this report, we are appreciative that the short to medium term issues have been identified and significantly highlighted.”

Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) chief John Lee highlighted the need to increase accommodation capacity in central Sydney, with current occupancy rates at over 86 percent.

“This limited availability restricts the number of tourists who can visit Sydney, which also reduces visitation to regional areas that rely on tourists dispersing from the gateway,” Mr Lee said.

“The taskforce’s final report rightfully recognises the state will not be able to meet its tourism expenditure targets if capacity constraints are not addressed.”

Tourism Accommodation Australia NSW (TAA) welcomed the VET report but remained wary surrounding the issue of accommodation supply in Sydney.

“There is a real need for the Government to change the way it views the accommodation sector - we welcome the reduction in red tape but economic research from TAA shows Sydney’s need for new hotel rooms is much less than previously thought,” TAA (NSW) director Carol Giuseppi said.

“The Government needs to be doing all it can to avoid the cycle of boom and bust in the Sydney accommodation market which we saw after the Olympics – particularly at a time like this when confidence is being restored and so many hotels have spent tens of millions of dollars on refurbishments.  Any growth in supply needs to be sustained by investment and growth in demand.”

Ms Giuseppi said the entire industry needs to work alongside all aspects of government to make the report’s recommendations a reality.

The New South Wales Government will consider the recommendations of the report and release a response this October; the Visitor Economy Industry Action Plan 2012.