❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding tourism funding, particularly concerning aviation, regional events, cruise ship tourism, and the long-term tourism strategy. The response provides some details but withholds information on specific event funding due to commercial sensitivity.
AnsweredQoN 5255Legislative Assembly
Asked
26 June 2019
Member
Portfolio
Tourism; Racing and Gaming; Small Business; Defence Issues; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests
QuestionView source ↗
(1) I refer to 2019–20 Budget Paper Number Two, Volume One, p.189 under Spending Changes, in the table headed New Initiatives, line item "Aviation New Market Development", and I ask: (a) What programs and services are being funded; (b) What KPIs are set for this line item; (c) Can you identify how much is allocated from Royalties for Regions (RfR) per year from 2019–20 out to 2022–23; and (d) What other routes besides Broome and Exmouth are currently being investigated for subsidised airfares to facilitate improved regional aviation access and value in accordance with the Two Year Action Plan to " attract more people more often to Regional Western Australia "? (2) I refer to 2019–20 Budget Paper Number Two, Volume One, p.193, Service Summary Table. Can you please advise the allocation from Royalties for Regions individually for each of the four line items: 1. Development of Industry Sectors and Facilitate Investment, 2. Destination Marketing, 3. Event Tourism, and 4. Tourism Destination Development, for each year: (a) For the line item Event Tourism, can you list all of the events supported by funding from Royalties for Regions; (b) The Regional Events Scheme has been funded from Royalties for Regions for around $10 million per year. There is no allocation past $300,000 for this year. What will happen to major events going forward; (c) What events are listed to be funded from the 2019–20 budget and for how much each; (d) What major regional events, previously supported through regional events funding, are set to miss out from now on; (e) How and when has this been communicated to the event organisers; and (f) Can you explain why all mention of Royalties for Regions Funding has been removed from promotional material for regional events frunded through RfR? (3) I refer to 2019–20 Budget Paper Number Two, Volume One, p.193, Service Summary Table. Can you advise of any allocation towards cruise ship tourism for each of the four line items: 1. Development of Industry Sectors and Facilitate Investment, 2.
Destination Marketing, 3. Event Tourism, and 4. Tourism
Destination Development, for each year: (a) Given the economic impact for 2017–18 of $275.9 million for Western Australia's economy, supporting about 1,130 jobs, I ask is cruise shipping still considered an important part of the State's tourism industry; and (b) What strategies are in place to support cruise tourism to Exmouth? (4) I refer to 2019–20 Budget Paper Number Two, Volume One, p.191, dot point 18 refers to "Building on the success of the two year action plan' to grow tourism in Western Australia and continuing 'to work on a long-term strategy for Western Australia, which will align with the national strategy being developed by Tourism Australia", and I ask: (a) Given the plan was launched in March 2018 and we are yet to see any actual "action", what is the anticipated timeframe for finalisation of a long-term strategy; (b) The Tourism Action Plan refers to Launching a new home-grown Perth Event in 2019 . Given that it is now the middle of 2019, when can we expect to hear more about this new home-grown Perth event; (c) How much is budgeted for this event in the first year; and (d) Which line item?
Destination Marketing, 3. Event Tourism, and 4. Tourism
Destination Development, for each year: (a) Given the economic impact for 2017–18 of $275.9 million for Western Australia's economy, supporting about 1,130 jobs, I ask is cruise shipping still considered an important part of the State's tourism industry; and (b) What strategies are in place to support cruise tourism to Exmouth? (4) I refer to 2019–20 Budget Paper Number Two, Volume One, p.191, dot point 18 refers to "Building on the success of the two year action plan' to grow tourism in Western Australia and continuing 'to work on a long-term strategy for Western Australia, which will align with the national strategy being developed by Tourism Australia", and I ask: (a) Given the plan was launched in March 2018 and we are yet to see any actual "action", what is the anticipated timeframe for finalisation of a long-term strategy; (b) The Tourism Action Plan refers to Launching a new home-grown Perth Event in 2019 . Given that it is now the middle of 2019, when can we expect to hear more about this new home-grown Perth event; (c) How much is budgeted for this event in the first year; and (d) Which line item?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 August 2019
Responded by
Minister for Tourism; Racing and Gaming; Small Business; Defence Issues; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests
Response time
5 days
(1) (a) Funds are being used to help secure new international routes being targeted from the priority markets of China, Japan and India.
