❓ Question regarding the benefits of securing the ATP Cup for Perth, with the Minister outlining the significant tourism and economic advantages, including attracting high-profile players and international visitors.
AnsweredQoN 767Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TOURISM — ATP CUP
767. Mr M.J. FOLKARD to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record of commitment to attracting world-class events that
bring more visitors to Western Australia—for example, the recent
Bledisloe Cup and State of Origin rugby—and the way it supports businesses and jobs in the tourism
sector. Can the minister outline to the house how securing the ATP Cup for Perth will deliver significant benefits for Western Australia?
767. Mr M.J. FOLKARD to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record of commitment to attracting world-class events that
bring more visitors to Western Australia—for example, the recent
Bledisloe Cup and State of Origin rugby—and the way it supports businesses and jobs in the tourism
sector. Can the minister outline to the house how securing the ATP Cup for Perth will deliver significant benefits for Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question,
and I make the observation that he does look a little like John Newcombe from
this distance, although my eyesight is not that great. Before I answer the
question, I acknowledge the presence in the public gallery of staff and
students from Living Waters Lutheran College in my electorate—also from
Rockingham, Premier. It is wonderful to see them here, and doubtless there are
some tennis fans up there. I hope they were paying attention—particularly
the younger ones may have noticed that the Premier and I were fortunate enough
yesterday to attend the draw for the ATP Cup. We learned that Western Australia
will be hosting Spain and Russia as the headline teams for our part of the
draw. Spain, of course, brings Rafael Nadal, world number 2, and possibly the only player on the planet who can
rival Roger Federer for popularity and fan base right across the world.
We all saw the significance of the contribution that Roger Federer made through
that quokka selfie, reaching in the order of 680 million people around the
world. We have an incredible opportunity to replicate that with ''Rafa''.
We also have Daniil Medvedev, the person who played ''Rafa''
recently in the US Open. He is one of the up-and-comers, a champion player and
a real personality. It is fantastic that he will be there. We also learnt
yesterday of the other teams that Perth will be hosting—USA, Georgia
and Italy, which are all significant teams. Italy, in particular, is a very
attractive proposition from a tourism prospective because plenty of Italian–Australians
on the east coast might be enticed to come to Perth to see their team in action
in January.
Several members interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : These blokes
are actually pretty good tennis players. They are right up there. I am most
excited by the drawing of Japan. The team from Japan will be coming to Perth.
We will be hosting Japan in the first ever ATP Cup, coincidentally, when we
will begin to be serviced by All Nippon Airways seven days a week direct from
Tokyo to Perth. It gives us the opportunity to market Perth and Western Australia
as a destination, not only to experience all the wonderful attractions we have,
but also to attend the first ever ATP Cup. That is a fantastic outcome for Western
Australia. I have had it pointed out to me that we will get six out of the top
11 players in the world for our part of the draw. The ATP Cup is a brilliant
new initiative—big points, big money, big names, all coming to Perth,
continuing the opportunity for us to market Western Australia as a big sports
destination.
Before that, in November, we will have the final of the
Federation Cup—Australia versus France. Ash Barty will be here in town,
so we do have top-tier women's tennis. As I have stated on many
occasions, I hope women's tennis will get their act together and
develop an ATP Cup version for the women's part of the game, because Western
Australia will bid for that. I hope that Perth gets the opportunity to host
top-tier men's and women's tennis, not just with the fed cup in
2021, but the ATP Cup, and another version. The ATP Cup will be here for the
next six years. It is a fantastic new contribution to tourism in Perth, to the
events calendar, and another reason to really enjoy Western Australia in the
summer.
and I make the observation that he does look a little like John Newcombe from
this distance, although my eyesight is not that great. Before I answer the
question, I acknowledge the presence in the public gallery of staff and
students from Living Waters Lutheran College in my electorate—also from
Rockingham, Premier. It is wonderful to see them here, and doubtless there are
some tennis fans up there. I hope they were paying attention—particularly
the younger ones may have noticed that the Premier and I were fortunate enough
yesterday to attend the draw for the ATP Cup. We learned that Western Australia
will be hosting Spain and Russia as the headline teams for our part of the
draw. Spain, of course, brings Rafael Nadal, world number 2, and possibly the only player on the planet who can
rival Roger Federer for popularity and fan base right across the world.
We all saw the significance of the contribution that Roger Federer made through
that quokka selfie, reaching in the order of 680 million people around the
world. We have an incredible opportunity to replicate that with ''Rafa''.
We also have Daniil Medvedev, the person who played ''Rafa''
recently in the US Open. He is one of the up-and-comers, a champion player and
a real personality. It is fantastic that he will be there. We also learnt
yesterday of the other teams that Perth will be hosting—USA, Georgia
and Italy, which are all significant teams. Italy, in particular, is a very
attractive proposition from a tourism prospective because plenty of Italian–Australians
on the east coast might be enticed to come to Perth to see their team in action
in January.
Several members interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : These blokes
are actually pretty good tennis players. They are right up there. I am most
excited by the drawing of Japan. The team from Japan will be coming to Perth.
We will be hosting Japan in the first ever ATP Cup, coincidentally, when we
will begin to be serviced by All Nippon Airways seven days a week direct from
Tokyo to Perth. It gives us the opportunity to market Perth and Western Australia
as a destination, not only to experience all the wonderful attractions we have,
but also to attend the first ever ATP Cup. That is a fantastic outcome for Western
Australia. I have had it pointed out to me that we will get six out of the top
11 players in the world for our part of the draw. The ATP Cup is a brilliant
new initiative—big points, big money, big names, all coming to Perth,
continuing the opportunity for us to market Western Australia as a big sports
destination.
Before that, in November, we will have the final of the
Federation Cup—Australia versus France. Ash Barty will be here in town,
so we do have top-tier women's tennis. As I have stated on many
occasions, I hope women's tennis will get their act together and
develop an ATP Cup version for the women's part of the game, because Western
Australia will bid for that. I hope that Perth gets the opportunity to host
top-tier men's and women's tennis, not just with the fed cup in
2021, but the ATP Cup, and another version. The ATP Cup will be here for the
next six years. It is a fantastic new contribution to tourism in Perth, to the
events calendar, and another reason to really enjoy Western Australia in the
summer.
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