Sydney pushes forward in keeping tourists attracted even as tourism operators fear of continuing drops in visitor numbers in the months ahead.

Ten years after the Sydney Olympics, volunteers, former Australian Olympians and Paralympians, and students have gathered at the Olympic Park from dusk of Wednesday until the wee hours of Thursday's morning. The commemorative celebration focuses on the Australian athletes' inspiring contribution.

Sydney Olympic Park Authority chairman Michael Knight and Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates honoured gold medalist Cathy Freeman by naming a part of Olympic Park after her.

Knight announced to a beaming crowd that the Overflow will “be now and forever be known as Cathy Freeman Park.” Freeman and Paralympian Louise Sauvage then lit the Olympic torch for the first time in 10 years.

Down south of the country, Tasmania's tourism industry is alarmed at a 17 percent slump in visitor numbers in the three months to June.

Tourism Industry Council's Chief Executive Daniel Hanna said operators fear a tough year ahead. Hanna said, “Over the June quarter visitor arrivals, visitor nights, and visitor expenditure have been well down on previous years... While the industry has held up well as the global financial crisis hit initially we're now really starting to find the industry struggling”

According to Acting Tourism Minister Michael Aird, overall tourist numbers for the year remain steady, though.