A SIGNIFICANT increase in intrastate tourism is the bright spot in an industry yet to rebound completely from the levels before September last year.
A SIGNIFICANT increase in intrastate tourism is the bright spot in an industry yet to rebound completely from the levels before September last year.
Minister for Tourism Clive Brown said recent research showed that WA had strong intrastate tourism growth between September 2001 and March 2002.
“Domestic visitor numbers increased by 19.4 per cent and that was an increase that was the best out of all the States,” Mr Brown said.
“Preliminary estimates were that the money that was spent by intrastate tourist was up by 10.8 per cent.”
Western Australian Tourism Commission marketing and communications director Rick Thomas said figures from interstate and international tourism were less positive.
“The interstate market was down 14 per cent from September 2001 to March 2002, however the visitor days did increase,” he said.
Figures for the numbers of international tourists holidaying in Perth are not available until next week, but statistics from the Westralia Airports Corporate suggest the market is getting stronger.
Westralia Airport Corporation recorded its biggest number of international travellers on record for the January 2002- June 2002 period – an increase of 5 per cent.
WAC chief executive officer Graham Muir said the increase in international passenger traffic provided confidence that strong growth lay ahead.
“The figures give us great confidence that we have gone beyond the ‘recovery phase’ since the events of September 11 and are now entering a strong period of growth, which should see 2002/03 being a very prosperous year, not only for WAC but the State generally,” Mr Muir said.
Mr Thomas said there was a fall in the number of non-Australian passport holders travelling to Perth during October 2001 to January 2002.
“The situation has improved since February with international tourist travelling again. Indications are that it is starting to bounce back,” he said.
Mr Brown said boosting interstate and international travel depended on increases in the number of seats to Perth and a decrease in the price of air tickets to Perth.
“We’re not in a position to subsidise airlines but we need to drive demand. The airlines will respond, they’ll notice the money drifting out of the door,” Mr Brown said.
Perth Convention Bureau director of sales and marketing Jill Henry said the 2002/03 year looked promising, with July the first month whereby numbers of conference attendees would exceed expectations.
Mr Thomas said the decline in the corporate market had affected the tourism industry, particularly city hotels.
“There has been a significant decline in the corporate market, which has impacted on the city hotels,” he said. “Regional air access continues to be a problem. We are launching a ‘north of the State’ campaign targeting the Gascoyne and Pilbara, primarily aimed at the intrastate market.”
Minister for Tourism Clive Brown said recent research showed that WA had strong intrastate tourism growth between September 2001 and March 2002.
“Domestic visitor numbers increased by 19.4 per cent and that was an increase that was the best out of all the States,” Mr Brown said.
“Preliminary estimates were that the money that was spent by intrastate tourist was up by 10.8 per cent.”
Western Australian Tourism Commission marketing and communications director Rick Thomas said figures from interstate and international tourism were less positive.
“The interstate market was down 14 per cent from September 2001 to March 2002, however the visitor days did increase,” he said.
Figures for the numbers of international tourists holidaying in Perth are not available until next week, but statistics from the Westralia Airports Corporate suggest the market is getting stronger.
Westralia Airport Corporation recorded its biggest number of international travellers on record for the January 2002- June 2002 period – an increase of 5 per cent.
WAC chief executive officer Graham Muir said the increase in international passenger traffic provided confidence that strong growth lay ahead.
“The figures give us great confidence that we have gone beyond the ‘recovery phase’ since the events of September 11 and are now entering a strong period of growth, which should see 2002/03 being a very prosperous year, not only for WAC but the State generally,” Mr Muir said.
Mr Thomas said there was a fall in the number of non-Australian passport holders travelling to Perth during October 2001 to January 2002.
“The situation has improved since February with international tourist travelling again. Indications are that it is starting to bounce back,” he said.
Mr Brown said boosting interstate and international travel depended on increases in the number of seats to Perth and a decrease in the price of air tickets to Perth.
“We’re not in a position to subsidise airlines but we need to drive demand. The airlines will respond, they’ll notice the money drifting out of the door,” Mr Brown said.
Perth Convention Bureau director of sales and marketing Jill Henry said the 2002/03 year looked promising, with July the first month whereby numbers of conference attendees would exceed expectations.
Mr Thomas said the decline in the corporate market had affected the tourism industry, particularly city hotels.
“There has been a significant decline in the corporate market, which has impacted on the city hotels,” he said. “Regional air access continues to be a problem. We are launching a ‘north of the State’ campaign targeting the Gascoyne and Pilbara, primarily aimed at the intrastate market.”
