New homegrown event to showcase best of the South West
WA’s South West will soon host a vibrant new homegrown festival supported by Tourism WA and delivered by Mellen Events and We are Gather. Pair’d Margaret River Region will take place from 14 - 17 November 2024, highlighting the region’s wine and food paired with music and other entertainment. It’s set to feature a mix of events in iconic Margaret River destinations and wineries, and highlight some of the region’s world-renowned chefs, winemakers and sommeliers. Read more here.

Innovative new arts festival coming to Perth this winter
A new winter arts and cultural festival will take over Northbridge this July, activating multiple spaces in a celebration of creativity and urban exploration. RE//Perth will run during the school holidays, from 4 - 14 July, with a hero production running from 2 - 27 July. Its varied program will feature bespoke dining experiences, live entertainment and performances, sustainable fashion activations, kids activities and a flagship large-scale production. The festival will be delivered by ARTRAGE, known for producing the annual FRINGE WORLD festival. Read more here.

Image credit: City of Perth

Collie to host national mountain biking championships
Australia's South West is set to host the annual AusCycling Mountain Bike Enduro National Championships from 2024 - 2026. For the first time, the event will be held at the Collie Town Mountain Bike Trails, with over 1,000 riders expected to compete on trails through towering jarrah forests, steep valleys and meandering rivers. Thousands of visitors are anticipated to flock to the four-day event, injecting valuable tourism and hospitality dollars into the region. Read more here.

Image credit: Frances Andrijich

Jamba Nyinayi Festival featured in
The Guardian
Tourism WA has secured media coverage for Jamba Nyinayi Festival, following a hosted media visit for the event from 11 - 13 April 2024. On-site with Hazel Walgar, a Baiyungu Traditional Owner and cultural director of the event, the article focuses on the unique two-day camping festival offering workshops, singing, dancing and campfire yarns on Cardabia Station in the Ningaloo (Nyinggulu) region. The Guardian has a monthly audience of 6.4 million readers in Australia. Read the article here.

Swan Valley Tourism Planning Strategy workshop
Tourism WA invites Swan Valley tourism operators to a workshop to learn about the agency’s vision for the future of tourism in the Swan Valley. Tourism WA is supporting the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage in developing a Swan Valley Tourism Planning Strategy, to guide sustainable tourism development and address potential changes to the planning framework to better facilitate tourism outcomes. This workshop will also include sharing recent consumer research and offering insights into the perspectives of visitors. Register here.

South West Edge Trail Tourism research released
Amid the growing interest in trail tourism, Tourism WA recently commissioned local agency Concepts2Strategy to develop a Trail Tourism Experience Opportunities Report. The document informs industry and stakeholders of trail tourism experiences along the South West Edge – a drive trail that links the Perth, Peel, South West, Great Southern and Esperance regions. The South West Edge Trail Tourism Experience Opportunities Research is now live on the Tourism WA corporate website. Read more here.

Tourism WA launches domestic segmentation model
Tourism WA has launched a new domestic trip-based segmentation model to help the industry identify, understand, and reach potential target markets. The model is broken down into six main types of trips that Australians take when travelling within the country for a holiday or short leisure break. It is based on data analysis of more than 6,500 trips as reported by 3,500 Australian residents. Learn about the six trip types, and the profile of people who take those trips, here.

Malaysia and Singapore Roadshow EOI now open 
WA tourism businesses are encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest for the upcoming Tourism WA Malaysia and Singapore Roadshow. Taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Singapore from 21 - 26 July, the roadshow is aimed at tourism businesses interested in gaining a better understanding of the Malaysian and Singaporean market, showcasing their product to key buyers from the leisure and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sectors, and establishing commercial business relationships with Malaysian and Singaporean buyers. Expression of interest registrations close at 5pm AWST Friday, 10 May 2024. Register here.

Collie and Dwellingup recognised as world-class trail towns
Collie and Dwellingup have earned Trail Town accreditation from Trails WA on the back of significant investment in mountain bike trails. The designation, created by Trails WA in conjunction with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, is awarded to towns that satisfy a range of criteria, including landscape and setting, trail quality, and tourism services and infrastructure. Collie and Dwellingup boast more than 250 kilometres of mountain bike trails between them. Read more here.

Budget Breakfast with the Tourism Minister
Join Tourism Council WA for a State Budget Tourism Review breakfast event on Wednesday, 15 May and hear from Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism, Hon. Rita Saffioti MLA, who will provide a keynote presentation covering the budget inclusions for tourism, with an opportunity for attendees to ask questions. In addition, attendees will hear from Tourism WA Events Executive Director Anna Last on what the 2024-25 State Budget means for the future of events in WA. Register here.

Early bird conference tickets closing soon
Early bird registrations are closing on Tuesday, 30 April for the 2024 Perth Airport WA Tourism Conference, which will take place in Mandurah on 10 - 12 June. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with industry colleagues, undertake professional and business development and hear from industry-leading speakers on crucial issues. Early bird pricing is now available, with savings of $100 per conference ticket.
Register here.

Register now for Albany workshops
Registrations for Tourism Council WA’s Albany workshops on Tuesday, 30 April and Wednesday, 1 May are closing on Friday, 26 April. Learn how to optimise Instagram for your tourism business, develop social media skills with the Intermediate Social Media for Tourism Businesses workshop and better understand online marketing with Your Tourism Business Online: Google, SEO & SEM workshop. An Accessible Tourism workshop is also on offer to enhance business’ accessibility in actionable ways and the Sustainability briefing will provide the tools to better manage your business’ carbon emissions, which will be followed by a Tourism Connect. Register here.