Talking Tourism

All systems go for first direct ANA flight from Tokyo

Perth is gearing up to welcome its first planeload of visitors on the inaugural All Nippon Airways (ANA) direct flight service from Tokyo, due to touch down in Perth around 8:15pm this Sunday. The historic ANA flight - the first to fly direct between Perth and Japan since 2011 - is fully booked with 184 passengers. A joint campaign between Tourism WA, Tourism Australia and ANA featuring Japanese pop sensation "Nissy", has been promoted on multiple media platforms in Japan and includes popular WA landmarks such as the Pinnacles, Kings Park, Rottnest Island, Fremantle and the Swan Valley.The importance of the new route to WA’s tourism sector and for trade and investment was discussed at a special forum in Perth last week attended by Tourism Minister Paul Papalia and ANA Managing Director Ryo Sadayuki. Read more on our corporate website.

Results in on WA's visitor experience

Ever wondered what people think about their holiday in Western Australia, and whether it measures up to their expectations? To answer these and other questions, Tourism WA undertakes an annual research project to better understand visitor experiences in our state. The research also covers visitor motivations and measures interest and participation in Aboriginal tourism experiences. The latest Visitor Experience and Expectations Research (VEER) results for 2018-19 revealed visitors continued to be very satisfied with their WA holidays, with almost all (99 per cent) rating their experience positively. More than half (53 per cent) said their WA holiday surpassed their expectations. To read the full report, visit our corporate website.

Stanley Johnson’s Ningaloo adventure reaches millions

An article by Stanley Johnson for the UK’s Daily Mail, documenting his dream trip to Ningaloo, has reached more than 6 million people online. Stanley, the father of British PM Boris Johnson, is a British author and former politician. Tourism WA supported his trip to WA earlier this month to promote WA’s attractions to UK audiences. The article details Johnson's experience swimming with whale sharks and sipping Margaret River merlot at the Sal Salis safari camp, swimming amongst manta rays at Coral Bay, the rock-wallabies at Cape Range National Park and his 'quokka selfie' at Rottnest. The hard copy of the Mail Online article ran across three pages and reached more than one million readers. Read the article here.

Travel agents trained on wonders of a WA working holiday

Forty five STA Travel agents have been brought up to speed on the wonders of a WA working holiday at an event organised by Tourism Australia at London Zoo. The agents were briefed on popular touring routes within WA, such as the Coral Coast Highway and Great South West Edge as well as stand-out experiences such as swimming with whale sharks and meeting the quokkas on Rottnest. Tourism WA regularly partners with STA Travel, the UK’s biggest youth tour operator, to target potential working holiday makers who travel for extended periods.

City of Joondalup features on Destination WA

TV series Destination WA recently travelled to the City of Joondalup to experience some of its winter gems, from the pristine coastline to stunning parks and natural areas. Host Carmen Braidwood experienced some of the region’s iconic attractions, including taking a stroll at Hillarys Boat Harbour, enjoying a meal at Swell Café at Mullaloo Beach and exploring Neil Hawkins Park, located at the edge of Joondalup’s city centre. View this and other stories from the Destination WA series here.

AHA Accommodation Awards winners announced

The winners of the 2019 Accommodation Awards for Excellence were announced at the Devil’s Lair Gala Ball on Monday night, celebrating the state’s leading hotel venues and staff. The Australian Hotels Association Perth Airport Accommodation Awards for Excellence recognised WA’s best accommodation hotel venues and management staff across 25 categories. Peter Prendiville was the 2019 Hall of Fame inductee while Crown Towers was WA’s Best Accommodation Hotel and The Westin won WA’s Best New Accommodation Hotel. For all winners, visit AHA’s website.

Have your say on tourism growth in Perth Hills

The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is inviting the local community to share thoughts and ideas to help develop a sustainability and tourism strategy for Pickering Brook and the Perth Hills. Tourism WA, along with the City of Armadale and City of Kalamunda, is assisting with the initiative, which will provide strategic planning guidance for tourism-related growth within the Perth Hills. The Pickering Brook and Surrounds Sustainability and Tourism Strategy is now accessible via the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage website.  Members of the public are able to book meetings and take an online survey through the website or can contact the Department via email.

New campaign encouraging you to Spring into Parks

Western Australia’s national parks will be showcased this September and October with the WA Parks Foundation’s new campaign ‘Spring into Parks’. From guided bushwalking to stargazing, yoga in the park, camping, wildlife experiences and live music in nature, the campaign will celebrate Western Australia’s 101 national parks and 17 marine parks, and the many ways visitors can explore parks across the state. The campaign will launch with a family fun day at Walpole’s Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk this Sunday, September 1. For more information on Spring into Parks or to find an event near you, head to the WA Parks Foundation website.

Dredging begins at Port of Broome to improve access

A significant milestone in the bid to open the Port of Broome to cruise ships around the clock was reached this week with dredging work beginning as part of the $15.3 million channel optimisation program. The dredging involves removing a rock mass that has impeded access to the Port, to improve navigation and allow 24-hour access for cruise ships.  The work will be complete in time for the arrival of the first cruise ships for the 2019-20 season in mid-October this year. The dredging of the Port of Broome is expected to be a game-changer for cruise tourism in Broome, providing the ability for major cruise lines to spend longer in port and their guests able to spend more time ashore, supporting local businesses and enjoying the significant attractions of the region.  Read more on our corporate website.

Rottnest Island Management Plan open for public comment

The draft of the latest Rottnest Island Management Plan (RIMP) has been released for public comment. The RIMP 2020-24, which will begin operating on January 1, 2020 and end on December 31, 2024, encapsulates Rottnest Island Authority's approach to managing the island and its associated waters. It also sets out Rottnest Island Authority's priorities for the next five years. The plan’s key initiatives reflect an ongoing commitment to sustainability principles in all aspects of the island's management and signal a renewed focus on the island's heritage, in particular the Wadjemup Aboriginal Burial Ground and the former Aboriginal Prison (the Quod). Public submissions close on October 25, 2019 and can be made at the Rottnest Island Authority website.