(1) (b) Once a commercial-in-confidence cooperative marketing agreement with an airline is developed KPIs relate to a set number of seats operated per annum and flight frequency levels.
(1) (c) No funds are allocated from Royalties for Regions.
(1) (d) The Perth-Kununurra route is currently being investigated. Discounted airfares on the Broome and Exmouth routes are not subsidised.
(2) See Tabled Paper #1. Budget Line Item 1 Development of Industry Sectors and Facilitate Investment falls out of the Minister for Tourism’s portfolio. This part of the question should be referred to the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade.
(2) (a) Major regional events in 2019-20 funded through Royalties for Regions (via the Regional Events Program) are:
· Cape to Cape
· Taste Great Southern
· Ord Valley Muster
· CinéfestOz Film Festival
· Shinju Matsuri Festival of the Pearl
· Mandurah Crab Fest
· Truffle Kerfuffle
· Augusta Adventure Fest
· Margaret River Pro World Championship Tour
· Busselton Festival of Triathlon
· Ironman Western Australia
· Western Australia Gourmet Escape
· Australian Men’s Masters Hockey Championships
Additionally, 66 smaller regional events are funded in 2019-20 through Royalties for Regions (via the Regional Events Scheme) - refer to Tabled Paper #2.
(2) (b) The Regional Events Program (not Regional Events Scheme) is now being funded through a new line item titled “Brand WA – Event Tourism”, which includes major regional events and events funded through the Regional Events Scheme. This initiative is part of the Government’s commitment of $40 million per annum for Event Tourism. Total 2019-20 funding will be $7.2 million which is made up of the $6.9 million “Brand WA – Event Tourism” and the $300 000 “Regional Events Program – Larger Events”. Tourism Western Australia undertakes a full assessment of each event proposal to ensure they meet the funding criteria and this will continue going forward.
(2) (c) Events to be funded from the 2019-20 Budget and the amounts for each consist of the Regional Events Scheme events provided in Tabled Paper #2 and the following Regional Events Program events:
· Cape to Cape $140 000
· Taste Great Southern $200 000
· Ord Valley Muster $550 000
· CinefestOz $450 000
· Shinju Matsuri $400 000
· Mandurah Crab Fest $140 000
· Truffle Kerfuffle $150 000
· Augusta Adventure Fest $75 000
The following six events will also be funded from the 2019-20 Budget, however, the major events industry is highly competitive and Western Australia competes with interstate and international destinations to secure them. Confidentiality of negotiations, contract terms and funding amounts is critical in order to maintain the Government’s ability to negotiate the best outcome for the State on future events. Accordingly, I will notify the Auditor General’s office and both houses of Parliament that this part of the question will not be answered as per Section 82 of the Financial Management Act 2006 .
· Margaret River Pro World Championship Tour
· Busselton Festival of Triathlon
· Ironman Western Australia
· Western Australia Gourmet Escape
· Australian Men’s Masters Hockey Championships
(2) (d) Regional Events Program (REP) funded events that have been supported in the past will continue to be funded, however, some that no longer meet the REP funding criteria, such as the Lancelin Ocean Classic, Gamex, Tour of Margaret River, and the Readers and Writers Festival, are being supported in 2019-20 through the Regional Events Scheme.
(2) (e) Each event is assessed when event organisers seek sponsorship funding. After a full assessment has been conducted Tourism Western Australia notifies the event organiser of the outcome.
(2) (f) This Government is proud to announce projects as being supported by the State Government, and does not try to suggest that there are two separate sources of money to fund projects as the previous Government did.
