TOURISM industry groups have welcomed a $60 million funding boost in the recent state budget to develop a range of high-profile events in regional Western Australia.
TOURISM industry groups have welcomed a $60 million funding boost in the recent state budget to develop a range of high-profile events in regional Western Australia.
Tourism Minister Kim Hames said the state government recognised the need to invest in the state’s tourism industry to attract people to WA, who would in turn stimulate the economy into the future.
“The Liberal-National government’s Royalties for Regions fund will contribute $40 million to major events across the state, with a view to attracting visitors within WA, interstate and from overseas to these regions,” he said.
Exmouth’s annual GAMEX game fishing competition, Broome’s historic Shinju Matsuri Festival and a number of targeted country horse racing events, would be bolstered with $20 million worth of new funding for events outside the Perth metropolitan region.
Dr Hames said major regional events would be targeted with the new funding, ensuring a long-term investment to grow WA’s tourism industry.
“An additional $20 million will be used to bring new events to Perth, and to greater support the events we already have,” he said.
Dr Hames said the State’s Regional Events Scheme, which supports smaller local events, would also double with an additional $300,000 each year added from the Royalties for Regions fund to the existing $300,000 funding.
“This means more new events can be developed and smaller events held throughout the state will have more security year-on-year to grow,” he said.
The Regional Events Scheme will provide funding to 39 events in all regions of the state, from ballet performances to music concerts, wine and food festivals as well as sporting events.
“There is something going on in regional WA almost every weekend ... this will provide a real incentive for people who live in the metropolitan region to get out and experience their own backyard,” Dr Hames said.
Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said events and festivals are crucial to get people into the state and into the regions.
“This budget will help those regions and those tourism operators who are not picking up business travel from the resources sector, but are still facing a high Australian dollar and an exodus of domestic tourism to Bali,” he said.
Australian Hotels Association WA CEO Bradley Woods also welcomed the state government’s announcement to promote regional events tourism.
“Minister Hames has provided Eventscorp and Tourism WA with the financial resources to attract and develop major events to Western Australia and ensure we have a full and rich calendar of events regardless of where you visit in the state,” Mr Woods said.
He also said the state government’s commitment to increasing funding in home-grown and iconic events will create a unique identity for WA when it comes to events.
The state government said this was the most significant investment in WA tourism to date, with the additional funds bringing Tourism WA’s budget to $81 million for 2011-2012.
