❓ Question regarding the importance of Chinese and Japanese tourism markets to WA and an update on the government's efforts to attract them. The Premier's answer highlights growth in both markets and strategies to overcome challenges.
AnsweredQoN 874Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TOURISM — CHINA
AND JAPAN
874. Ms A. SANDERSON to the Premier:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's determination to attract a bigger share of the Chinese and
Japanese tourist market.
(1) Can the Premier advise the house
why these markets are so important?
(2) Can the
Premier update the house on what the latest tourism figures show about this
government's efforts in attracting more Chinese and Japanese tourists?
AND JAPAN
874. Ms A. SANDERSON to the Premier:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's determination to attract a bigger share of the Chinese and
Japanese tourist market.
(1) Can the Premier advise the house
why these markets are so important?
(2) Can the
Premier update the house on what the latest tourism figures show about this
government's efforts in attracting more Chinese and Japanese tourists?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I thank the member for Morley. I begin my answer by thanking the tourism
minister for coming in today and acknowledge him in the chamber.
During the election campaign we
committed to working hard to increase the number of Chinese and Japanese
tourists coming to Western Australia. For many years Western Australia has
underperformed in attracting tourists from each of those marketplaces. The
Chinese tourist market is the most rapidly growing market in the world, and
historically we have done very well with Japanese tourists, but unfortunately
that has dropped off in recent years. We are very keen to secure hundreds of
millions of dollars out of each of these markets and we are doing everything we
can to attract additional direct flights out of China and reinstate direct
flights out of Japan. Indeed, in that context, I note the Minister for Tourism
was recently in India fighting for direct flights out of Mumbai.
When it comes to Chinese tourists,
the latest international visitor survey shows that our visitor numbers are up
17.2 per cent over the course of the last year, significantly higher than
national growth. Visitor spend rose by 13.7 per cent, and that is showing that
our total market share of visitors from China, the most rapidly growing market,
is growing more than the national average. When it comes to Japanese tourists,
visitor numbers are up 9.5 per cent, more than double the national growth
figure, and visitor spend from Japan is up a massive 13.2 per spent. We are
very pleased with those two markets, one traditional and one emerging, that we
are securing higher numbers. As we know, Japanese and Chinese tourists are
traditionally known as very large spenders.
But
we recognise there are challenges when it comes to promoting Western Australia
around the world because of our legacy reputation of being an expensive
destination, which we are working hard to overcome.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman!
Mr M. McGOWAN : That is why we have the two-year action
plan that the tourism minister has launched. We have seen growth in interstate
visitors and we have seen growth in Western Australians holidaying at home. We
are working hard for direct flights to Western Australia and we are very
pleased to see some growth in the numbers of Chinese and Japanese tourists
coming to this place.
I thank the member for Morley. I begin my answer by thanking the tourism
minister for coming in today and acknowledge him in the chamber.
During the election campaign we
committed to working hard to increase the number of Chinese and Japanese
tourists coming to Western Australia. For many years Western Australia has
underperformed in attracting tourists from each of those marketplaces. The
Chinese tourist market is the most rapidly growing market in the world, and
historically we have done very well with Japanese tourists, but unfortunately
that has dropped off in recent years. We are very keen to secure hundreds of
millions of dollars out of each of these markets and we are doing everything we
can to attract additional direct flights out of China and reinstate direct
flights out of Japan. Indeed, in that context, I note the Minister for Tourism
was recently in India fighting for direct flights out of Mumbai.
When it comes to Chinese tourists,
the latest international visitor survey shows that our visitor numbers are up
17.2 per cent over the course of the last year, significantly higher than
national growth. Visitor spend rose by 13.7 per cent, and that is showing that
our total market share of visitors from China, the most rapidly growing market,
is growing more than the national average. When it comes to Japanese tourists,
visitor numbers are up 9.5 per cent, more than double the national growth
figure, and visitor spend from Japan is up a massive 13.2 per spent. We are
very pleased with those two markets, one traditional and one emerging, that we
are securing higher numbers. As we know, Japanese and Chinese tourists are
traditionally known as very large spenders.
But
we recognise there are challenges when it comes to promoting Western Australia
around the world because of our legacy reputation of being an expensive
destination, which we are working hard to overcome.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman!
Mr M. McGOWAN : That is why we have the two-year action
plan that the tourism minister has launched. We have seen growth in interstate
visitors and we have seen growth in Western Australians holidaying at home. We
are working hard for direct flights to Western Australia and we are very
pleased to see some growth in the numbers of Chinese and Japanese tourists
coming to this place.
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