Milan and Roma to go head-to-head in Perth football frenzy
Perth will host AC Milan and AS Roma, two of Italy’s most popular men’s football clubs, in an Asia Pacific exclusive blockbuster match at Optus Stadium on 31 May 2024. The match provides the rare opportunity for fans to see the two Serie A teams play live and will be the only match to be played in Australia by both teams in 2024. The two teams have a strong Australian fan base, and thousands of out-of-state visitors are expected to travel to Perth to watch the blockbuster match. Find out more here. 

Image credit: Soco Studios

Tourism WA’s Invited Aboriginal Artist showcasing at Sculpture by the Sea
Tourism WA and Sculpture by the Sea recently announced a new Aboriginal Artistic Program to bring the oldest living culture to one of WA’s most popular beaches. Acclaimed Nyoongar artist Sharyn Egan has been named the 2024 Tourism WA Invited Aboriginal Artist as part of the new program, which has been launched to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the annual beachside exhibition. Sharyn will showcase a major piece of public engaging participatory art, ‘Balga Boola – Bigsmob Balga’. Throughout the exhibition, the visiting public are invited to join Sharyn in weaving the fronds on the Balga trees and her piece will also be featured in two sunset Aboriginal dance performances. Find out more here. 

Image credit: Michael Goh

Western Australia takes over Luxury Escapes
Tourism WA recently partnered with Luxury Escapes on a three-week campaign to drive interstate visitors to WA. The tactical campaign included a takeover of Luxury Escapes’ flagship Chadstone Shopping Centre store in Melbourne, with aspirational visuals on the in-store screens, a WA-themed archway and a launch event showcasing premium WA seafood and wines, as well as a panel of experts sharing their WA experiences including TV Sport and Travel Presenter Abbey Holmes. The campaign was also promoted by travel influencer Holly Kingston, and on Luxury Escapes’ website, social media, and YouTube. Learn more here. 

Tourism WA set to host Exmouth cruise workshop
Tourism WA is hosting a ‘Welcoming Cruise Guests to the West Workshop’ in Exmouth on Thursday, 14 March 2024. This free event will benefit those who interact with cruise guests, by providing insights into the skills that ensure cruise passengers have a memorable visit. Topics range from understanding cruise line expectations, to providing interesting commentary and storytelling for passengers. The workshop will be delivered by Cherie Toovey, President, Tour Guides WA in partnership with the Exmouth Chamber of Commerce and is a must for local tourism attractions, tour guides, volunteers, and others. Register your attendance here.

$2 million boost for South West businesses
Businesses in the South West can now apply for grants as part of the final round of the Community Small Grants Fund (CSGF). Grants of up to $100,000 are available, and form part of the WA Government’s support for businesses after the decision to end commercial native logging. The first round of CSGF provided 27 small businesses and community groups with almost $2 million in funding. Successful projects included a new luxury glamping experience in Nannup, and an upgrade to the Manjimup Speedway Club. Applications close on April 24. Read more here.  

Calling hotel and visitor information centre workers
The 2024 Perth Tourism Expo is back, this year at Parmelia Hilton Perth on Monday, 25 March. The event connects hotel and visitor information centre staff with tourism operators from around Perth in a fast-paced speed networking format. This half day event provides hotel and visitor information centre staff with the material to stay well-informed and to impress guests with what’s on offer in Perth. Hotel and visitor centre staff can register here. 

Discover latest insights with member webinars
Tourism businesses can gain an understanding of the latest market insights, updating their terms and conditions for 2024 and other valuable information by attending Tourism Council WA’s regular member webinars. Find out more here.

Sustainable Tourism Forum videos available
Tourism Council WA’s Sustainable Tourism Forum last week included a series of presentations which are available to view now. The presentations covered market insights and customer expectations around sustainable tourism; expert advice on reducing emissions and improving sustainability; practical tools to assess and improve business sustainability; and case studies from businesses on their sustainability journey. Videos of the presentations can be viewed here.  

Tourism Emissions Reduction Program launches
An easy-to-use online emissions reduction tool designed for small and medium tourism businesses was launched last week by Tourism Council WA. The tool is part of the Tourism Emissions Reduction Program, which allows tourism businesses to undertake an online emissions assessment and develop a bespoke emissions reduction plan. Tourism businesses can then indicate their commitment to improving their sustainability to visitors by displaying their waste and emission reduction measures via a link or QR code on their website. Find out more here.

Registrations open for Kununurra workshops
Registrations are now open for Tourism Council WA’s Kununurra workshops on March 19. The Understanding Target Markets: Interstate & International workshop will teach businesses how to target the right demographic for their sales channel and discover methods that will increase conversion and revenue. The Using Social Media & Customer Service to Improve the Customer Journey workshop will help businesses identify the key digital stages in the customer journey and how to effectively manage and influence them. Find out more here.