❓ The Minister for Tourism provides an update on the McGowan Labor government's efforts to attract more visitors to Western Australia, highlighting increased tourism numbers and economic benefits, particularly in regional areas like the Kimberley.
AnsweredQoN 883Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TOURISM —
INVESTMENT
883. Ms J. FARRER to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to creating jobs and supporting the local
economy through its record investment in marketing Western Australia as a key
tourism destination.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the government's efforts in attracting
more visitors to Western Australia?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this government's investment is helping
stimulate the Western Australian economy?
INVESTMENT
883. Ms J. FARRER to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to creating jobs and supporting the local
economy through its record investment in marketing Western Australia as a key
tourism destination.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the government's efforts in attracting
more visitors to Western Australia?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this government's investment is helping
stimulate the Western Australian economy?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for her question. I will make the observation that we are
stimulating the tourism economy of the Kimberley all right. Recently, we
revolutionised cruise shipping facilities in the Kimberley by finally removing
obstacles in the harbour, making it a 24/7 port for large cruise ships. The
Minister for Regional Development recently announced funding for floating docks
that will cover off for the smaller cruise ships. We now have affordable
flights to Broome, and 25 000 people recently took up that offer. The Minister
for Transport is in the midst of ensuring the sealing of Cape Leveque Road and
opening up all the Aboriginal tourism opportunities on the peninsula. There are
incredible advances in tourism in the Kimberley, and we seeing that right
across the state.
Since
we launched our two-year action plan last year, things have only been on the
up. The last three quarters in a row of data—bearing in mind the
data is three months late—show that in the 12 months to June, there were, yet again, consecutive quarters of record
numbers of out-of-state tourism. Yet again, in the 12 months to June
this year, there were 2.76 million out-of-state visitors. The total number of
overnight visitors was 11.6 million. Daytrippers spent $10.5 billion in WA, up
16.4 per cent on the previous year.
A member interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I am glad the Nationals WA are
interested in tourism. They actually ask questions. The Liberals have not asked for a long time. The good news is $4.9
billion of that spend was in the regions; 47 per cent of the spend by
our out-of-state visitors was in the regions. They are incredible outcomes as a
consequence of our action plan.
Western Australia is leading the nation in the number of
international holiday visitors. But we are not just leading. The spend growth in Western Australia is three
times the national average. We have seen a 21.4 per cent increase in the 12
months to June. The number of visitors has gone up by 12.8 per cent. Those are
incredible record numbers.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Vasse! I thought you might be
able to get through one question.
Mr P. PAPALIA : There were over 500 000 international
holiday-makers to Western Australia, more than at any time in history. The
number of interstate visitors in all categories is up. The number of interstate
holiday-makers—those who come just for a holiday—is also up.
Remember that when the previous government was in power, the people who came to
Western Australia from outside the state came mostly for business. They were
not coming here for a holiday. They were coming here to work in the boom or to
visit friends and relatives in the boom. We now have a real leisure market,
with 452 000 people coming from interstate for holiday alone, and they spent
$715 million. That is an extraordinary return on our two-year action plan.
But we are not finished, member. Right now, we are doubling
the international marketing spend, with a $12 million additional spend on 10
key markets around the world. We are telling them about the Kimberley. We are
also telling them about all the other regions, but the member for Kimberley's
seat in particular is one of the jewels in the crown of Western Australian
tourism. I can guarantee the member that over the next 12 months, these
incredible numbers will only increase.
thank the member for her question. I will make the observation that we are
stimulating the tourism economy of the Kimberley all right. Recently, we
revolutionised cruise shipping facilities in the Kimberley by finally removing
obstacles in the harbour, making it a 24/7 port for large cruise ships. The
Minister for Regional Development recently announced funding for floating docks
that will cover off for the smaller cruise ships. We now have affordable
flights to Broome, and 25 000 people recently took up that offer. The Minister
for Transport is in the midst of ensuring the sealing of Cape Leveque Road and
opening up all the Aboriginal tourism opportunities on the peninsula. There are
incredible advances in tourism in the Kimberley, and we seeing that right
across the state.
Since
we launched our two-year action plan last year, things have only been on the
up. The last three quarters in a row of data—bearing in mind the
data is three months late—show that in the 12 months to June, there were, yet again, consecutive quarters of record
numbers of out-of-state tourism. Yet again, in the 12 months to June
this year, there were 2.76 million out-of-state visitors. The total number of
overnight visitors was 11.6 million. Daytrippers spent $10.5 billion in WA, up
16.4 per cent on the previous year.
A member interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I am glad the Nationals WA are
interested in tourism. They actually ask questions. The Liberals have not asked for a long time. The good news is $4.9
billion of that spend was in the regions; 47 per cent of the spend by
our out-of-state visitors was in the regions. They are incredible outcomes as a
consequence of our action plan.
Western Australia is leading the nation in the number of
international holiday visitors. But we are not just leading. The spend growth in Western Australia is three
times the national average. We have seen a 21.4 per cent increase in the 12
months to June. The number of visitors has gone up by 12.8 per cent. Those are
incredible record numbers.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Vasse! I thought you might be
able to get through one question.
Mr P. PAPALIA : There were over 500 000 international
holiday-makers to Western Australia, more than at any time in history. The
number of interstate visitors in all categories is up. The number of interstate
holiday-makers—those who come just for a holiday—is also up.
Remember that when the previous government was in power, the people who came to
Western Australia from outside the state came mostly for business. They were
not coming here for a holiday. They were coming here to work in the boom or to
visit friends and relatives in the boom. We now have a real leisure market,
with 452 000 people coming from interstate for holiday alone, and they spent
$715 million. That is an extraordinary return on our two-year action plan.
But we are not finished, member. Right now, we are doubling
the international marketing spend, with a $12 million additional spend on 10
key markets around the world. We are telling them about the Kimberley. We are
also telling them about all the other regions, but the member for Kimberley's
seat in particular is one of the jewels in the crown of Western Australian
tourism. I can guarantee the member that over the next 12 months, these
incredible numbers will only increase.
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