❓ Mr. Krsticevic inquires about the success of the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships and its role in the government's tourism strategy. The Minister highlights the event's economic impact and its alignment with the government's tourism pillars.
AnsweredQoN 310Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
AUSTRALIAN
SURF LIFE SAVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
310. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the
Minister for Tourism:
I was privileged to attend the Australian Surf Life Saving
Championships hosted at Scarborough Beach near my electorate of Carine. Can the
minister please inform the house of the success of this event and how events
such as this fit into the Liberal–National government's tourism
strategy for the state?
SURF LIFE SAVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
310. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the
Minister for Tourism:
I was privileged to attend the Australian Surf Life Saving
Championships hosted at Scarborough Beach near my electorate of Carine. Can the
minister please inform the house of the success of this event and how events
such as this fit into the Liberal–National government's tourism
strategy for the state?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Carine for his question and, indeed,
his strong, ongoing support for events such as these held at beautiful Scarborough
Beach. Participation events are one of the seven pillars of the government's
tourism strategy, and I am delighted that Western Australia hosted the 2014
Australian Surf Life Saving Championships from 31 March to 6 April. That event
is also known as the Aussies. It is one of the biggest multidiscipline events
in the world, rivalling the Commonwealth Games in terms of athlete numbers. We
had over 5 000 competitors in the event, from 190 surf lifesaving clubs right
across Australia. It is estimated that 11 000 interstate athletes, organisers
and spectators came to Western Australia to participate in this event. That
event has delivered a significant return to our economy, and it has certainly
added a bucketload of vibrancy into our community.
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : They stayed in all types of accommodation, member for
Girrawheen.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I always find it amusing when I see the
ignorance from those opposite about the importance of events in Western
Australia in attracting tourism, adding to vibrancy and creating opportunities
for Western Australians to compete in the most beautiful landscape settings in
the world. But I love it. I love events. They are an important part of our
strategy.
Tourism WA has commissioned research
into the event's media and economic value, and I expect that these
results will be available within the next few weeks. Members may be interested
to know that free wi-fi was installed along Scarborough Beach prior to the
commencement of the Aussies. We also had the unveiling of a new bronze statue
of two surf lifesavers, titled Watch Over
You . That statue was commissioned by the Metropolitan Redevelopment
Authority as part of the works that are occurring at Scarborough. There is a
high level of excitement about the revitalisation of the Scarborough
beachfront, courtesy of a $30 million commitment from this government, combined
with a $30 million commitment from the City of Stirling. I expect that in future
we will see more of those sorts of events at the Scarborough beachfront for
Western Australians and tourists from right across Australia and overseas to
enjoy.
While I am on my feet and talking about the events program in
Western Australia, I would like to make a correction to a statement that I made
in a brief ministerial statement on 3 April about our very successful Margaret
River Gourmet Escape. In that statement, I said that 10 171 Western Australians
attended, generating 39 103 nights, at an average length of stay of 3.8 nights,
with an average daily spend of $255. What I should have said is that a total of
10 171 people attended from outside the region, generating 39 103 nights, at an
average length of stay of 3.8 nights, with an average daily spend of $255.
That said, with the Margaret River Gourmet Escape, the
Aussies and the 95 or so events that this government is sponsoring right across
the state, I expect to see continued optimism in our tourism sector as Western
Australians, international visitors and interstate tourists alike come here to
enjoy our extraordinary destinations.
his strong, ongoing support for events such as these held at beautiful Scarborough
Beach. Participation events are one of the seven pillars of the government's
tourism strategy, and I am delighted that Western Australia hosted the 2014
Australian Surf Life Saving Championships from 31 March to 6 April. That event
is also known as the Aussies. It is one of the biggest multidiscipline events
in the world, rivalling the Commonwealth Games in terms of athlete numbers. We
had over 5 000 competitors in the event, from 190 surf lifesaving clubs right
across Australia. It is estimated that 11 000 interstate athletes, organisers
and spectators came to Western Australia to participate in this event. That
event has delivered a significant return to our economy, and it has certainly
added a bucketload of vibrancy into our community.
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : They stayed in all types of accommodation, member for
Girrawheen.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I always find it amusing when I see the
ignorance from those opposite about the importance of events in Western
Australia in attracting tourism, adding to vibrancy and creating opportunities
for Western Australians to compete in the most beautiful landscape settings in
the world. But I love it. I love events. They are an important part of our
strategy.
Tourism WA has commissioned research
into the event's media and economic value, and I expect that these
results will be available within the next few weeks. Members may be interested
to know that free wi-fi was installed along Scarborough Beach prior to the
commencement of the Aussies. We also had the unveiling of a new bronze statue
of two surf lifesavers, titled Watch Over
You . That statue was commissioned by the Metropolitan Redevelopment
Authority as part of the works that are occurring at Scarborough. There is a
high level of excitement about the revitalisation of the Scarborough
beachfront, courtesy of a $30 million commitment from this government, combined
with a $30 million commitment from the City of Stirling. I expect that in future
we will see more of those sorts of events at the Scarborough beachfront for
Western Australians and tourists from right across Australia and overseas to
enjoy.
While I am on my feet and talking about the events program in
Western Australia, I would like to make a correction to a statement that I made
in a brief ministerial statement on 3 April about our very successful Margaret
River Gourmet Escape. In that statement, I said that 10 171 Western Australians
attended, generating 39 103 nights, at an average length of stay of 3.8 nights,
with an average daily spend of $255. What I should have said is that a total of
10 171 people attended from outside the region, generating 39 103 nights, at an
average length of stay of 3.8 nights, with an average daily spend of $255.
That said, with the Margaret River Gourmet Escape, the
Aussies and the 95 or so events that this government is sponsoring right across
the state, I expect to see continued optimism in our tourism sector as Western
Australians, international visitors and interstate tourists alike come here to
enjoy our extraordinary destinations.
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