❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks detailed financial and logistical information regarding the 'Quokka Birthday' event on Rottnest Island, including costs, revenue, visitor numbers, and commercial benefits. The response provides some figures but withholds commercially sensitive data.
AnsweredQoN 5579Legislative Assembly
Asked
15 October 2019
Member
Portfolio
Tourism; Racing and Gaming; Small Business; Defence Issues; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the recent 'Quokka Birthday' event held on Rottnest Island, and I ask: (a) How much funding was put towards marketing the event: (i) Was this new funding or from an existing budget; and (ii) Where did this funding come from; (b) How much did the event cost Rottnest Island Authority (RIA) to run and operate: (i) Please provide a breakdown of cost and funding source; and (ii) What was the loss of income to RIA in regards to the waived landing fee for the event; (c) How much did this event cost Tourism WA (TWA): (i) Please provide a breakdown of cost and funding source; (d) Were there any additional costs outside of RIA and TWA to the State Government: (i) If so, please provide a breakdown of cost and funding source; (e) How many passengers arrived at Rottnest on the weekend of the event: (i) How many via ferry; (ii) How many by helicopter; and (iii) How many by personal transport; (f) What was the total income received from the event for the island operators and RIA: (i) If not known, what is the estimated income generations for both; (g) What was the commercial benefit of the event: (i) If not known, what is the estimated commercial benefit of the event; and (ii) What methodology was used to establish this; (h) What were the visitor numbers for the comparable weekends (second weekend in September) for the last three years; and (i) What was the estimated revenue for the island for the comparable weekends (second weekend in September) for each of the last three years?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
26 November 2019
Responded by
Minister for Tourism; Racing and Gaming; Small Business; Defence Issues; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests
Response time
12 days
$32 986.75
(i) Existing budget.
(ii) Funds generated by the Rottnest Island Authority’s commercial activities, including visitor accommodation and bicycle hire.
(b) $39 628.87
(i)
Breakdown
Cost (ex GST)
Funding source
Event activities
$13 870.82
Trading revenue
Event logistics
$10 278.67
Trading revenue
Event day communications
$6 973.01
Trading revenue
Salaries and staff costs
$8 506.37
Trading revenue
(ii) Island admission fees waived for the event on Sunday, 15 September 2019 Island totalled $26 959.
(c) Nil.
(i) Not applicable.
(d) No.
(i) Not applicable.
(e) 6 121 (estimated).
(i) 4 200
(ii) Unknown.
(iii) Estimated 1 900 private boats (based on extrapolation of the 2019 Boating Visitor Survey results) and 21 by plane.
(f) The Rottnest Island Authority’s revenue received from the weekend event was $105,230.65. The Rottnest Island Chamber of Commerce (RICC) has advised that Island operator revenue information is commercial in confidence.
(i) The RICC has advised that Island operator income information, including estimates is commercial in confidence.
(g) Commercial benefits of the event include diversifying the visitor base by attracting new and lapsed visitors to Rottnest Island; increasing the income of small businesses operating on the Island during the shoulder season; creating brand awareness and demand for future visitation; and improving advocacy and repeat visitation by enhancing the visitor experience through authentic events that celebrate all that Rottnest offers as a tourism destination. The event also promoted positive conservation messages regarding the Island’s natural environment and all wildlife, including the quokka.
(i) Not applicable.
(ii) Not applicable.
(h)
Dates
Visitor arrivals by ferry
Saturday, 8 September 2018 and Sunday, 9 September 2018
2 351
Saturday, 9 September 2017 and Sunday, 10 September 2017
1 444
Saturday, 10 September 2016 and Sunday, 11 September 2016
1 423
(i)
Dates
Rottnest Island Authority revenue
Saturday, 8 September 2018 and Sunday, 9 September 2018
$117 595
Saturday, 9 September 2017 and Sunday, 10 September 2017
$103 277
Saturday, 10 September 2016 and Sunday, 11 September 2016
$102 406
Island operator revenue information is commercial in confidence.
(i) Existing budget.
(ii) Funds generated by the Rottnest Island Authority’s commercial activities, including visitor accommodation and bicycle hire.
(b) $39 628.87
(i)
Breakdown
Cost (ex GST)
Funding source
Event activities
$13 870.82
Trading revenue
Event logistics
$10 278.67
Trading revenue
Event day communications
$6 973.01
Trading revenue
Salaries and staff costs
$8 506.37
Trading revenue
(ii) Island admission fees waived for the event on Sunday, 15 September 2019 Island totalled $26 959.
(c) Nil.
(i) Not applicable.
(d) No.
(i) Not applicable.
(e) 6 121 (estimated).
(i) 4 200
(ii) Unknown.
(iii) Estimated 1 900 private boats (based on extrapolation of the 2019 Boating Visitor Survey results) and 21 by plane.
(f) The Rottnest Island Authority’s revenue received from the weekend event was $105,230.65. The Rottnest Island Chamber of Commerce (RICC) has advised that Island operator revenue information is commercial in confidence.
(i) The RICC has advised that Island operator income information, including estimates is commercial in confidence.
(g) Commercial benefits of the event include diversifying the visitor base by attracting new and lapsed visitors to Rottnest Island; increasing the income of small businesses operating on the Island during the shoulder season; creating brand awareness and demand for future visitation; and improving advocacy and repeat visitation by enhancing the visitor experience through authentic events that celebrate all that Rottnest offers as a tourism destination. The event also promoted positive conservation messages regarding the Island’s natural environment and all wildlife, including the quokka.
(i) Not applicable.
(ii) Not applicable.
(h)
Dates
Visitor arrivals by ferry
Saturday, 8 September 2018 and Sunday, 9 September 2018
2 351
Saturday, 9 September 2017 and Sunday, 10 September 2017
1 444
Saturday, 10 September 2016 and Sunday, 11 September 2016
1 423
(i)
Dates
Rottnest Island Authority revenue
Saturday, 8 September 2018 and Sunday, 9 September 2018
$117 595
Saturday, 9 September 2017 and Sunday, 10 September 2017
$103 277
Saturday, 10 September 2016 and Sunday, 11 September 2016
$102 406
Island operator revenue information is commercial in confidence.
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