(3) An allocation for cruise ship tourism is contained in the Tourism Destination Development line item only, See Tabled Paper #3 for amounts.
(3) (a) Yes. Growing the cruise market is identified as a priority in the McGowan Government’s Two-Year Action Plan for Tourism Western Australia – 2018 and 2019 .
(3) (b) The Gascoyne Development Commission, as lead agency, is working across government to identify potential solutions for port infrastructure issues in Exmouth. Exmouth is one of Western Australia’s nine active port destinations that features in Tourism Western Australia’s cruise line attraction activities.
(4) (a) One year after launch, the Two-Year Action Plan for Tourism Western Australia – 2018 and 2019 has resulted in the latest International and National Visitor Survey figures for the year ending March 2019, confirming that:
· The combined international and interstate visitor numbers to Western Australia were the highest in history.
· The combined spend by international and interstate visitors was also the highest in history.
· Western Australia had the largest number of international holiday visitors (493,100 holidaymakers) in history, growing 9.3% compared to the previous year.
· International holiday visitor spend also reached a record high, growing 14.8% compared to the previous year.
· WA saw a growth in visitor numbers from seven markets in which Tourism WA is active: New Zealand (+7.4%), China (+12.4%), Germany (+0.8%), Indonesia (+9.5%), India (+8.8%), Japan (+1.8%) and Switzerland (+0.9%).
· Interstate visitors, nights and spend all increased compared to the previous year at a total (all purposes) level, and for holiday and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) specifically.
· WA's growth rate in interstate visitation was the highest of all States/Territories.
· WA's market share of interstate holiday visitors increased from 3.5% to 3.7% year on year.
· WA's market share of interstate holiday spend increased from 4.6% to 5.6% year on year.
· Intrastate visitors, nights and spend all increased compared to the previous year at a total level and for holiday and VFR.
The long-term tourism strategy will be finalised in the first quarter of 2020.
(4) (b) It is anticipated that information about a home-grown Perth Event will be announced by the end of the year. I have made public statements regarding the rescheduling of this event to 2020 on many occasions.
(4) (c) The budget is currently under development.
(4) (d) Event Tourism.
(1) (b) Once a commercial-in-confidence cooperative marketing agreement with an airline is developed KPIs relate to a set number of seats operated per annum and flight frequency levels.
(1) (c) No funds are allocated from Royalties for Regions.
(1) (d) The Perth-Kununurra route is currently being investigated. Discounted airfares on the Broome and Exmouth routes are not subsidised.
(2) See Tabled Paper #1. Budget Line Item 1 Development of Industry Sectors and Facilitate Investment falls out of the Minister for Tourism’s portfolio. This part of the question should be referred to the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade.
(2) (a) Major regional events in 2019-20 funded through Royalties for Regions (via the Regional Events Program) are:
· Cape to Cape
· Taste Great Southern
· Ord Valley Muster
· CinéfestOz Film Festival
· Shinju Matsuri Festival of the Pearl
· Mandurah Crab Fest
· Truffle Kerfuffle
· Augusta Adventure Fest
· Margaret River Pro World Championship Tour
· Busselton Festival of Triathlon
· Ironman Western Australia
· Western Australia Gourmet Escape
· Australian Men’s Masters Hockey Championships
Additionally, 66 smaller regional events are funded in 2019-20 through Royalties for Regions (via the Regional Events Scheme) - refer to Tabled Paper #2.
(2) (b) The Regional Events Program (not Regional Events Scheme) is now being funded through a new line item titled “Brand WA – Event Tourism”, which includes major regional events and events funded through the Regional Events Scheme. This initiative is part of the Government’s commitment of $40 million per annum for Event Tourism. Total 2019-20 funding will be $7.2 million which is made up of the $6.9 million “Brand WA – Event Tourism” and the $300 000 “Regional Events Program – Larger Events”. Tourism Western Australia undertakes a full assessment of each event proposal to ensure they meet the funding criteria and this will continue going forward.
