❓ Mr. Price asks about the economic and tourism benefits of Manchester United's visit to WA. Mr. Papalia highlights the significant marketing and tourism opportunities, particularly during the winter months, and the potential to attract international visitors.
AnsweredQoN 977Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TOURISM — MANCHESTER UNITED
977. MR S.J. PRICE to the Minister for Tourism:
Thank you, Mr Speaker, and what a fabulous job you have done
during question time today.
Several members interjected.
Mr S.J. PRICE : I refer to the McGowan Labor government's
support for the tourism industry through its $425 million investment in
destination marketing and events, and its commitment to bringing world-class
events to Western Australia, such as the 10-day visit by Manchester United. Can
the minister outline to the house what this visit will mean for tourism in this
state and the broader WA economy?
977. MR S.J. PRICE to the Minister for Tourism:
Thank you, Mr Speaker, and what a fabulous job you have done
during question time today.
Several members interjected.
Mr S.J. PRICE : I refer to the McGowan Labor government's
support for the tourism industry through its $425 million investment in
destination marketing and events, and its commitment to bringing world-class
events to Western Australia, such as the 10-day visit by Manchester United. Can
the minister outline to the house what this visit will mean for tourism in this
state and the broader WA economy?
AnswerView source ↗
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : And it will be a quick answer, too, won't
it?
Mr P. PAPALIA : Have I got the call, Mr Speaker?
The SPEAKER : Yes, you have, but a quick answer.
Mr P. PAPALIA : Thank you for the call, Mr Speaker.
What a wonderful
achievement—to attract the biggest sporting event this state will have
ever seen. Manchester United is the biggest sporting club in the world.
I think it is reported by Deloitte to have a turnover of $1 billion a year—a
football club—and to be valued at more than $5 billion. They have
assessed their fan base as around 659 million worldwide. That is an extraordinary
reach, extraordinary numbers. It is a magnificent opportunity, getting them to
this state, in the middle of winter, in the dead of winter.
A member interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : He knows more about it than I do!
In the dead of winter next year, Perth will be the sporting
mecca of Australia, undeniably. That will be at a time of the year when, in the
past, our hotels, hospitality outlets, venues, regional tourism destinations
and tourism operators have struggled. In the middle of winter, when they are
doing it tough, we will have a replay of the AFL grand final, the Bledisloe
Cup, the second in the State of Origin NRL matches and the single biggest
sporting event that this city has ever seen in the form of not only Manchester
United—as the member for Cockburn must concede—but also its
great rival, Leeds United.
Several members interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : He is not interested! Both teams are
coming, but Manchester United is coming with its entire squad. It is not coming
for one game or a couple of days and then skipping town; it is actually coming
for a serious training camp as part of its pre-season. It is a real event. It
is coming for a real training camp. There will be a range of opportunities for
fans. From a tourism perspective, the most important thing—the Minister
for Sport and Recreation will love the fact that Manchester United is here, of
course, as will every other Western Australian —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! I am on my feet! Members, keep
the noise down—we do not want to wake the Minister for Sport and
Recreation up!
Several members interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I thought I was punching, but I can
tell I am having a soporific effect on the other end of the chamber! I am
sorry.
Look, not only will our young people have the opportunity to
witness firsthand and get up close and personal to the best in the world and
their heroes whom they aspire to emulate, but also this 10-day period will have
multiple marketing opportunities in the form of a 1 000-person dinner, a golfing
day with club legends and management, fan days, and open training sessions with
both Leeds and Manchester United. This will enable Tourism WA to market
packages with our hotels, tourism operators and all the venues to really
attract visitation by people from all over the world, particularly on the
eastern seaboard because Victoria is not getting this event. It wanted it, but
it is not getting it. We are in the centre of the time zone. We have the
opportunity to market to all of Asia. All of China is the same time zone, India
is two and a half hours behind and Japan is an hour behind. We are at the
centre. We are not isolated; we are in the middle of it all. For the first
time, we will get the benefit of geographic location—next year, Perth
will be the place to be. Then Optus Stadium will be the place to be, and I do
not think people will have trouble finding Optus Stadium. I know the member is
getting desperate when she attacks Manchester United coming to Perth by saying
Optus Stadium may be confusing.
