NSW residents to get $100 vouchers for CBD accommodation in tourism boost

Only venues in the 2000 postcode will be able to accept the NSW Government’s $100 stimulus vouchers for hotels in the CBD — meaning The Star is out but the Crown casino is in.

Only venues in the 2000 postcode will be able to accept the NSW Government’s $100 stimulus vouchers for hotels in the CBD — meaning The Star is out but the Crown casino is in.

The vouchers will be available from June and are designed for use in the quieter months of winter to drive tourism.

NSW residents will be handed the free $100 vouchers with the ­direction to plough the money into hotels in Sydney’s CBD as the government tries to breathe new life into the city.

The Government on Thursday annonced a $51.5 million stimulus package for the CBD, timed deliberately with the end of JobKeeper.

There will be 200,000 ­accommodation vouchers worth $100 each available to people on a first-come, first-serve basis.

There will be 200,000 ­accommodation vouchers worth $100 each available. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Securing more overnight stays will have the flow on effect of driving spending in the CBD in shops and restaurants, the government believes.

The government will also announce a rescue package for live music and CBD business events in a bid to flood the area with people.

The focus on the city recognises a gap in the tourism stimulus package announced by the federal government this month.

“With international, interstate and business travellers virtually non-existent for the past year, the CBD, and in ­particular the accommodation industry has done it tough,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

The government will also announce a rescue package for live music and CBD business events. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“This new program will be in addition to our other stimulus measures such as the Dine & Discover scheme, and will provide a boost to accom­modation providers in what is a traditionally very quiet ­period.”

It is understood the accommodation vouchers will need to be spent on accommodation providers who are registered businesses and operate in the City of Sydney.

It is expected they will be rolled out in June, during the quieter winter period.

The live music support package will target music ­venues, with one government source noting several are on their “last legs” and will be saved by the injection of $24 million.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

There is $5 million for business industry events, designed to bring workers and business people back into the CBD, and a further $2 million tourism boost.

Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres said the music industry was “coming out of hibernation”.

“This package will ­ensure our much loved venues are there to host the gigs ­people want to see. Our success in containing COVID-19 means we can now focus on ­assisting these vital industries get back to business.”

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said thousands of businesses in the CBD lost significant revenue with so many people working from home and no international travel.