(2) (c) Events to be funded from the 2019-20 Budget and the amounts for each consist of the Regional Events Scheme events provided in Tabled Paper #2 and the following Regional Events Program events:
· Cape to Cape $140 000
· Taste Great Southern $200 000
· Ord Valley Muster $550 000
· CinefestOz $450 000
· Shinju Matsuri $400 000
· Mandurah Crab Fest $140 000
· Truffle Kerfuffle $150 000
· Augusta Adventure Fest $75 000
The following six events will also be funded from the 2019-20 Budget, however, the major events industry is highly competitive and Western Australia competes with interstate and international destinations to secure them. Confidentiality of negotiations, contract terms and funding amounts is critical in order to maintain the Government’s ability to negotiate the best outcome for the State on future events. Accordingly, I will notify the Auditor General’s office and both houses of Parliament that this part of the question will not be answered as per Section 82 of the Financial Management Act 2006 .
· Margaret River Pro World Championship Tour
· Busselton Festival of Triathlon
· Ironman Western Australia
· Western Australia Gourmet Escape
· Australian Men’s Masters Hockey Championships
(2) (d) Regional Events Program (REP) funded events that have been supported in the past will continue to be funded, however, some that no longer meet the REP funding criteria, such as the Lancelin Ocean Classic, Gamex, Tour of Margaret River, and the Readers and Writers Festival, are being supported in 2019-20 through the Regional Events Scheme.
(2) (e) Each event is assessed when event organisers seek sponsorship funding. After a full assessment has been conducted Tourism Western Australia notifies the event organiser of the outcome.
(2) (f) This Government is proud to announce projects as being supported by the State Government, and does not try to suggest that there are two separate sources of money to fund projects as the previous Government did.
(3) An allocation for cruise ship tourism is contained in the Tourism Destination Development line item only, See Tabled Paper #3 for amounts.
(3) (a) Yes. Growing the cruise market is identified as a priority in the McGowan Government’s Two-Year Action Plan for Tourism Western Australia – 2018 and 2019 .
(3) (b) The Gascoyne Development Commission, as lead agency, is working across government to identify potential solutions for port infrastructure issues in Exmouth. Exmouth is one of Western Australia’s nine active port destinations that features in Tourism Western Australia’s cruise line attraction activities.
(4) (a) One year after launch, the Two-Year Action Plan for Tourism Western Australia – 2018 and 2019 has resulted in the latest International and National Visitor Survey figures for the year ending March 2019, confirming that:
· The combined international and interstate visitor numbers to Western Australia were the highest in history.
· The combined spend by international and interstate visitors was also the highest in history.
· Western Australia had the largest number of international holiday visitors (493,100 holidaymakers) in history, growing 9.3% compared to the previous year.
· International holiday visitor spend also reached a record high, growing 14.8% compared to the previous year.
· WA saw a growth in visitor numbers from seven markets in which Tourism WA is active: New Zealand (+7.4%), China (+12.4%), Germany (+0.8%), Indonesia (+9.5%), India (+8.8%), Japan (+1.8%) and Switzerland (+0.9%).
· Interstate visitors, nights and spend all increased compared to the previous year at a total (all purposes) level, and for holiday and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) specifically.
· WA's growth rate in interstate visitation was the highest of all States/Territories.
· WA's market share of interstate holiday visitors increased from 3.5% to 3.7% year on year.
· WA's market share of interstate holiday spend increased from 4.6% to 5.6% year on year.
· Intrastate visitors, nights and spend all increased compared to the previous year at a total level and for holiday and VFR.
The long-term tourism strategy will be finalised in the first quarter of 2020.
(4) (b) It is anticipated that information about a home-grown Perth Event will be announced by the end of the year. I have made public statements regarding the rescheduling of this event to 2020 on many occasions.
(4) (c) The budget is currently under development.
(4) (d) Event Tourism.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.