PRESS RELEASE
11 October 2021
Hunter Valley opens the door again to Regional NSW
The Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association welcomes today’s easing of COVID restrictions and supports getting back to business for the Hunter Valley wine and tourism industry. Today brings relief and a return to what our industry does best; showcasing what makes the Hunter Valley one of the state’s most popular tourism destinations.
There is strong demand for regional travel and bookings ahead into Spring and Summer are starting to fill. Travellers are looking to find a place where they can spend time reconnecting with family and friends and the Hunter Valley has plenty to welcome back visitors. Start booking and planning a visit today with these exclusive Spring and Summer offers. Temporary trading hours showing which businesses are reopen are available to view on the website.
Major plans for concert venues, accommodation and hospitality have been announced over the last two months. Several multimillion-dollar projects have been announced in wine country in recent weeks, which is a positive sign for tourism. These significant developments speak to the Hunter being such a premier wine destination, but also a broader tourism destination with a strong diversity of offerings and activities. Spring is usually the time when outdoor concerts and festivals, synonymous with the Hunter Valley, burst into life. This year will be different with social distancing measures still in place, but the 2022 events calendar is promising to be full of headline acts.
A recent industry survey conducted by the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association revealed incredibly high rates of vaccination with 93% of staff across Hunter Valley businesses having already received their first dose or are double vaccinated. “The Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association has been championing high vaccination rates and it is pleasing to see such strong industry compliance. As a region, we have a strong track record of covid safety, with businesses working to update their Covid safety plans to ensure we are ready for when travel resumes” said Amy Cooper, CEO, Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association.
“We have seen firsthand the devastating impact of this lockdown on our local businesses” added Christina Tulloch, President, Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association. “We look forward to the ongoing support of local visitors from across the Hunter and from those travelling from Greater Sydney once the 80% vaccination rate has been achieved. The Hunter Valley is the perfect destination to reconnect with family and friends”.
ENDS
For further information or comment, please contact Amy Cooper, CEO, Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association. Ph: 02 4990 0900 or 0419 090 631.