Hotel mogul Jerry Schwartz says the tourism and hospitality industries will have to live with the uncertainty about when international borders will reopen and should instead focus on creating local events and experiences that will pull visitors back to the major city centres, amid a domestic tourism boom.

“We’ve opened up the regions to the cities, but not the other way round. To do that, we need extra drawcards,” said Dr Schwartz, whose flagship asset is the five-star Sofitel at Darling Harbour.