Tourism sector takes a hit

Domestic tourism to the Margaret River wine region has experienced a significant drop in tourism numbers since 2004, with total visitor numbers down 13 per cent and visitor nights down 20 per cent.

Figures released by Tourism Western Australia show the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River received an annual average of 479,000 overnight visitors between 2005 and 2007, compared with 548,600 in 2002-2004.

The biggest drop in visitor numbers was from the intrastate market, which was down 14 per cent.

Total nights for intrastate visitors dropped 20 per cent to 980,000 nights, with the biggest drop in nights from interstate visitors, down by more than 50 per cent.

Meanwhile, international travel by WA residents has increased by 85 per cent in the past five years, possibly in response to a higher Australian dollar and the advent of low-cost carriers.

The research also suggests that people are taking fewer holidays for shorter periods, and that holidays are facing increasing competition from other major purchases, including plasma televisions and other major household items.

Augusta-Margaret River Tourism Association chief executive Francine Burton said the numbers reflected a wider trend in the changing holiday patterns of Australians, which is causing concern for the local tourism industry.

"We are seeing some worrying fundamental shifts in holiday patterns around Australia which are starting to impact on who, where and how many Australians are now holidaying in Australia, and in turn how this impacts on the Margaret River Region," she said in a statement.

The association is looking at several initiatives to drive tourism to the region, including its winter breaks campaign and the highly publicised launch of the whale watching season.

The Shire of Busselton has also experienced a drop in overnight visitors since 2004, with intrastate visitor numbers down almost 2 per cent and interstate visitors down almost 10 per cent.

According to Tourism WA, both interstate expenditure and visitor numbers have declined in the past 12 months, decreasing 9.1 per cent and 3.2 per cent respectively.

Intrastate visitor numbers have also decreased, down by 6.1 per cent on the same period last year, while expenditure in that category is up 7 per cent.