SYDNEY, Aug 17 (Xinhua) -- Australia's tourism industry is set to get a major boost from the opening of the billion-dollar International Convention Centre at Sydney's Darling Harbour in December.
New South Wales Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said the state expects the new venue to attract more than a quarter of the 37 million business visitors Australia has received up till this March, Fairfax Media reported on Wednesday.
"That's why we have invested a billion dollars in a new international convention center for Sydney," said Ayres.
"The precinct, which also includes exhibition and entertainment venues, will create a new paradigm for major events in Australia," he said.
The vast facility which is almost complete is expected to hold some of the world's major conventions and events in Sydney drawing millions of dollars in tourist receipts.
The convention center's chief executive Geoff Donaghy said major business venues can be a huge boost to Sydney's economy, adding that business events attracted visitors who spends six times more than leisure tourists.
Managing director Tourism Australia John O'Sullivan said another major attraction of conventions is that delegates often return later for personal visits.
"Sydney has long been a major gateway for business event travelers to Australia and having a venue of this caliber of the ICC Sydney will not only act as an important draw card for winning events for the city but also for Australia as a destination," said O'Sullivan.
