The New South Wales Government is spending $51.5 million on providing $100 accommodation vouchers to the state’s residents, in a move expected to support the hotel industry and provide a boost in foot traffic to CBD businesses.
The announcement, which comes less than a week before the JobKeeper support scheme is to be wrapped up, was welcomed by ARA chief Paul Zahra.
“Our CBDs are not the thriving places they once were pre-Covid, and we need innovative ways to get people back supporting these hard-hit businesses,” Zahra said.
“The NSW Government’s economic support package is an important first step to revitalising the Sydney CBD. SMB retailers in the city are in deep pain with office attendance down, international borders still closed and JobKeeper about to end, so they need all the support they can get.”
According to Zahra, the hotel voucher scheme is a great way to get people back into the city, and will provide a flow on effect of increased levels of customers and spending for retailers in the area.
NSW minister for tourism Stuart Ayres said the package was about boosting confidence and supercharging Sydney’s economy.
“We’ve rolled back restrictions further, people can get out and about across our wonderful city, and our businesses particularly here in Sydney need your support,” Ayre said, according to the ABC.
