WAVES 2033: New 10-year roadmap for tourism industry launched today 
The Western Australian Visitor Economy Strategy 2033 (WAVES 2033) has been released today. The 10-year strategy categorises growth opportunities and key initiatives for the WA tourism industry into six goal areas:  Aboriginal Tourism, Accommodation and Attractions, Aviation, Destination Brand, Events, and High Performing Industry. WAVES 2033 will be implemented across Government, led by Tourism WA and in close collaboration with other government agencies. Delivery will be aligned with the Strategy’s guiding principles to be sustainable, inclusive, collaborative, and innovative. View WAVES 2033 here.

Registrations open for Tourism WA Regional Roadshows
In partnership with WA’s five Regional Tourism Organisations, Tourism WA will be delivering a Regional Roadshow across five locations state-wide between February and April, to share key industry updates and engage with tourism operators, industry bodies, local government, and other key stakeholders. The Roadshows present an opportunity for attendees to gain current insights on global and domestic trends, as well as on Tourism WA’s upcoming priorities, campaigns, and initiatives. Attendees will also have the chance to share valuable insights from your region in a collaborative workshop environment. Register your attendance for Australia’s Golden Outback, South West, North West and Coral Coast (limited places remaining). Stay tuned for Destination Perth details soon.

Western Australia to host Wallabies vs Springboks in August 2024
Western Australia will be in the international sporting spotlight once again after securing a Rugby Championship showdown between the Wallabies and South Africa's Springboks. The blockbuster match is set to take place at the award-winning Optus Stadium later this year and is expected to attract thousands of out-of-state visitors and generate millions of dollars for the local economy. This announcement further enhances WA's reputation and legacy in hosting world-class sporting events, building on the recent rush of rugby fever following the HSBC SVNS Perth 2024 tournament hosted at Perth's HBF Park. Find out more here. 

New Cabinet Committee to enhance tourism investment in WA
The WA Government has announced the establishment of a new Tourism Investment Committee of Cabinet. The new Committee will focus on providing strategic guidance and oversight of all major tourism attractions and infrastructure investment proposals, as well as on strengthening collaboration and coordination across agencies to drive timely delivery of approvals through Government processes. The Committee will also identify and removing barriers to tourism investment; investigate potential legislative reforms to elevate and expedite Government approvals and investment decisions; and identify new and existing, Ministerially-endorsed tourism infrastructure investment projects.  Read more here. 

Tourism WA represents Australia at FESPO in Zurich
Tourism WA exclusively represented Australia at the annual FESPO travel show in Zurich, attended by 42,000 Swiss visitors. WA has the highest market share of visiting Swiss holidaymakers out of any Australian state, many of whom spend at least four weeks in WA at a time. Taking an iconic Aussie road trip is a popular activity among Swiss visitors, particularly from Perth to Darwin, and along the Gibb River Road. Over four eventful days, Tourism WA representatives answered eager Swiss travellers’ questions about planning their trip to WA. Find out more about the Continental Europe market here. 

Australia’s South West is hiring
Australia’s South West (ASW) is looking for an Independent Board Chairperson who will guide ASW to new heights in tourism and destination management. As the peak tourism body for the South West region of Western Australia, ASW’s objective is to build the region into one of the top performing destinations in Australia for the leisure market. Applications close 29 February. Find out more and apply here. 

Tourism boost with extension of historic Whiteman Park tramway
Whiteman Park’s heritage tram line is set to be extended to the new METRONET Whiteman Park Train Station. The tramway is an iconic piece of Perth's history and its extension to the new train station will provide a unique way for local and international tourists to access Whiteman Park and boost visitor numbers to the park. Once, open, free tram rides will be provided until the end of 2025. Read more here. 

Tourism WA attends TravMedia's IMM North America in New York City 
Tourism WA proudly showcased Western Australia at TravMedia's International Media Marketplace (IMM), North America in New York City. The annual conference is the leading global conference for top travel journalists, editors, influencers and broadcasters to gain valuable insights from the industry's most influential leaders. During the annual event, Tourism WA met with more than 40 US media from outlets including Esquire, Travel + Leisure, AFAR, Condé Nast Traveler, NatGeo, Washington Post, WSJ, BBC, CNN, and others. Find out more about our US market here. 

Canada’s Chief Frank Antoine to present at Global Sustainable Tourism Summit
Chief Frank Antoine of the Bonaparte First Nation, Canada, will speak at Ecotourism Australia’s inaugural Global Sustainable Tourism Summit in Brisbane/Meeanjin in June. Chief Antoine was a standout speaker at the 2023 World Indigenous Tourism Summit held in Perth.  The theme of this year’s Global Sustainable Tourism Summit will be ‘People, Planet, Place, Purpose’ and the program features a wide range of international perspectives, innovative best practices and practical insights on topics across the four pillars of sustainability. Tourism operators, destinations, government representatives and industry stakeholders can learn more about the future of sustainable tourism and how to further progress on their sustainability journey. Find out more here. 

Grants to assist local businesses to expand into Asian markets
The WA Government's Access Asia Business Grants (AABG) program is now open for applications. Grants of up to $30,000 are available from a total pool of $360,000 and must fall under at least one of the Diversify WA priority sectors, one of which is tourism. Recipients can use AABG funding for activities including scoping new supply chains, developing export plans, gathering in-market intelligence to capture new opportunities and developing new marketing collateral for Asian markets. Applications close on 15 March 2024. Find out more here. 

Next Week’s Perth Workshops
Tourism Council WA is delivering two workshops in Perth next week. The Understanding Target Markets: Interstate & International workshop will help you understand key interstate and international markets for your region and how to best reach your audience. Take part in the Using Social Media & Customer Service to Improve the Customer Journey workshop to understand booking lead times and travel times, and how key distribution partners can help promote your business. Click here to learn more.

Sustainable Tourism Forum Registrations Close Soon
Don’t miss out on Tourism Council WA’s inaugural Sustainable Tourism Forum, to be held on February 27. The event will include presentations from a range of speakers, covering topics including market insights and customer expectations around sustainable tourism; expert advice on reducing emissions and improving sustainability; practical tools to assess and improve business sustainability; case studies from businesses on their sustainability journey. Click here to learn more.