Creating Tourist Attractions !

For many decades the Sydney Harbour bridge was the iconic image of this city and was recognised as such a landmark worldwide.  When it was joined by the Opera House they became inseparable on the literature that attracted a huge surge in tourists arriving here in 2000 when Sydney hosted the Olympic games, but the primary reason for the bridge was to get cars, trains and people across our sparkling harbour.

Motorists paid a toll to use the bridge and it was costly to maintain.  A steel bridge over salt water is constantly in need of protective paint and the crews that performed this never ending task were legendary. One even went on to find fame and fortune as a television and movie star.

The bridge also served as part of the prize when New South Wales and Queensland  met on the playing field to do combat in Rugby League's annual " State of Origin " series.  The two state premiers agreed to a wager that the losing side would hoist the winning side's flag atop their city bridge to publicly accept the humiliation for the loss.

One day, someone had the bright idea of allowing tourists to climb the bridge and view the spectacular scenery of the city from such a commanding height.  Safety was paramount and bridge climbers were required to wear protective clothing and have a safety line attached as they progressed, but it became reality and we were surprised at the numbers prepared to pay money for that experience.  Bridge users are now accustomed to seeing a steady line of climbers ascending the arch in all kinds of weather.

The contract to manage this bridge climb has just been let for the next twenty years and since the venture started in 1998 more than four million people from a hundred and forty countries have made the climb.  The present price for that experience is on average $ 378 per person.

The bridge climb is a contributor to state revenue and the bridge comes under the jurisdiction of the department of Roads and Maritime services and the price that won the tender is treated as Commercial-in-confidence and not revealed, but it was widely tendered and this included the past tender holder.  In the 2015-16 financial year it paid  $ 1.9 million annually to the state government.

Perhaps the most rewarding of this successful venture is the way it has opened eyes and had people thinking outside the proverbial " nine dots ".   Not only is a climb over the Sydney Harbour bridge now a " must do " for many international tourists but it is contributing nearly two million dollars to the state economy.  A new tenderer can be expected to add interesting features to the climb and further the appeal of this city as a tourist destination.

Hopefully, it will have other entrepreneurs looking for opportunities that can be turned into successful ventures.  The tourist industry is looking for challenges, and all it takes is for inventive minds to widen their horizons.