Media Releases

Host Town Selected for 2019 WA Regional Tourism Conference

20 February 2019

Organisers of the WA Tourism Conference are pleased to announce the 2019 event will be held in Karratha on September 16 - 18. 

Following a competitive tender process, the City of Karratha was awarded the event in recognition of its significant commitment to growing the region’s tourism capacity and offering. 

“We’re excited to bring the 2019 WA Regional Tourism Conference to a town with such ambition to grow its tourism industry,” Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said.

Tourism Industry Welcomes Expansion of Conservation Estate

20 February 2019

Tourism Council WA has welcomed today’s announcement by the State Government that WA’s conservation estate will be increased by 20 per cent by 2023-24. 

Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said the announcement would cement WA’s reputation as a high-value nature-based tourism destination.

“Already, Western Australia is renowned for its magnificent natural assets and unique nature-based tourism experiences,” he said.

Tourism Industry Calls for Consistent State-Wide Standard in Accommodation

13 February 2019

Tourism Council WA has called for changes to the short-stay accommodation sector to ensure fair competition across the market and maintain visitor expenditure and tourism jobs across WA.

Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall today appeared before the Parliamentary Inquiry into Short-Stay Accommodation to represent the views of the tourism industry.

Tourism Council WA research shows that by and large, residential properties on Airbnb do not increase visitation to Western Australia.

Tourism welcomes lobster deal

8 February 2019

Tourism Council WA has welcomed today’s announcement by the Fisheries Minister that an agreement has been reached to increase the sustainable lobster catch by 315 tonnes, primarily for use in WA.

Growth Fund Needed to Stop Tourism Jobs Losses

9 January 2019

Tourism Council WA has called on the State Government to compete with other States by establishing a Tourism Jobs Growth Fund to arrest a continual decline in visitor expenditure which has already resulted in the loss of more than 1,000 jobs across WA.

The International Visitor Survey results for the twelve months to September 2018, released today, reveal expenditure by international visitors to Western Australia fell by 7%, or $166 million.

Lobster reforms to catch foodie tourists

8 December 2018

Tourism Council WA has welcomed the announcement by the Fisheries Minister which expands sustainable rock lobster catch and increases lobster supplies for locals and tourists.

Under the changes, the sustainable catch will be increased from 6,300 tonnes to 8,000 tonnes, with part of the increase being retained in WA to boost supplies for visiting tourists and locals.

New Museum a Tourism Drawcard

4 December 2018

WA’s new museum will be a significant tourism attraction for the state, providing a compelling experience for many visitors who will stay longer to visit the new museum.

“Tourist visitors to the Museum’s unique collections would be staying longer and spending more in WA, which will create jobs in retail, hospitality and accommodation,” Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said.

The tourism industry is working with the WA Museum to create value-added experiences from behind-the-scenes tours through to a ‘sleep-over’ night at the new museum.

WA tourism needs retail reform

28 November 2018

Tourism Council WA supports calls from the business community for the deregulation of shopping hours in line with other States to meet the expectations and needs of visitors.

In 2017-18, international visitors to Australia spent $3.8 billion exclusively on retail shopping. Visitors also go shopping for pleasure, with 77% of international visitors to Australia, and up to 86% of visitors from China, undertaking shopping for pleasure during their trip.

New Rottnest Island experiences welcomed by Tourism Council

26 November 2018

Tourism Council WA has welcomed the announcement today of eight new tourism experiences for Rottnest Island, which will attract more visitors to the island and encourage people to stay longer.

The new experiences include helmet diving tours; glass bottom sea kayaking tours; sunset and whale watching catamaran tours; a mobile café; and catch-and-cook seafood experiences.

Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said it was great to see a new approach to activities on the island.

Man United to attract thousands to WA

21 November 2018

Tourism Council WA anticipates today’s announcement that Manchester United will play in Perth in July 2019 will attract more than 10,000 visitors to Western Australia for the two matches.

English Premier League team Manchester United will play Perth Glory on July 13, 2019, followed by a match against Leeds United Football Club on July 17, 2019, both at Optus Stadium.