Media Releases

JobKeeper for Seasonal Tourism Staff Welcomed

7 August 2020

Following advocacy by Tourism Council WA, the Federal Government has announced a revision to the proposed JobKeeper extension which will include seasonal tourism workers which started after March 1 and before 1 July, if the business is eligible for the program.

Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said the amendment was a huge win for seasonal tourism businesses in northern Western Australia.

Host Town Selected for 2021 WA Regional Tourism Conference

6 August 2020

Organisers of the WA Tourism Conference are pleased to announce the 2021 event will be held in Geraldton on May 3 – 5 and will be supported by new naming rights sponsor Perth Airport.

Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said Geraldton had been awarded the event in recognition of its commitment to recovering as a regional tourism destination and growing its appeal to international, interstate and local WA visitors. 

Tourism Industry Experiences Significant Decline

3 August 2020

Tourism Council WA’s latest industry survey reveals that despite a busy school holidays in many towns and regions, tourism business activity across WA declined 26 per cent in June and July compared with the same time last year.

Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said that since the regional borders had been removed, many Western Australians had been travelling and supporting tourism businesses, but this had not made up for business usually coming from interstate and international markets.

Roadmap to Open Interstate Borders Needed

17 June 2020

Tourism Council WA is calling on the Commonwealth and State Governments to establish a clear roadmap with anticipated dates for welcoming interstate visitors back to WA and recommencing business, cultural and sporting events. 

A roadmap with anticipated dates will enable the WA tourism industry to take flexible bookings and retain jobs and allow for large-scale events to be scheduled.

“Each day without interstate visitors, Western Australia loses 42 jobs,” Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said.

Attractions & Experiences to Open in Phase 3

29 May 2020

Today’s announcement of the lifting of many restrictions prohibiting tourism businesses from operating has been welcomed by Tourism Council WA.

Tourism Council WA has been working closely with the State Government to advocate for restrictions impacting tourism businesses to be eased alongside eased travel restrictions.

“Today represents a great step forward for WA’s tourism industry and will result in a significant opening up of tourism attractions and experiences across WA,” Mr Hall said.

Tourism Recovery Fund a Much-Needed Lifeline

13 May 2020

Tourism Council WA has welcomed the State Government’s announcement today of a $14.4 million tourism funding package which will provide one-off grants to tourism businesses.

Tourism Council WA has been calling for cash flow assistance for tourism businesses which have fallen through the cracks of other Government assistance measures.

Revive WA Tourism by Booking Local

12 May 2020

Western Australians will be encouraged to start ticking off their WA bucket list and book direct to help revive the State’s tourism industry through Tourism Council WA’s Holiday in WA campaign, which recommences today. 

“With a roadmap to reopen intrastate travel now laid out, Western Australians will soon be able to get back out and explore all that the State has to offer,” Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said.

Industry Welcomes Roadmap to Reopening Tourism

10 May 2020

Tourism Council WA has welcomed today’s announcement by the State Government of a roadmap to lift COVID-19 travel restrictions which will allow some intrastate tourism to recommence from next week. 

Tourism Council WA Evan Hall said the changes to travel restrictions in Phase 2 would be a lifeline for tourism businesses affected, particularly in the South West as people from Perth start to head south. 

30,500 Jobs and $3.1b Lost From Cancelled WA Holidays

23 April 2020

The tourism industry has lost $3.1 billion and more than 30,000 jobs as six months’ worth of bookings were cancelled, and refunds paid to customers, following regional WA travel restrictions. 

“Tourism operators have not just lost three weeks of trade since regional travel restrictions were implemented, they immediately lost six months’ worth of bookings as people were encouraged to cancel their holiday plans,” Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said.

WA’s Record $11b Tourism Industry Must Survive

8 April 2020

The latest International and National Visitor Survey results, released today, show visitors in WA spent a record $11 billion in 2019, an increase of 15 per cent on the previous year.

These are the most recent results available and precede the impact of bushfires and coronavirus on the tourism industry.

With the restrictions on gatherings and international, interstate and intrastate travel, WA’s $11 billion tourism industry, which employs 108,000 Western Australians, is now on hold.