New fund to boost regional environment and tourist attractions
Regional NSW environment and tourist attractions will benefit from a new $300 million fund.
The Regional Growth – Environment and Tourism Fund will provide regional communities with funding for environmental and tourism infrastructure projects.
Funded by the Rebuilding NSW initiative, regional communities can now submit expressions of interest for the initial round of $100 million in funding.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said the fund would help to increase tourist numbers, drive job creation and build on other government regional investment programs.
“The funding will protect and enhance our precious environmental assets and build new tourism attractions across regional NSW,” Mr Barilaro said.
Regional tourism contributes $14.4 billion to NSW and directly employs 84,600 people.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the fund demonstrates the government’s ongoing commitment to rural and regional tourism.
“The state’s rural and regional tourism industry is now welcoming 17 per cent more overnight visitors than in 2011, and I am looking forward to promoting its continued growth in the years to come,” Mr Marshall said.