100 Swiss travel agents have arrived in Western Australia to take part in a workshop and familiarisation program aimed at boosting Swiss tourism to the state.
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100 Swiss travel agents have arrived in Western Australia to take part in a workshop and familiarisation program aimed at boosting Swiss tourism to the state.
Swiss travel wholesaler Knecht Reisen, has sent the travel agents and three Swiss journalists to Perth for what is a two-day event.
Tourism Minister Sheila McHale said that the visit would help develop the lucrative Swiss tourism market by giving the travel agents the chance to increase their knowledge of what WA has to offer visitors.
"The 100 travel agents will see some of the State's top attractions including Perth, Lancelin, Yanchep, Ningaloo Reef and the Kimberley," said Ms McHale.
"Last year, 12,300 Swiss visitors travelled to WA; about 30 per cent of all Swiss visitors to Australia.
"Switzerland is WA's 12th biggest market in terms of visitor numbers and the third biggest in terms of spending per person.1"
The Minister said the average Swiss traveller spent about $2,800 on a trip to WA and stayed an average of 36.7 nights.1
"Swiss visitors are also eager to explore regional WA, partly because the majority of Swiss visitors are between 15 and 34 years of age," Ms McHale said.
Ms McHale said WA's familiarisation program saw the annual hosting of about 1,200 high profile travel journalists, travel agents, international tourism wholesalers and airline holiday consultants.
The State Government invests more than $500,000 annually into this program, which is strongly supported by the tourism industry and offers $2.6million in cash or in-kind support, including air travel, accommodation, car hires, meals and tours.
1 Source: Tourism Research Australia, International Visitor Survey and International Tourism Expenditure Research Programme 2000-2005.
THE FULL MEDIA RELEASE APPEARS BELOW.
MINISTER FOR TOURISM
Attention: News Editor/Chief of Staff
28/04/06
Swiss travel agents jet into Perth.
A delegation of 100 Swiss travel agents has arrived in Western Australia to take part in a workshop and familiarisation program aimed at boosting Swiss tourism to our State.
Tourism Minister Sheila McHale said long-haul Swiss travel wholesaler Knecht Reisen, had sent the travel agents and three Swiss journalists to Perth for the two-day event.
"The visit will help develop the lucrative Swiss tourism market by giving the travel agents the chance to increase their knowledge of what WA has to offer visitors," Ms McHale said.
"The 100 travel agents will see some of the State's top attractions including Perth, Lancelin, Yanchep, Ningaloo Reef and the Kimberley.
"Last year, 12,300 Swiss visitors travelled to WA; about 30 per cent of all Swiss visitors to Australia.
"Switzerland is WA's 12th biggest market in terms of visitor numbers and the third biggest in terms of spending per person.1"
The Minister said the average Swiss traveller spent about $2,800 on a trip to WA and stayed an average of 36.7 nights.1
"Swiss visitors are also eager to explore regional WA, partly because the majority of Swiss visitors are between 15 and 34 years of age," Ms McHale said.
"Knecht Reisen, which brings about 7,000 people to Australia each year, owns 14 retail travel agencies throughout Switzerland and distributes its brochures through a further 850 agencies."
Ms McHale said WA's familiarisation program saw the annual hosting of about 1,200 high profile travel journalists, travel agents, international tourism wholesalers and airline holiday consultants.
The State Government invests more than $500,000 annually into this program, which is strongly supported by the tourism industry and offers $2.6million in cash or in-kind support, including air travel, accommodation, car hires, meals and tours.
1 Source: Tourism Research Australia, International Visitor Survey and International Tourism Expenditure Research Programme 2000-2005.
Media contact: Andrew Smith - 9213 6900 or 0408 176 839
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