THE pristine environment, clear blue skies, friendly people, unique natural attractions and easy touring make WA an attractive tourist destination.
Tourism as an industry will also offer tremendous opportunities for the nine regions during the next decade and beyond.
The growth of national, international and interstate tourism is generating increasing demand for tourist facilities, with forecasts indicating this trend will continue.
In 1996-97 the tourism industry contributed $2.1 billion to the state’s coffers.
The most significant component, in terms of visits, is the interstate market, and the most sought-after tourist regional destination is the South West.
The area welcomed 1.5 million overnight tourists with an expenditure of $206 million in 1996-97.
A broad range of experiences attract a wide diversity of visitors to regional WA.
From wilderness adventures in the outback to diving on coral reefs, swimming in secluded waterfalls, or strolling through giant hardwood forests, WA is a leader in nature based tourism experiences.
Visitors – especially from Europe, Japan and North America – are looking for tourism experiences outside the confines of the city and are travelling deeper into the state’s tourism regions.
As a result, visitor numbers are expected to further increase due to the Brand WA marketing strategy and the recently launched Nature Based Tourism Strategy, both developed by the WA Tourism Commission.
