Media Releases

Tourism Call to ‘Bring ‘Em Here for Christmas This Year’

8 December 2020

The tourism industry is calling on Western Australians to bring their family and friends from around Australia to WA over Christmas. With most interstate travel to WA resuming, now is the perfect time to treat interstate friends and family with a Christmas stay in WA. 

“Throughout 2020, our family and friends from across the country have faced lockdowns and restrictions. It’s now time to celebrate the festive season together, and there’s no better way to do it than reuniting here in WA,” Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said.

Border Opening Ends Uncertainty for Tourism

7 December 2020

Tourism Council WA has welcomed the announcement today by the Premier that Western Australia will reopen its borders with New South Wales from midnight tonight.

Chief Executive Officer Evan Hall said today’s announcement by the Premier ended the uncertainty that tourism operators had been experiencing and set a good precedent for the future.

Time to Compete for NSW and VIC Visitors

1 December 2020

Tourism Council WA has welcomed the announcement today by the Premier that Western Australia will remove the quarantine requirement for visitors from New South Wales and Victoria from December 8.

Chief Executive Officer Evan Hall said the date announcement would provide certainty for tourism businesses to take bookings, and for visitors intending to travel to WA. 

Tourism Industry Backs Contact Register

25 November 2020

Tourism Council WA has welcomed today’s announcement by the State Government of the SafeWA contact registration system for tourism and hospitality businesses.

Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said the contact register was a necessary tool to help reduce community risk while keeping businesses open and maintaining jobs.

“Tourism Council WA commends the State Government on the introduction of the contact register and State-wide QR code system,” Mr Hall said.

Controlled Interstate Border Gives Certainty for Tourism

30 October 2020

Tourism Council WA has welcomed the announcement today by the Premier that Western Australia will open its interstate border to several states on November 14. The new arrangements will provide tourism businesses with certainty to recruit staff, take bookings and open next year. 

Chief Executive Officer Evan Hall said the industry supported the State Government’s gradual and cautious approach to the recommencement of interstate travel.

Western Australians Support Safe Border Easing

27 October 2020

Independent polling commissioned by Tourism Council WA shows seventy per cent of Western Australians support setting a tentative date for easing the State’s hard border, and the same amount support opening to States with low or zero transmission of COVID-19. 

Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said the polling showed there was strong community support for opening Western Australia’s border to COVID-safe States.

Tourism Budget Welcome but Border Assumption Costly

8 October 2020

Tourism Council WA has welcomed the increased tourism funding announced in today's State budget, but warned the tourism industry would face a $3 billion loss if Treasury assumptions about the State's border closure became reality.

Tourism funding will increase by approximately $12 million to $133 million in 2021-21, including an additional $9 million to boost regional aviation.

Industry Welcomes WA Government’s Flights Deal

5 October 2020

Tourism Council WA has welcomed today’s announcement from the State Government of the delivery of a regional flight deal for Western Australia.

The State Government’s partnership with Virgin Australia and Qantas will see 50,000 discounted tickets to Broome, Kununurra, and Exmouth go on sale.

Tourism Grant Announcement Welcome

4 October 2020

Tourism Council WA has welcomed today’s announcement from the State Government of the delivery of the Tourism Survival Grants. 

The Grants will provide funding to tourism businesses which require much-needed support due to the impact of COVID-19 restrictions.

Tourism Council CEO Evan Hall said that the grants would help businesses which relied upon a high volume of inbound visitors from interstate and overseas to be sustained. 

WA Domestic Tourism Down 26% in July

2 October 2020

WA domestic tourism lost $214 million, a decline of 26 per cent, in the month of July 2020 compared with July 2019 figures, the latest national visitor survey results reveal. 

While intrastate visitor spending grew by $72 million, this was not enough to compensate for the $286 million lost from the lack of interstate visitors. This does not include the $193 million lost from the lack of international visitors.