NSW Police are hoping the $500,000 reward for details about the disappearance of Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez might be a "vital incentive" for the general public to return ahead and assist the investigation.
Mr Hayez was final seen on Could 31, 2019, leaving the Cheeky Monkey's nightclub within the backpacker haven of Byron Bay.
Detective Performing Superintendent Brendon Cullen stated there's "hole" in data in police's investigation about what occurred between the nightclub and Tallow Seashore.
"There's an digital path related to Theo which leads him from the nightclub in Johnson Road to Tallow Seashore however we should not have any bodily contact between that nightclub and Tallow Seashore," he stated.
"We wish to know if there's anybody who has any info that may fill that hole."
Regardless of an intensive air and sea search, together with across the city's well-known lighthouse, solely his hat was ever discovered.
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Detective Performing Superintendent Cullen added rewards provide a "vital incentive" for anybody with new info to return ahead.
"It is a method to incentivise somebody to return ahead and provides us info, if that info exists," he stated.
"This reward might change somebody's life considerably if they've info that's helpful for us."
He additionally stated rewards can immediate folks "to do one thing, to say one thing, to talk to somebody" which is able to assist the investigation.
"We're hopeful we'll get some response from this and we're hopeful we'll get some solutions."
'Not having solutions means our household is unable to grieve'
Mr Hayez's household has welcomed the NSW Authorities announcement of the $500,000 reward, claiming it might be "one of many final alternatives" to search out out what occurred to their son.
"We at the moment are coming as much as three years since Theo's disappearance. We consider this reward could also be one in all our final alternatives to search out solutions about what occurred to Theo," his father, Laurent Hayez, stated.
In a video provided by police, Mr Hayez's father stated they wished to search out out for positive if he was with any individual that evening.
"A key query we're in search of to deal with, is whether or not he was with somebody on the evening of Could 31, 2019, which we strongly consider to be the case," he stated.
His mom, Vinciane Delforge, thanked authorities for supporting them by "infinite and ambiguous grief."
"Any particulars massive or small might assist remodel the investigation and supply our household and the investigation with desperately wanted solutions," she stated.
"Not having solutions means our household is unable to grieve, as we do not have a conclusion."
The money is being put up by the NSW Authorities and the NSW Police Power.
NSW Authorities officers longing for outcomes
Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Paul Toole stated he's hopeful the reward will encourage anybody who has any info to return ahead.
"Theo was a younger man who had his complete life forward of him and his household can't relaxation till they know what occurred to him," Mr Toole stated.
"The ache of dropping a cherished one is dangerous sufficient however the thriller surrounding this case solely provides to that ache.
"Police investigating this case want our assist to supply that essential piece of the puzzle that may deliver some consolation to the household and pals of Theo."