Media Releases

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.

Be Kind These School Holidays

28 September 2020

Tourism Council WA is encouraging Western Australians to be kind to tourism operators and their staff these school holidays, as businesses face challenges impacting their ability to operate at capacity. 

Tourism businesses across WA are preparing to welcome visitors these school holidays while operating under capacity restraints and without the previous volume of working holiday makers who would usually pick up some of the load. 

New Resort to Inject $30m into Regional Tourism

27 September 2020

Tourism Council WA has welcomed the release of the first look at a sustainable resort north of Exmouth, which will provide world-class accommodation and amenity to visitors.

Through Tattarang’s Ningaloo Lighthouse Project, an existing Exmouth caravan park will be transformed into a low-impact resort, with a mix of accommodation options and facilities including restaurants and bars, swimming pools, and recreation and boating facilities. 

Industry Welcomes ‘A million reasons to Wander out Yonder’ Initiative

17 September 2020

Tourism Council WA has welcomed today's announcement by the State Government of 'A million reasons to Wander out Yonder' to encourage Western Australians to experience more of the State like a tourist.  

'A million reasons to Wander out Yonder', available from Monday, will provide ten thousand $100 vouchers to members of the public to use on tours and experiences across WA.

Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said the initiative was great news for tourism operators which were struggling due to the impact of COVID-19 restrictions.