Several members interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : That is getting really desperate.
Several members interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I would say
the sharks are circling —
The SPEAKER : Minister, I will
sit you down! Minister, get to the end of it now, please.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I would
normally say the sharks are circling, but a better metaphor is perhaps that the
wolves are coming down from the hills to try to take the member for Vasse's
job!
The SPEAKER : And it will be a quick answer, too, won't
it?
Mr P. PAPALIA : Have I got the call, Mr Speaker?
The SPEAKER : Yes, you have, but a quick answer.
Mr P. PAPALIA : Thank you for the call, Mr Speaker.
What a wonderful
achievement—to attract the biggest sporting event this state will have
ever seen. Manchester United is the biggest sporting club in the world.
I think it is reported by Deloitte to have a turnover of $1 billion a year—a
football club—and to be valued at more than $5 billion. They have
assessed their fan base as around 659 million worldwide. That is an extraordinary
reach, extraordinary numbers. It is a magnificent opportunity, getting them to
this state, in the middle of winter, in the dead of winter.
A member interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : He knows more about it than I do!
In the dead of winter next year, Perth will be the sporting
mecca of Australia, undeniably. That will be at a time of the year when, in the
past, our hotels, hospitality outlets, venues, regional tourism destinations
and tourism operators have struggled. In the middle of winter, when they are
doing it tough, we will have a replay of the AFL grand final, the Bledisloe
Cup, the second in the State of Origin NRL matches and the single biggest
sporting event that this city has ever seen in the form of not only Manchester
United—as the member for Cockburn must concede—but also its
great rival, Leeds United.
Several members interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : He is not interested! Both teams are
coming, but Manchester United is coming with its entire squad. It is not coming
for one game or a couple of days and then skipping town; it is actually coming
for a serious training camp as part of its pre-season. It is a real event. It
is coming for a real training camp. There will be a range of opportunities for
fans. From a tourism perspective, the most important thing—the Minister
for Sport and Recreation will love the fact that Manchester United is here, of
course, as will every other Western Australian —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! I am on my feet! Members, keep
the noise down—we do not want to wake the Minister for Sport and
Recreation up!
Several members interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I thought I was punching, but I can
tell I am having a soporific effect on the other end of the chamber! I am
sorry.
Look, not only will our young people have the opportunity to
witness firsthand and get up close and personal to the best in the world and
their heroes whom they aspire to emulate, but also this 10-day period will have
multiple marketing opportunities in the form of a 1 000-person dinner, a golfing
day with club legends and management, fan days, and open training sessions with
both Leeds and Manchester United. This will enable Tourism WA to market
packages with our hotels, tourism operators and all the venues to really
attract visitation by people from all over the world, particularly on the
eastern seaboard because Victoria is not getting this event. It wanted it, but
it is not getting it. We are in the centre of the time zone. We have the
opportunity to market to all of Asia. All of China is the same time zone, India
is two and a half hours behind and Japan is an hour behind. We are at the
centre. We are not isolated; we are in the middle of it all. For the first
time, we will get the benefit of geographic location—next year, Perth
will be the place to be. Then Optus Stadium will be the place to be, and I do
not think people will have trouble finding Optus Stadium. I know the member is
getting desperate when she attacks Manchester United coming to Perth by saying
Optus Stadium may be confusing.
Several members interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : That is getting really desperate.
Several members interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I would say
the sharks are circling —
The SPEAKER : Minister, I will
sit you down! Minister, get to the end of it now, please.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I would
normally say the sharks are circling, but a better metaphor is perhaps that the
wolves are coming down from the hills to try to take the member for Vasse's
job!
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