Tourism

The chairman of the Rottnest Island Authority has responded to his predecessor’s criticism of the island’s management and governance, highlighting a positive development agenda at the resort in recent years.

Crown Resorts has reported a slump in normalised first-half profit, with Perth and Melbourne maintaining their contribution but weak market conditions in Macau affecting its joint-venture casino resorts there.

River cruise operator Captain Cook Cruises has been sold to national operator SeaLink Travel Group, in a deal worth around $12 million.

In his history of Rottnest Island, Laurie O’Meara looks to how the popular holiday destination’s future can be settled.

A new book on Rottnest Island has blamed the governance structure of the holiday resort for the long-running failure to financially capitalise on its popularity as a tourist destination.

Two weeks after Elizabeth Quay was opened to the public, construction trucks are coming back to Barrack Square, with work to begin on SKS Group’s DoubleTree by Hilton hotel next month.

International hotel group Sheraton is plotting a return to Perth, with plans lodged to build a new hotel on The New Esplanade Hotel site in the CBD.

The annual number of Chinese visitors venturing to Australian shores has topped 1 million for the first time.

Western Australians opted to spend their free time travelling within the state last year, with Rottnest Island visitor numbers reaching their highest on record between July and December.

One of Australia’s most-recognisable hospitality operators is expanding west, with up to three Ettamogah-branded venues in the works in Western Australia.

Perth Airport is on the lookout for a new chief executive, with Brad Geatches to step down in the middle of next year after nine years in the role.

A new business that aims to boost tourism spending by promoting established operators, with a marketing strategy skewed towards South-East Asian travellers, has been launched in Perth.

Karma Resorts’ plan to spend $20 million redeveloping the Rottnest Lodge into a resort-style hotel are a step closer to being realised, with lease negotiations finalised with the state government today.

Aspen Group's separately-owned holiday parks fund has backed rival suitor Discovery Holiday Parks' increased offer for the portfolio.

A hotel and a laboratory in Perth have been recognised as two of the best places to work in Australia, while two Western Australian workers have also been honoured for excelling during their training.

Aspen Group is facing more competition to acquire its separately-owned holiday parks fund, with rival suitor Discovery Holiday Parks increasing its bid to purchase the portfolio.

Energy Made Clean has won the contract to build a solar farm on Rottnest Island as part of a $7.3 million renewable energy project.

More than 120,000 new workers will be needed in the national tourism industry over the next five years, according to Austrade and Deloitte.

The newest airline to fly to Perth wants Western Australians to ditch Bali and holiday in Malaysia instead, launching competitively priced full-service fares to entice potential travellers.

Perth’s tallest hotel, Crown Towers, is on track to be completed by December next year, with Crown Resorts chief executive Barry Felstead staking the claim it will be the best resort in Australia w

SeaLink Travel Group is set to become Australia's largest marine tourism and transport company through its acquisition of Transit Systems Marine for $125 million.

Five Western Australian venues have been recognised at the 2015 Australian Hotels Association National Awards for Excellence, held on the Gold Coast last night.

Mining giant BHP Billiton has contributed about half a million dollars towards the construction of a walk trail on Rottnest Island, making it the largest contribution to the island by a corporate entity.

Services on the famed Perth-to-Sydney train, the Indian Pacific, will be cut and pensioner ticket prices hiked as its operator tries to make up for a $9 million federal budget cut.

China has long been identified as one of Western Australia’s most important tourism markets, but the state could be just as important to the People’s Republic as it seeks to establish itself as a premier holiday destination and international travel hub.

The state government has decided to maintain regulation of regional aviation at a higher level than had been recommended in a review last year.

Perth businessman Kevyn Townley will be launching a crowdfunding campaign later this week for a tourism operation that will run solar-powered ferries on the Swan River.

Peter Prendiville and Howard Cearns will continue as Tourism WA chair and deputy chair respectively for another three year term, Tourism Minister Kim Hames announced today.

More than $4.5 billion was pumped into the local economy by domestic tourists in the year to March, Tourism Council WA says.

The state government has announced an expansion of its Mobile Black Spot program, with plans for 130 new or upgraded mobile phone towers across regional and remote areas of Western Australia.

Narembeen is typical of many small Wheatbelt towns confronting challenges with an array of business and community development initiatives.

The mining bust hasn’t left dust, there is a wealthy legacy to exploit.