Talking Tourism

Your invitation to an exciting Tourism WA update

You are invited to join Tourism WA Managing Director Brodie Carr and the Tourism WA leadership team for an update on all of the exciting projects we currently have under way. The event will be held at Optus Stadium’s River View Room on August 15, from 4:30pm to 7pm. This event is also is a fantastic opportunity to network with Tourism WA staff. You will have the opportunity to learn more about Tourism WA’s $12m International Marketing Boost; our Narrative Project; our marketing campaigns; this year’s WA Gourmet Escape; recent and future events; destination development and aviation. We look forward to sharing this update and hearing your views on our current projects. Please RSVP by August 5 to Nancy Antoine.

Planning progresses for adventure tourism attractions

The State Government is calling on three shortlisted applicants to submit final plans to run Perth's newest attractions - the Matagarup Bridge climb, zip-line and Optus Stadium rooftop climb. The bridge climb potentially allows people to people to climb 314 steps to the bridge's highest point, some 60m above the Swan River. The Matagarup Bridge zip-line could offer thrillseekers the opportunity to travel 300m from the halfway point of the bridge to a platform on Burswood Peninsula via zipline. Plans for the Optus Stadium start with a 220-step climb to the top, followed by a 360-degree circumnavigation of the internal perimeter roof. For more information, read the Planning Minister’s media statement.

Singaporean travellers encouraged to hit the road in WA

Taking a road trip in a campervan to explore the stunning regions of Western Australia is just one of the experiences being promoted through a co-operative marketing campaign to attract Singaporean visitors to the State.The campaign is a partnership between Tourism Western Australia, and Chan Brothers Travel; a Singaporean travel agency.Targeted at families, couples and groups of friends, the campaign activity will run until June 2020. Prospective visitors will be tempted with new packages including itineraries spanning Perth and regional areas such as the Golden Outback, Coral Coast and the South-West.The campaign will also be promoted at travel fairs with a focus on Western Australia campervan packages. The campaign forms forms part of the $12 million international marketing boost to grow the number of people visiting WA from overseas. For more information, visit our corporate website.

All roads lead to WA in Singapore partnership campaign

Tourism Western Australia, has teamed up with Travix Travel Singapore to promote self-drive holidays in Perth and Margaret River to Singaporeans.The campaign runs until the end of June 2020 and encourages people to book trips to Western Australia over Singapore's long weekends, through Travix Travel Singapore's online travel agency, CheapTickets.sg. The campaign targets families interested in discovering WA's food and wine experiences, nature and outdoor activities, as well as exploring the city. It features social influencer Aarika Lee and her family on their self-drive adventure from Perth to Margaret River. The campaign is being rolled out across CheapTickets.sg's digital and social media platforms and forms part of the $12 million international marketing boost to grow the number of people visiting WA from overseas. For more information, visit our corporate website​.

More NRL for Perth following State of Origin success

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs will make Perth's HBF Park their temporary home for three matches over three seasons, following the sell-out success of the Tourism WA-sponsored State of Origin II match last month. That match brought 15,000 out-of-state visitors to WA, along with significant benefits to WA's tourism, hospitality and small business sectors.The State Government secured the three Bulldogs home games at HBF Park for the 2020-22 NRL premiership seasons. The Bulldogs are one of the most successful clubs in NRL history, with eight premierships and an estimated fan base of 355,000.  For more information, read the Sports Minister and Tourism Minister’s joint media statement.

East Kimberley luxury on show to New Zealanders

The spectacular East Kimberley outback has been showcased to New Zealanders through the country’s most widely read travel publication - NZ Herald Travel. The magazine’s deputy travel editor Stephanie Holmes attended the Australian Tourism Exchange in Perth earlier this year and explored El Questro Wilderness Park and the Berkley River Lodge as part of her familiarisation program. NZ Herald Travel has a weekly readership of 284,000 and 50 per cent of the audience is looking to take an international holiday in the next 12 months. Read the full regional article here. A “room check” article for Berkeley River Lodge was also published.

Australia’s Coral Coast finds Insta-fame

Australia's Coral Coast will be a feature destination in Tourism Australia’s ‘You Decide’ Instagram Stories project next week. Selected tourism operators will feature in the stories, which showcase the Ningaloo area, including experiences on the land, in the water, and its dining and accommodation offerings. The project gives Insta-fans the opportunity to vote on what experience they would like to see next, as a week of content unfolds via the @Australia Instagram Stories platform. Industry is encouraged to tune in to vote for your fellow tourism operators. Featured operators include @austrailascoralcoast, @liveningaloo, @ningalooecologycruises, @diveningaloo, @ycbt, @whalebonebrewing, and @salsalisningaloo. See this video for more information.

Karalundi camping park launches new brand

Karalundi Caravan and Camping Park, located 58km north of Meekatharra off the Great Northern Highway, has launched a new brand and now welcomes large groups for camps and retreats in the adjoining former Karalundi College. A 15-bed community house, shared dormitory for 15-60 guests, large communal kitchen, dining room and conference room for up to 100 guests, class rooms, a cafe, and recreational facilities complement the new-look Karalundi. Karalundi is owned and operated by the Karalundi Aboriginal Education Community in Meekatharra and has received assistance and support from Tourism WA though the Aboriginal Tourism Development Initiative program, funded by Indigenous Business Australia, City of Perth, Tourism WA and managed by the WA Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC).

Western Australia promoted in Japan

Tourism Australia, Tourism Western Australia and Asahi Digital and Travel have produced a content partnership campaign featuring WA. Asahi Digital and Travel, the second largest publisher in Japan based on circulation, has published three articles following a recent media familiarisation trip to Western Australia. The latest article, published last week, features WA’s unique fauna and flora including quokkas, black swans, kangaroos, sea lions, banksias and kangaroo paws. The article also promotes ANA’s new direct flight service to Perth to be launched in September as well as other available current air services through a comprehensive route map.

Rotto visitor numbers reach record high

Rottnest Island has recorded a record number of visitors in 2018-19, with numbers jumping to 785,002 - a 6.9 per cent increase on numbers recorded in 2017-18. The result represents a remarkable 21 per cent increase in visitor numbers over the past two years, following the State Government’s introduction of a third ferry operator. The Rottnest Island Authority's bicycle hire operation, Pedal and Flipper, also recorded its best year in 2018-19 with a growth of 13 per cent on the previous year. The local and international appeal of the 'quokka selfie' has seen the island's Instagram account followers grow by 49.2 per cent in 2018-19 to about 91,000. For more information read the Tourism Minister’s media statement.